Can you think of a better way to spend the 4th of July than exploring America the Great’s National Parks? I sure can’t! Neither could the swoon of prairie dogs that welcomed us to our last stop for gas before entering Badlands National Park.
The drive from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to South Dakota was uneventful to say the least. But that was all about to change. Once we passed through the gates to the Badlands, the sky opened up and we could see the beauty of the park outstretched before us for miles.
I couldn’t tell if I was more excited to get out of the car I’d been stuck in for the last 10 and a half hours or to finally explore this bucket list park. Probably a little bit of both if I’m being honest!
Why do they call it the “badlands,” you ask? We were about to find out. Picture this: it’s a 101 degree day in no mans land, South Dakota. The car air conditioning hasn’t worked all day. I’m sure it makes a glorious place to visit from an air-conditioned car, but let’s just say the open road was not our home today.
At last, the moment we’ve been waiting for arrives. We get to take a step out of my car and into what felt like a dream come true. Commence the cracking of an ice cold Coors Light! It was time to hit the hiking trails.
Hiking
Pro Tip: some of the best hikes in the park are accessible from the same parking lot. I would recommend stopping here first! The Window Trail, Door Trail, and Notch Trail are all accessible from here.
The Window Trail is a great warm-up. This super short, boardwalk trail is just one fifth of a mile round trip. This trail won brownie points for being wheelchair accessible, too. Window Trail gets its name for ending in a panoramic ‘window’ view of the wall that overlooks the erosive scars that created the badlands.
The Badlands Wall is a cliff that divides the upper and lower prairie. The Loop Road follows the Wall, which is more than 60 miles. But don’t panic, walk 5 steps and you’ve arrived at the next trail head.
The Door Trail was our next stop. This 100-meter trail also begins with another wheelchair accessible boardwalk where you can take in the never-ending badlands. The park is what’s called an “open hike” park, which means you can hike anywhere you please. Anywhere is fair game!
The end of the boardwalk evolves into the Badlands Desert. This 800-meter section is much more difficult than the last. There are several warnings posted at the start of this trail:
- Bring at least one liter per person for every hour of hiking.
- Beware of prairie rattlesnakes.
- Watch out for the short yellow markers if you dare to explore beyond the boardwalk.
If you’re fearless like me and decide to keep trekking despite the warnings, you will not regret it. Naturalist John Madson describes this section of the park as “an improbable kind of place, looking like the set of a science-fiction movie.” Feel free to wander as far as the eye can see, carving your own path through the tough terrain.
If you thought you’ve got your quick fix for the Badlands National Park, just wait until you see what the Notch Trail has in store. If you only have time to tackle one trail at the park, this is IT. At only about 1.3 miles roundtrip, it sounds like a piece of cake. I can assure you it’s anything but.
The most unique feature of this trail is its 30 foot wooden ladder dropping off a cliff’s edge. Going up is a walk in the park. Coming down, on the other hand, I wouldn’t recommend if you have a fear of heights. Otherwise, it’s definitely worth the trek! My advice – instead of holding on to the wooden ladder above, try using the side ropes to carefully descend the drop one foot after the other.
Once you’ve made it past the ropes, you are ready to climb to the finish line! The trail is pretty easy to follow but beware. There are many warning signs, but off to your left, there is about a hundred foot drop into the abyss. Needless to say, make sure you hug the rocks on the right side of the trail.
If you’ve made it this far, you’re in luck! The trail ends just ahead in an overlook of the horizon that stretches as far as the eye can see. After exploring every inch of the Badlands, I can honestly say this was my favorite view of the park. It absolutely cannot be missed!
Our last stop before sunset was also my all time favorite, the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail. It was much more desolate so I got to strut the entire half-mile trail without running into a single soul. That was, until, I ran into a family of deers! The natural wild life coupled with the serene smell of juniper trees with every breath of fresh air made me feel at home. So much so, that after 20 hours in the car from Pittsburgh constantly wondering if I should turn the car around, I was confident this was exactly where I was supposed to be.
This brings me to the grand finale: a stunning view of the Midwest sunset at Pinnacles Overlook. Magnificent is the best word I can find to describe this view of Mars. That’s right – I said Mars. This patch of land doesn’t even appear as though it belongs in the U.S. of A.
My recommendation to take in this view was inspired by none other than the couple I met who were celebrating their 30th anniversary. It was the most picture perfect date. I’ve seen my fair share of picnics at summit with the much-deserved peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but that tradition is fast food compared to this fine dining experience. I’ll leave you with this image: a couple in their late 60’s with an empty bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and two clean plates once filled to the brim with Fettuccine Alfredo and fresh homemade Italian bread.
If that’s not the most beautiful way to end your stay in the Badlands National Park, then I don’t know what is. Word to the wise: if you’re going to do the Badlands National Park, do it right!
