Door and Notch Trails

Beautiful Badlands National Park offers amazing views and hiking opportunities for all types of adventurers. Both the Door and Notch Trails are easily accessible from the park’s main road, Badland’s Loop. Each is short and both immerse hikers in the beauty of the badlands.

Door Trail

At just around three quarters of a mile in length, the Door Trail starts off on boardwalk before a slot or “door” in the sandstone opens for views of the badlands. From the door, hikers follow numbered stakes that lead to an overlook.

• 

You’ll need to be nimble to make your way over and around small, crusty rock formations. Be careful as there are several drop offs along this route. Though there are markers that guide you in the general direction of the trail, it’s more of a choose your own adventure pathway to the endpoint.

Those who do make their way through the rock maze are treated to spectacular views of the badlands. I think the rocks are like clouds. Focus long enough and your able to make out shapes and images in the dazzling peaks and valleys.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Notch Trail

The trailheads for both the Door and Notch Trails start from the same parking lot. After the easier trek on Door Trail we then made our way to Notch Trail. Notch is considered more strenuous as it involves a ladder climb and is a bit longer at 1.5 miles round trip.

Notch Trail starts out relatively flat as it snakes its way between rock outcroppings. After about a half mile, almost out of nowhere, the wooden ladder appears and the climb begins.

• 

The trip up the ladder is fairly easy. The rungs are a manageable distance apart and I felt fairly at ease as we got higher and higher. The way down the ladder is a bit unnerving and takes about twice the time.

• 

• 

Once atop the ladder, Notch Trail follows a ridgeline and then takes hikers right next to the sandstone peaks. The final bit of trail forces you to scamper up a hill for an overlook of the badlands.

• 

As we learned on our adventure on Notch Trail, there are two overlooks to explore at the end of the trail. The marked trail ends with views overlooking the visitor center. The unmarked trail, just to the left of the actual trail, gave us uninterrupted views and brilliant bright blue skies.

• 

• 

For more hiking in the Black Hills and Badlands, see our posts on Roughlock Falls, Devil’s Bathtub, and Sunday Gulch as well as a visit to Mount Rushmore.

Happy Adventuring, Rochelle