9 Best Family Hikes in Badlands National Park With Kids [2023]
Are you looking for the best family hikes in Badlands National Park?
The Lakota perfectly described Badlands National Park long before it was a national park. “Mako sica,” or bad land, is a great name for its extreme desert temperature, lack of water, and rocky terrain.
But today, Badlands is a mystical landmark. Travelers and families can explore wildlife and experience prehistoric history like never before.
I asked my friend Courtney from Disorderly Drifters to share her thoughts on the best kid-friendly hikes in Badlands National Park to make your travel plans easier.
These hikes are fair to moderately challenging in intensity, under 2 hours, and create long-lasting memories.
Family Hikes in Badlands National Park
It is so exciting to experience the Badlands with your kids.
The vastly undisturbed Northern Great Plains, where 2,000-pound buffalos still roam. You can sit back in the western prairies and listen to the wind whistling through South Dakota meadows.
Before you plan your visit to the Badlands and pay that $30 park entrance fee, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Your cell phone may only work in certain areas of the park, so plan accordingly.
- Closed-toe hiking boots are ideal foot protection against uneven terrain, loose gravel, and burrowing wildlife.
- Pets are not permitted on the trail or in public buildings. However, they are allowed where cars travel.
- Leave no trace – Don’t collect fossils, flowers, or rocks.
Now that we’ve covered some tips and essential details about visiting the Badlands National Park let’s take a look at the best family hikes in the area.
1. The Door Trail
Distance: 0.9 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 22 feet
The Door trail is a short, sweet single path that will take you from point A to point B, in less than 20 minutes!
In other words, you’ll leave the partially paved path in the same direction that you entered the trail.
You will begin the trail on a stroller-friendly boardwalk and walk right up to the beautiful observation viewpoint marked as The Door.
You’ll have fantastic views of towering rock formations and will quickly understand why this park is so popular.
And the trail continues. If your family is willing to brave primitive bedrock, follow the well-marked yellow posts downstairs that lead to Badlands natural maze formations.
And remember to bring your jacket; the weather can be cold and windy on the plains.
2. Medicine Root and Castle Trail Loop
Distance: 4 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 111 feet
If your kiddos are a bit older and can handle a longer hike, then consider checking out the Medicine Root and Castle Trail Loop.
This is the perfect family-friendly loop trail. You can’t miss it if you’ve got an hour and a half to spare and stories to tell.
This is a great hike; the trail is paved with prairie grasslands and beautiful views of the Badlands.
In the spring and early summertime, you’ll want to wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants, as they protect your legs and feet from busy Prairie Rattlesnakes.
When the Medicine Root Trail connects you to the Castle Trail near the Old Northeast Road, you might see bison grazing the Badlands.
And when you’re passing through the Castle and Saddle Pass Trail intersection, go south towards glacial stream deposits. You might spot wildflowers, antelopes, and blooming spheres of Mesa Verde cactus!
3. Sage Creek Trail
Distance: 1.9 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 219 feet
The Sage Creek Trail is the unmarked trail you venture into when you want to see wildlife and get dirty. Sage Creek has overgrown high grass, game trails, and mud.
Parents and children should exercise caution.
It isn’t uncommon to have to move off the trail to make way for crossing bison herds, howling coyotes, and rattling rattlesnakes!
However, don’t let the wild character of the Badlands discourage you from crossing the creek to reach the end of the trail.
It is safe for hiking, and you’ll find ridges with panoramic views above the Sage Creek campground.
4. Burns Basin Overlook
Distance: 0.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 36 feet
Although the Burns Basin Overlook is considered a moderately challenging trail, it’s very short and will be done quickly!
Just because it’s longer doesn’t mean that it’s not a kid-friendly hike in the Badlands, because many kids can complete this one!
The trail is easy, straightforward, and a quick out and back, perfect for beginner hikers. It could likely be the track runway for a quick 5-minute game of tag!
However, this dirt trail leads to massive drop-offs into the basin and paranormal grade mountain peaks. Don’t get caught wearing a pair of sandals on this trail.
When you stray from the boardwalk, the trail is cement with loose gravel and off-trail ruggedness. Closed-toe shoes are a good idea and the best option for protection.
5. Castle Trail
Distance: 10.3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 305 feet
Take advantage of the Castle trail if you’re a family of backpackers, campers, and hikers.
The long trail is carefully marked with red poles, slight elevation, and exposed treeless, arid desert.
You’ll likely find fossils, big skies, and a thirst for water due to a lack of shade, so dress appropriately for the hot weather.
Remember to drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen, a hat, and long sleeves to avoid overheating. And pack a nice hiking lunch.
The best time to visit the Castle trail is at sunrise when the sun is low. The temperature is cool then, and the mule deer and bighorn sheep are waking up.
Remember, there are four entry points: The Window Trail, Fossil Trailhead, Medicine Root Trailhead, and the Saddle Pass Trail.
You’ll want to start at the Window Trail if you’re a family with little ones and young kids. Starting there will keep your hike shorter.
6. The Window Trail
Distance: 0.3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 13 feet
The Window Trail is the best family hike in Badlands for young kids. Specifically, little ones that want to see the world but are just starting to walk.
The boardwalk is stroller-friendly and wheelchair accessible.
Plus, it has the best view of the eastern canyons from March to October, even in the rain. It’s a quick hike you can complete in under 5 minutes.
This trail is about living in the moment and just enjoying time with your kiddos, with no challenging hike necessary.
7. Fossil Exhibit Trail
Distance: 0.4 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 9 feet
The Fossil Exhibit Trail gives you a glimpse into the prehistoric age of the park.
And it’s on an easy-to-walk boardwalk loop, making it one of the best family hikes in Badlands National Park in South Dakota.
The fossil replicas guide you through the history of paleontology, dating back 75 million years. With leeway to venture off-trail and hunt for fossils.
In addition, hikers that wish to explore beyond the boardwalk can go west of the trail maze of pinnacles, spires, and needle-point ridges.
The trail features braille-incorporated signage and restroom facilities at the trailhead’s beginning.
8. Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
Distance: 0.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 65 feet
The Cliff Shelf Nature Trail is a loop trail with many stairs that are no match for ambitious toddlers with lots of energy.
And if you need a break from chasing them around, you’re in luck! Benches are scattered about to help replenish your breath amongst small shaded juniper forests.
If you want to hike down this trail, remember to travel clockwise. Traveling counterclockwise turns the trail into a 100-stair hike.
However, this trail is mostly paved by the boardwalk.
The trail takes you through views of the Badlands National Park, White River Valley, and Eagle Butte. Which are only accessible by stairway.
9. Big Badlands Overlook
Distance: 0.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 3 feet
When you enter the Badlands National Park from the Northeast Entrance Station, The Big Badlands Overlook takes you to the eastern view of the Badlands in less than 5 minutes with ease.
Wheelchairs, strollers, and bad ankles don’t have to sit out on these spectacular scenic views of ancient zebra-stripped rock formations.
The best time to visit the Big Badlands Overlook is at sunrise and sunset when the temperatures are coolest.
And if you want a closer look at the rolling rock formations, you can take a detour from the viewing platform and take a short hike into the hills.
Other Things to Do With Kids in the Badlands
The fun thing about kids is they always want more.
So, after you’ve crossed off all of the best family hikes in Badlands National Park on your itinerary, here are a few extras I strongly recommend:
- Roberts Prairie Dog Town: Prairie dogs run wild here– don’t forget your binoculars.
- Eat lunch at the Conata Picnic area: There are nearby hiking trails like Deer Haven that you can explore. However, be mindful of mud if rain is in the forecast.
- Become a Badlands Junior Ranger: Your littles can become a junior park ranger and earn a junior ranger badge during your visit to the park at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center.
- The small White River Visitor Center: Learn about the Lakota history in the Badlands.
- Spend the night camping: Cedar Pass Campground gives campers easy access to amenities including picnic tables, pay showers, and flushing toilets.
Also, don’t forget to bring along an easy-to-carry action camera! You will see unique, fascinating wildlife and some of the most amazing terrain in the world
Best Time to Visit Badlands National Park
The best time to visit the Badlands National Park in South Dakota is in the fall.
The weather is far cooler than in the summertime and warmer than in winter, and there is less foot traffic on the hiking trails.
Also, if you are seeking seclusion from the rush of tourists, consider visiting in April. Surprisingly, the beginning of the tourist season in early April is relatively quiet.
The worst time to visit the Badlands is the summer. It’s a busier season, and the hottest temperatures can exceed 100 degrees of desert heat.
And when you’re camping, the night brings about cold temperatures that can taint any Badlands experience if you’re unprepared.
In addition, the Badlands are conveniently within driving distance from Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial.
Where to Stay Near the Badlands
If you aren’t interested in camping but still want to stay near the park, you and your family can find comfort glamping at nearby cabin rentals or lodges or save money at a motel.
Glamping at The Circle View Ranch is a heart-centered, family-owned working cattle ranch on 3,000 acres of Badlands rock bed formations, rolling hills, tree groves, and grazing pastures.
The Cedar Pass Lodge and Restaurant cabins are locally crafted with fallen beetle kill pine. And outfitted with eco-certified management systems and sit in the heart of the Badlands.
If you’re a camper with a tent or an RV, the Cedar Pass Campground is just walking distance from camping supplies, groceries, and souvenirs.
FAQs
Where can I take my kids in the Badlands?
You can take your kids on many easy trail hikes in the Badlands. Including:
The Door Trail, Medicine Root, Castle Loop Trail, Sage Creek Trail, Burns Basin Overlook; Castle Trail, Window Trail, Fossil Exhibit Trail, Cliff Shelf Nature Trail, and the Big Badlands Overlook.
What is the best hike in Badlands National Park?
The best hike in Badlands National Park is the Door Trail.
The Door, Notch, Window, and Castle Trail all have the same starting point at the big parking lot. If you need a resting spot, The Door Trail has a spot where you can take a restroom break before hitting the trail.
The Door Trail can be painless when you stick to the boardwalk trail.
However, when you leave the trail and enter uneven terrain, the trail can be moderately challenging, especially in hot summer weather.
If you do want to challenge yourself and your family a little, go for it! Crossing fossil beds while surveying spires and pinnacles is worth every drop of sweat– don’t forget your water bottle.
Can kids do the Notch Trail in the Badlands?
The Notch Trail is not suitable for toddlers in the summertime. You can expect extreme heat with no shade and steep, rocky topography.
However, if your kids love to climb, the Notch Trail is perfect. After you reach the trail sign, the trail begins up the ladder until you get to the Notch viewpoint.
The trail climbs across a shallow canyon with rocky ridges and a hundred-foot drop that require sturdy hiking boots and parental guidance. However, the view is well worth the ascent.
How difficult is the Notch Trail in the Badlands?
The Notch Trail in the Badlands is an easy well, marked trail until you get to the ladder.
The ladder is the safest way up, the only way down, and a moderately challenging climb, especially if you’re scared of heights.
This trail may be most difficult when hiking in the winter due to the blend of deep snow, snow melt, and icy pathways.
Conclusion: Kid-Friendly Hikes in Badlands National Park
Hiking with your family in the Badlands, like swimming in a cenote in Mexico, seeing Mayan ruins, or seeing the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The natural beauty that mother nature has created for us to live and play on is simply outstanding. Sometimes the planning part of travel, especially with a family, can get a little overwhelming.
However, planning a trip through the best family hikes in Badlands National Park doesn’t have to be a headache when you’ve got the best trails at your fingertips!
So now that you’re armed with the best stays and hikes near America’s favorite national park, come to explore all the beauty the badlands have to offer.
