Looking for more things to do in Badlands National Park?
Check out the Window and Door Trails next door, then head further into the park to the Fossil Exhibit Trail!
LOCATION
The Notch Trail is located in Badlands National Park along Highway 240, two miles north of the Ben Reifel Visitor Center and 2.5 miles south of the NE park entrance station.
LENGTH
1.5 miles out and back, with plenty of options to explore further
DIFFICULTY
Moderate/Strenuous — The Notch Trail is short, but you must climb a ladder attached to the cliff face to reach the upper part of the hike. The lower trail is mostly flat and follows an easy, sandy path. If climbing the ladder is too much for you, this makes a good turnaround point. Above the ladder, there are some steep drop-offs, and the pebbly trail is slippery.
WE HIKED IT
June, 2022, around 1.5 hours including time to explore and climb the rocks
CURRENT INFO
Find more information and maps for the Notch Trail on the AllTrails website. General hiking information and more is also available on the National Park Service Website. If you’re planning a trip to Badlands National Park and the Black Hills of South Dakota, I recommend the book Moon South Dakota’s Black Hills: With Mount Rushmore & Badlands National Park by Laural A. Bidwell.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Badlands National Park charges a $30 entrance fee per car, valid for seven days. Pay at the park entrance station.
- If you have an America the Beautiful pass (or other national parks pass), this covers the entrance fee for Badlands National Park. You can purchase a pass online, or from a park entrance station. Some individuals, including veterans, fourth graders, and seniors, may qualify for a free or reduced price pass. You can also purchase a $55 pass valid only for Badlands National Park. Personally, I recommend the America the Beautiful pass, because it covers entrance fees for all national lands, not just national parks, including trailheads on National Forest land.
- The parking lot for the Notch Trail is right off Highway 240, the main road through Badlands National Park. It also serves as the trailhead for several other popular hikes.
- Arrive early to avoid crowds. In summer, this also avoids the hottest part of the day.
- Restrooms and drinking water are available at the trailhead.
- Pets are not allowed on trails in Badlands National Park.
- Remember to pack the 10 Essentials. Water, shade hats, and sunscreen are especially important. Trails in the Badlands are very exposed to the elements.
- Wear shoes or boots with good traction. The sandy trails can be slippery, and you’ll want extra traction if you plan to climb the rocks. Badlands National Park is an open hiking park, which means you can hike anywhere — on trail, off, trail, you get to choose! Have fun, but stay safe and watch out for those around you as well.
- For an easier hike, try the Door and Window Trails. These trails start from the same parking lot as the Notch Trail. Both feature short boardwalks that lead to awe-inspiring views, and are great options for those looking for an accessible way to experience the Badlands.
- Always follow Leave No Trace principles.
HIGHLIGHTS
Badlands National Park is a wonderland to explore, and the Notch Trail provides a fantastic introduction to this strange world. Although the first part of the trail is quite popular, the crowds thin out once you pass the Notch (a viewpoint over the valley). Take your time and explore further off trail to make the most of your visit.
THE KIDS’ TAKE
Kids who love to climb will absolutely love the Notch Trail! One of the incredible things about Badlands National Park is that you are free to roam anywhere you like — here, the trail is just the beginning. With that in mind, parents should set some clear guidelines to help kids stay safe, while still giving them freedom to explore independently. Pro tip: Stop by the visitor center to pick up a Junior Ranger booklet before starting your hike.
WHILE YOU’RE HERE
Badlands National Park can easily fill a whole day or more, and the Notch Trail is a great way to start your adventure. From the same parking lot, explore the short but stunning Window and Door Trails. Short, accessible boardwalks lead to incredible views that even non-hikers can enjoy. Climbers can head off trail to explore further. Follow Highway 240 west to check out the Fossil Exhibit Trail, numerous roadside viewpoints, and Roberts Prairie Dog Town.
Don’t forget to stop by the Ben Reifel Visitor Center for more information, ideally at the start of your day. Campers can stay next door at Cedar Pass Campground, while those looking for a few more creature comforts will appreciate the Cedar Pass Lodge cabins. In either case, you’ll be treated to stunning views of the Badlands from your home base.
Our Experience
It was a beautiful June morning in Badlands National Park. After breakfast at our campsite at Cedar Pass Campground and a stop at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, we headed for the Notch Trail. Our map was instrumental in guiding us, as we saw no signage for the trail at first. We pulled into the long parking lot that also serves as the starting point for several other hikes, and I determined that the Notch Trail followed the southernmost path from the lot. We didn’t have to go far to find ourselves immersed in the crumbling rock cliffs of the Badlands.
The Notch Trail starts off nice and easy, following a sandy path through a ravine. We took advantage of Badlands National Park’s “open hike” policy to get up close to the formations surrounding us. Much of the landscape is create by mudrock, a clay-based sedimentary rock that erodes easily, and other soft stones. The park rangers like to point out that the Badlands erode at an astonishing rate of one inch per year, much more rapidly than canyons formed by harder stone.
As we walked deeper into the ravine, we came to the most famous landmark along the Notch Trail. No, it’s not an unusual rock formation or other natural wonder. It’s a ladder. A wooden-runged ladder, bolted into the cliffside. When we arrived, a group of hikers was intrepidly climbing to the top, while another line of hikers awaited their turn to descend.
We considered skipping the ladder and forging our own path up the hillside. It doesn’t look too difficult, right? Believe me, it’s harder than it looks. The loose dirt and rock in this area makes the hillside quite slick. A few people tried it and made it to the top, but there were a few spills, too.
Patience is a virtue, so we sat and enjoyed the beauty around us (not to mention the entertainment of watching others tackle the ladder) until it was out turn. And actually, the climb isn’t bad. The ladder wiggles just a little, but feels strong and secure. Before we knew it, we were at the top, where this stunning view awaited us:
The first part of the upper trail remains relatively flat, but take care, as it’s easy to slip. I was awed by the weather-worn cliffs, so majestic and yet no match for the relentless wind and rain.
At one point, a sign directed us to keep right, taking us on a rough path over the rocks. To the left, only a narrow strip of crumbling trail lay between the boulders and the cliff. It made me wonder how erosion will continue to reshape this trail as time goes by.
Although the Badlands are a seemingly barren landscape, there is life if you look for it. Green vegetation sprouts where is can, and I spotted a delicate butter-yellow cactus bloom reaching toward the sun.
We were now approaching what many may call the ultimate destination of the Notch Trail: the Notch itself. At least, I assume that’s what it’s called. I mean, it’s the name of the trail, right? Plus, all those other hikers seemed to be headed this way, so this had to be the place. (Please note: just because all the hikers are doing it, doesn’t always mean it’s the right thing to do. But in this case, they were spot on.)
Truly, the view from the Notch was stunning. It’s hard to make out in the photo, but we could see Cedar Pass Campground and the visitor center as the Badlands gradually gave way to rolling green prairies.
Having been to the Notch, it was now time to explore. I spotted several clastic dikes as we roamed the rocks. Yes, I’m quite the geologist! OK, maybe not, but I had just attended a ranger talk the night before that provided an excellent overview to Badlands National Park. The ranger introduced us to clastic dikes in his talk, and now here I was, finding them in real life!
A dike is a vertical layer of sedimentary rock (clast) comprised of a different stone than the surrounding rock. Many are a different color (green, for example), and harder as well. For this reason, they help form a backbone for many of the spectacular formations of the Badlands.
As we roamed the rocks, we noticed that most visitors simply headed back the way they came without bothering to explore past the Notch. But for those with a little more curiosity and stamina, even more fantastic views await. The one above was my favorite.
When we felt ready to return, we followed the main trail back to the ladder. This time, we didn’t have to wait long before it was our turn to descend. Going down looks a little scarier than going up, but we made it without too much hesitation.
On the way back, I noticed even more signs of life, ones I had completely missed on the hike out. Tucked in the sheltered crevices of the cliff were swallow nests, dozens upon dozens of them. Indeed, the Notch Trail is full of unexpected beauty. If you come, take the time to veer off trail and discover it for yourself.
