One of multiple overlooks in the park that provide expansive views of the Badlands. This overlook has a wayside exhibit sharing the history of paleo-Indians in the region.
One of multiple overlooks throughout the park that provides accessible experiences for all visitors to enjoy the park. This one features a boardwalk and a bench overlooking a vast badlands landscape.
Moderate. The longest trail in the park begins at the Door and Window parking area and travels five miles one way to the Fossil Exhibit Trail. Relatively level, the path passes along some badlands formations. 10 miles/16 km (round trip)
One of multiple overlooks throughout the park that provides accessible experiences and interpretive exhibits. This overlook has a boardwalk with a bench, and a wayside exhibit discussing climate change and how it affects the landscape.
Badlands National Park has an Open Hike Policy, meaning that you are allowed to hike off-trail. As a visitor to the Badlands, you are free to explore social trails like Deer Haven, the Sage Creek Wilderness Area, or any other part of the park you can visit safely. Deer Haven is either a short round-trip (6 mile) hike or a more extensive 23 mile loop. The trail is not marked, so navigation will rely on map/compass or GPS routing.
On the Castle Trail portion of the Medicine Root loop, the trail is almost entirely within the upper part of the Brule Formation (Poleslide Member; Oligocene Epoch, 32.0-30.0 million years ago).
Panorama Point offers a wide view of the Badlands landscape, downward towards the White River Valley. The view is similar to what is seen in the Big Foot Pass area.
Sheep Mountain Table is one of the overlooks of Badlands National Park. It provides views of the park's South Unit and the Black Hills. The road to the overlook is not maintained in the winter, and beyond the overlook the road deteriorates and requires high clearance/4WD vehicles.
The Pig Dig is a site of a recent paleontological survey that yielded many significant fossil finds, including: Archaeotherium, Subhyracodon, Mesohippus, Leptomeryx.
This is a stop along the Fossil Exhibit Trail of Badlands National Park. This exhibit features a replica bronze alligator fossil and information about how alligators moved to survive a changing climate.
This is a stop along the Fossil Exhibit Trail of Badlands National Park. This exhibit features a replica bronze Ammonite fossil and information about how Ammonites died in response to a changing climate.
This is a stop along the Fossil Exhibit Trail of Badlands National Park. This exhibit features a replica bronze Dog fossil and information about how dogs evolved to survive a changing climate.
This is a stop along the Fossil Exhibit Trail of Badlands National Park. This exhibit features a replica bronze Mesohippus fossil and information about Mesohippus evolved to adapt to changing climates.
This is a stop along the Fossil Exhibit Trail of Badlands National Park. This exhibit features a replica bronze nimravid fossil and information about how nimravid died in the face of a changing climate.
This is a stop along the Fossil Exhibit Trail of Badlands National Park. This exhibit features a replica bronze oreodont fossil and information about how the fossilization process occurs.
