The Notch Trail in Badlands National Park: Complete Hiking Guide and Tips
The Notch Trail is one of Badlands National Park’s best hikes! With up close views of the Badlands as well as fun and challenging trail elements, this hike should be added to any Badlands National Park itinerary. In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know about how to hike the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park.
Hiking is one of the best things to do in Badlands National Park to more deeply explore the landscape and appreciate its beauty. And the best trail in the Badlands? We would have to give that title to the Notch Trail!
The Notch Trail was definitely our favorite hike in Badlands National Park. It’s short, but it packs a punch, with cool badlands formations to wander around and fun and adventurous trail elements, such as a log ladder and some narrow ledges. For us, it was one of our favorite experiences in the Badlands!
While many of the hikes in the Badlands are pretty easy and flat interpretive trails, the Notch Trail takes it up a notch (I couldn’t help myself there) and throws in some really fun elements to make it interesting and challenging!
However, the Notch Trail might not be for everyone, especially those afraid of heights. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about hiking the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park to help you decide if this adventure is something you want to tackle! We’ll go over what you can expect on the Notch Trail hike, where to find it, the best time to hike it, where to stay, and more.
In this Notch Trail hiking guide:
Where is the Notch Trail
If you’re looking to hike the Notch Trail, then your travels will take you to Badlands National Park in Southern South Dakota.
This National Park is truly underrated and incredibly scenic. There is one major road that cuts through the heart of the park (Badlands Loops Road) that has one of the biggest “wow” factors of any scenic drive we’ve ever done! If you want to learn more about all the amazing things to do in the Badlands, including scenic viewpoints and hikes, and learn more about where to stay, when to go, and what to bring, check out our Badlands National Park Guide!
We’ll give you a small preview of that guide now: At the top of the list of best things to do in Badlands National Park is, of course, hiking! While you can get amazing views of the badlands along the scenic roads, hiking the trails in the badlands will get you up close and personal to the moon-like formations, making you truly feel like you’re on another planet. And because of the park’s open hike policy, you’re free to explore to your heart’s content…the badlands are truly a giant playground!
How to get to the Notch Trailhead in Badlands National Park
The Notch Trail is at the eastern end of Badlands Loop Road, not too far past the Northeast Entrance Station. It’s about halfway between the entrance and the Visitor Center. It’s ideally located so that you can start pretty early without having to drive a long way down the Loop Road.
The Notch Trail shares parking with three other trails (the Door Trail, the Window Trail, and the Castle Trail). It’s a long parking lot (very long). The Notch Trail starts on the far right side, so try to get a spot on that side of the lot to avoid a lot of extra walking.
The start of the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park. This is found at the far right side of the large parking lot.
How Long is the Notch Trail?
Here are some stats for hiking the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park.
Trail length: 1.4 miles round trip
Trail type: Out and back
Elevation gain: 144 feet
Elevation profile of the Notch Trail:
A satellite view of the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park
How long does it take to hike the Notch Trail?
It took us about 50 minutes to hike the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park.
The biggest factor in how long it will take you to hike the Notch Trail is the crowds. Because the Notch Trail is a fan favorite and one of the most popular hikes in Badlands National Park, we definitely recommend getting an early start to avoid the crowds. A good reason for this is because early on in the hike you’ll come across a log ladder (we’ll talk more about this in a bit!), and if there are a lot of people, you can be waiting in line for a while for this since it’s best if only one person is on the ladder at a time. We had a bit of a wait going both up and down the ladder, which added to our time on the trail.
How Hard is the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park?
We would rate the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park as moderate. It’s short without much elevation gain, but there are a couple of elements along the trail that may make this difficult or even scary for some people.
The first obstacle is the infamous log ladder found along the Notch Trail. This has you climb up the face of a Badland wall to continue the hike. I’m not sure exactly how tall it is…but we would estimate the ladder is about 25 feet tall or so.
The log ladder on the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park
This is definitely the most difficult part of the Notch Trail hike, and I will admit, it’s a little scarier than it looks! The ladder is fixed at the top, but it’s just rope and logs, so it’s a little wobbly. It helps to know that it never goes completely vertical, but gets pretty close to doing that at the top. Going up wasn’t so bad, but going down was a bit scarier. At the top, the distance between rungs was a bit big, so for someone short like me (I’m about 5’3”), it was bit hard to reach each step as I was lowering myself down, but it was manageable.
Because the ladder is kind of wobbly and people might find it scary and want to take it slow, we recommend sticking to one person on the latter at a time. This makes a bit longer of a wait if there are a lot of people, but it just makes it so everyone is comfortable and doesn’t feel rushed going up or down.
If you’re afraid of heights, this definitely might be a challenge for you.
The second “obstacle” of the Notch Trail is just after the ladder. There is a brief section where you’ll have to walk across a ledge that has some exposure and just some minor rocky sections you have to scramble over along the way. I never felt uncomfortable along this, but again, if you’re prone to fear of heights and exposure, this might be a bit difficult for you. You’ll see pictures of this in just a little bit when we talk about our experience on the Notch Trail below.
Other than these two elements, the Notch Trail is pretty straightforward and easy!
Best Time to Hike the Notch Trail
We would say the best time to do any hike in Badlands National Park is either during the spring or fall. This is when temperatures are a bit more moderate, and the summer crowds have dwindled down as well.
If you visit the Badlands in the summer and want to hike the Notch Trail, then we suggest doing this hike early in the morning or later afternoon/early evening to avoid the midday heat.
Starting early or late or visiting on a week day will also help avoid crowds on the most popular hike in the Badlands! We started this hike late afternoon mid-week in July and the crowds weren’t too bad. The parking lot was only about half full, and we really didn’t see too many people on the trail except at the ladder. I’d say we waited for about ten minutes when going up and then again when we were coming down to get our turn on the ladder. Because people might be going slow if they’re a little afraid, it will take some time. Also, it’s two-way traffic on the ladder, so you have to stagger turns, which adds to the wait time. Because of this, the Notch Trail is one of those hikes where going the extra effort to avoid crowds is worth it, especially if you’re on a tight schedule.
Where to Stay Near the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park
The closest town to stay in near Badlands National Park is the town of Wall, which is about a half hour away from the Notch trailhead if coming in through the Northeast Entrance station.
If you want to stay inside the park, the only option for lodging in Badlands National Park is the Cedar Pass Lodge, which is near the Ben Reifel visitor center. This will put you about five minutes away from the Notch trailhead.
Camping in Badlands National Park
There are two campgrounds in Badlands National Park, one of which will put you right near the Notch Trail.
The Cedar Pass campground is a huge year- round campground located right next to the Ben Reifel visitor center and about five minutes from the Notch trailhead. Reservations have to be made through the Cedar Pass Lodge.
Cost: $23 for tents, $38 for electric hook ups.
The Sage Creek Campground is located on Sage Creek Rim Road, which is unpaved but doable with standard cars when dry. It’s a free, tent-only, first-come first-served site, and is pretty primitive – there are pit toilets but no potable water. This is on the opposite end of the Loop Road (down another road called Sag Creek Rim Road), so you’ll have to drive basically the entire scenic loop to get to the Notch Trailhead, which will take about an hour.
Cost: Free!
Camping outside of Badlands National Park
There are a few free dispersed camping areas located outside of the Pinnacles entrance station, which is the station at the opposite end of Loop Road from the Notch Trail. This is a good free option if you are a self-sufficient camper without the need for services and hook-ups, but again, you’ll be about an hour away from the Notch Trail. You could drive straight to the trailhead in the morning, hike the Notch Trail, and then as you make your way back to camp, drive the scenic road back and make various stops. Or you can take your time on the scenic drive in the morning, and slowly make your way to the Notch Trail for a late afternoon/evening hike.
Our Experience Hiking the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park
We gave you all the important information already, but we wanted to share our time on the trail to give you a better idea of what to expect when hiking the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park.
The Notch Trail starts off as an easy flat path from the parking lot through a valley between two walls of badlands. There are some areas where the trail seems to go off in two different directions, but there are poles marking the actual trail so just keep your eyes out for those.
Keep your eye out for trail markers along the Notch Trail! You can see one here along the path to the right.
As you get deeper into the trail, the Badland formations get closer and more impressive.
Soon after you start, you’ll come to the most harrowing part of the entire Notch Trail hike…the ladder!
Like we described above, the ladder along the Notch Trail is a bit scary for those afraid of heights, but going up is much easier than going down, so just remember if you do make it up, what goes up must come down! Though I found it to be a bit scary, it was a good challenge, in a fun way!
If you don’t get an early head start, expect some crowding here. We had to wait here for about ten minutes before we got our shot on the ladder as groups were going both up and down when we got there, so you’ll have to be a bit patient here. But it’s definitely good practice to just give people their space and time to get up this section.
Approaching the ladder along the Notch Trail in the Badlands (the ladder is on the right). There was a huge crowd of people here, but they had all just come down and were getting ready to head out, so we didn’t have to wait too long for our turn to go up.
Right after the ladder, you’ll walk a short stretch of narrow ledge along one of the walls of the badlands. From here, you get great views ahead of you over the Badlands, and you can also look back at the ladder and watch all the little ants make their way up and down. Make sure to watch out for a few signs that point the way along the trail so you don’t find yourself in a dangerous situation. I didn’t find this part too scary or uncomfortable, but it can definitely be a challenge for those with a fear of heights.
Walking along the ledge after the ladder climb on the Notch Trail in the Badlands
A view from the ledge back towards the Notch Trail and the ladder climb (to the left in this picture)
Towards the end of the ledge area there is small scramble section up a short section of rocks, but it’s nothing too difficult. Once out of this part, the hike becomes easy and flat again. I loved this part of the Notch Trail because the Badlands just seem to tower around you.
A small section of scrambling along the Notch Trail
Once you come off the ridge, you’ll be surrounded by towering Badland features - this is an incredibly scenic point along the Notch Trail!
Just before the overlook, the trail seems to split again. It appears you can either go straight or to the right. The trail goes to the right (you’ll see the poles heading that way). From here, it’s a short walk to the end of the Notch Trail and the overlook of the White River Valley. After the views you just got along the trail, the view from the overlook honestly is a little underwhelming, but the Notch Trail hike is still certainly worth it because of how much fun the rest of the trail is!
Heading towards the final overlook on the Notch Trail
Looking out over the White River Valley at the end of the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park
Once you’re done here, it’s time to head back the way you came. Again, you’ll probably have to wait a bit for your turn on the ladder, and for me, it was a bit scarier going down than up and definitely got the heart pumping! Take it slow and you should be fine! If you’re with someone who is a little less afraid, you can have them go down first and you can follow right after so they can kind of coach you down and tell you where to put your feet, especially if you’re on the shorter side.
After the ladder, it’s smooth sailing out to finish the Notch Trail. At the trailhead, congratulate yourself for a job well done on the best hike in Badlands National Park!
Extra Tips for Hiking the Notch Trail
Here are just some extra tidbits or important reminders if you decide to do the Notch Trail hike in Badlands National Park!
Cost: It costs $30 per vehicle to get into Badlands National Park and access the Notch Trail. This pass is good for seven consecutive days.
Conditions: Be sure the check trail and road conditions before heading out.
Weather: Especially in the summer, the Badlands are prone to thunderstorms. Check the weather before hiking the Notch Trail so you don’t get caught out in the exposed Badlands in a storm!
Wet conditions: Don’t hike the Notch Trail in wet or rainy conditions because it can become too dangerous to hike.
Start hiking early: to avoid both heat and crowds.
Things to pack for hiking the Notch Trail include:
Hiking boots/shoes: You definitely want hiking shoes with good traction to walk along the Badlands and ledges.
Sunscreen and hat: The heat and sun can get quite intense out here and there’s virtually no shade in the Badlands, so you’ll definitely need extra sun protection.
Water: It’s a short hike, but still bring plenty of water…you might be out there longer than you think!
Other Hikes Near the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park
There are plenty of other hikes in the Badlands near the Notch Trail with more epic scenery!
If you’ve done the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park and want to do more hiking, or if the Notch Trail doesn’t sound like your cup of tea and you want other options, then check out our guide to all the amazing hikes in Badlands National Park!
Also take a look at our other Badlands National Park guides to see how you can fit the Notch Trail into a full day Badlands itinerary:
The Best Things to Do in Badlands National Park: Ultimate Guide + Tips!
More to do in South Dakota
If you’re looking for more to do in the general area and want to make the Notch Trail and Badlands National Park a part of a larger South Dakota road trip, check out some of our other guides to help you plan a perfect South Dakota road trip itinerary.
HIKING IN WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK - Search for bison in the mixed grass prairie of Wind Cave National Park on the Lookout Point Loop Trail.
BEST HIKES IN CUSTER STATE PARK - Walk among rock spires and climb to the tallest peak of South Dakota! Check out our favorite hikes in Custer State Park to learn how.
MOUNT RUSHMORE - Learn how to visit this iconic American landmark and hike along the Presidential Trail in our Mount Rushmore guide.
DEVILS TOWER - This unique geological structure has plenty of hiking trails to keep you busy for a day or more. Learn how to plan a visit with our complete Devils Tower guide!
SOUTH DAKOTA ROAD TRIP - Learn how to plan a South Dakota road trip, from one day to one week! Hit all the must-see spots like Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave, Custer State Park, Badlands, Crazy Horse, Jewel Cave, and more!
The Notch Trail in Badlands National Park is definitely one for the bucket list. We hope this guide has helped you plan and prepare for this epic Badlands hike. Let us know if you have any questions…we love to help!