By Susan Berg
Badlands National Park, in Interior, South Dakota, encompasses 244,000 acres; 64,144 of which have been designated as wilderness. Badlands National Park is best known for its unique geological formations and incredibly rich fossil beds that contain the remains of long-extinct mammals. Numerous hiking trails, rated easy to strenuous, are located throughout the park.
Castle Trail
The Castle Trail is a 10-mile round-trip hike and the longest one in Badlands National Park. Rated as moderately difficult, the trail is mainly flat, but it provides views of many otherworldly Badlands rock formations.
Cliff Shelf Trail
The Cliff Shelf Trail is a half-mile loop hike. This moderate trail features a slight gain in elevation. There is a seasonal pond along the trail that gives hikers a chance to observe wildlife.
Door Trail
The Door Trail is a 3/4-mile round-trip trek. This easy trail follows an accessible boardwalk through a hole in the Badlands Wall and offers a scenic view of the Badlands landscape.
Fossil Exhibit Trail
The Fossil Exhibit Trail is an easy 1/4-mile round-trip hike that gives visitors the chance to view replicas of fossils and educational exhibits about now-extinct animals that once inhabited the area.
Medicine Root Loop
The Medicine Root Loop trail is 4 miles round trip. Rated as moderate, it is basically a stroll through a gently-rolling mixed-grass prairie.
Notch Trail
The Notch Trail is 1 1/2 miles round trip. It's rated as moderate to strenuous and ends with a view of the White River Valley below, an area called the "Notch." The hike includes a ladder climb and follows a steep ledge. Hikers should avoid this trail during and after heavy rains.
Saddle Pass Trail
The Saddle Pass Trail is only 1/4-mile from start to finish. Though short in length, it's considered strenuous because it features a steep climb to the Badlands Wall. From the top, the trail offers a view of the White River Valley.
Window Trail
The Window Trail is an easy 1/4-mile round-trip trail. A view of an eroded canyon through a "window" in the Badlands Wall is the highlight of this short walk.
About the Author:
A writer and editor based in southeastern Wyoming, Susan Berg has over ten years of experience in the field. Berg earned a Master of Arts degree in journalism from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Dayton. Her work has been published in the "Dayton Daily News" and online at websites including BiologyBiozine.com, Wcities.com, Trails.com, Travels.com and eHow.com.
