Badlands National Park: West Side Hiking and Driving Tour

At Badlands National Park we took short hikes along the Loop Road checking out fossils and going up into the Badlands along a trail. We also stopped at the many overlooks for different views of the canyons and spires we drove by.

This summer, I am detailing our road trip to the Dakotas and Mount Rushmore as a series for a family adventure you might want to do!

SADDLE PASS TRAIL

A strenuous short .25-mile trail that provides views and gives you a chance to explore the terrain.

*Bridge to the trailhead from the parking lot*

This trail first crosses a muddy creek, at least on the day we were there following recent rain, on a metal railing bridge.

Once across the bridge my son Andrew and I began to head into the ridges along the trail. He scrambled ahead of me in the hard-compacted dirt.

I stayed close to him watching his footing. We went to the top and then headed back down.

The trail ends at where it intersects the Castle and Medicine Root Loop Trails.

*Andrew looks up at me along the trail.*

Final Thoughts

It is a short trail, but a lot to take in with views and scrambling up the mounds. My son Andrew enjoyed it. I would not do this with a very young child since it is strenuous.

This trailhead is on the right side of the Badlands Loop Road or South Dakota Highway 240.

Address: SD-240, Interior, SD 57750

FOSSIL EXHIBIT TRAIL

An easy .25-mile trail that has fossil replicas and exhibits of now-extinct creatures that once roamed here.

One sign explains how animals adapt or if they don’t die off as climate changes through time.

Along the hike, Andrew was able to touch replicas of the fossils feeling the shape of their bodies and bones.

"Dying to Become a Fossil" — *“Dying to Become a Fossil”*

I liked a sign that explained an animal became a fossil and how the skeletal material dissolved and then was replaced by minerals. The process results in a copy of the creature.

"Fight For Survival" — *“Fight For Survival”*

Another talked about how a fossil can show how the animal lived and was possibly attacked in the past by another animal.

There was information on climate change about how this area was once swampy and alligators had lived here.

Sealife remains are also here such as the shelled ammonites who went extinct 65.5 million years ago.

*Changes in climate can be seen in the rock layers.*

Even the rock layers share the changing environment, ash from volcanoes, sediments from a cool dry period, a layer of sediments from an era that included streams and rivers or yellow mounds from the draining of the sea once here 67 to 75 million years ago.

*Pinnacles along the Fossil Exhibit Trail*

Along with the signs this walk was also scenic with many hard pinnacles around us.

A large rabbit jumped by us, always great to see wildlife out in nature.

Final Thoughts

This was the most educational hike in the park and I liked the easy-to-explain signs along the path.

Find the trailhead on the left side of the road.

Address: SD-240, Wall, SD 57790

OTHER TRAILS

Castle Trail

A moderate ten-mile trail goes from the Fossil Exhibit Trailhead to the Door and Window parking area through the Badlands.

Medicine Root Loop

A moderate 4-mile loop trail that connects with the Castle Trail near the Old Northeast Road and at the intersection of the Castle and Saddle Pass Trails. It goes through the grass prairie and has views of the Badlands. A warning says to watch out for cacti. This trail does not have a trailhead and is reached by the trails mentioned above.

AFTER THE HIKING

In the next part of the drive, you can stop at the many overlooks as you find your way out of the park. We managed to stop at many of them, but not all. These overlooks are along pullouts on the Loop Road and do them at your leisure.

White River Valley Overlook

The White River Valley Overlook provides an expansive view of Badlands close to a set of tall formations, known as the Castle, to the west. The view continues down into the White River Valley.

Panorama Point Overlook

We skipped Big Foot Pass Overlook and then stopped at Panorama Point Overlook. It offers a wide view of the Badlands landscape, downward towards the White River Valley.

Prairie Winds Overlook

The Prairie Winds Overlook provides an opportunity to experience the vast prairie landscape. We saw some prairie dogs when we were here.

Burns Basin Overlook

Named after the homestead of Wilson Burns, who raised sheep in the basin during the early 20th century. A freshwater spring was a rare commodity that kept this operation going. Now wells must be dug a few thousand feet deep.

Homestead Overlook

The Homestead Overlook provides a combination of scenic viewpoints and exhibits discussing the homesteading history of the area.

Conata Basin Overlook

The Conata Basin Overlook has a boardwalk with a bench, and a wayside exhibit discussing climate change and how it affects the landscape.

Yellow Mounds Overlook

It is placed within the most colorful portion of Badlands geology.

Yellow, purple, gray, and striped reddish beds display the sequence of Yellow Mounds.

Conata Picnic Area

Next, we walked around the Conata Picnic Area and had a snack at a picnic table on the grounds.

Address: Wall, SD 57790

*Andrew and David are on top of a mound by the picnic area.*

This stop is located a short distance south of Loop Road on Conata Road. After spending a short time we headed back north and then made a left onto the Loop Road to finish the loop.

Pinnacles Overlook

This view displays the expanse of the Sage Creek Wilderness area. On clear days, the Black Hills are visible on the horizon.

Ancient Hunters Overlook

Ancient Hunters Overlook was where we saw bighorn sheep and buffalo in the distance. This overlook has a wayside exhibit sharing the history of paleo-Indians in the region.

This was our last overlook after we headed out of the park.

Sage Creek Road

Sage Creek Road, which is gravel goes to the left from the loop around through more of the park, but we did not have time on our trip to do this. It does go to more overlooks and Roberts Prairie Dog Town.

DETAILS

Drive: From St. Louis take Interstate 70 west to downtown Kansas City then head north on Interstate 29 to Sioux Falls South Dakota then take Exit 396 for Interstate 90 westbound and then take exit 131 from Interstate 90 and go south on South Dakota Highway 240 to the entrance of Badlands National Park.

Hours: 24 hours

Admission: $30 per vehicle good for 7 days

Badlands NorthEast Entrance Station – Address: 21020 SD-240, Interior, SD 57750

LUNCH STOP: WALL DRUG

We had lunch at Wall Drug. This is a large complex of stores and includes restaurants. This is a tourist-friendly site with plenty to explore.

My son on a Jackalope at Wall Drug — *My son is on a Jackalope at Wall Drug*

Drive: If you drive through the national park on the Badlands Loop Road Wall Drug will be just north of the intersection of this road with Interstate 90 at exit 110.

Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily

Address: 510 Main St, Wall, SD 57790