Hi there!
There are hiking trails in Theodore Roosevelt National Park that you do because you want to see unique rock formations, and there are hiking trails that you do because you want a chance to see wildlife!
Badlands Spur Trail is one of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park hiking trails that you can do for a chance to see wildlife!
You might see wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park while hiking the Badlands Spur Trail in North Dakota!
If you can’t see the video above, then you can watch the Badlands Spur Trail video on youtube!
And actually, you can also to see rock formations to start off the hike from the Badlands Spur trailhead!
And then you’ll continue to get some of those views of rock formations towards the start of the hike.
And then you’ll also get a bit more open space as you are hiking too.
Now the thing about wildlife is that… it is wild.
That means that wild horses do what they want and they go where they want!
There’s never a guarantee to see wildlife anywhere in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Although chance ARE good that you will in fact see wildlife while driving through Theodore Roosevelt National Park, whether that’s the South Unit Scenic Drive or the North Unit Scenic Drive! These are the 2 main roads through the national park, in the South Unit and North Unit.
But if hiking to (possibly) see wildlife sounds like your kind of a good way to spend time in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, then you might try your luck by hiking the Badlands Spur Trail!
Also note that you have a chance to see horses in the South Unit without hiking at all! I also saw horses along the side of the road while driving the South Unit Scenic Drive too!
The Badlands Spur Trail is part of larger loop trails in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
The Badlands Spur Trail is a connector trail of sorts.
It is part of the West Loop Trail that is 11.4 miles long. The West Loop Trail includes the Badlands Spur Trail, Lower Talkington Trail, Jones Creek Trail, CCC Trail, and Lower Paddock Creek Trail
It is also a part of the East Loop Trail that is 16.4 miles long. The East Loop Trail includes the Badlands Spur Trail, Lower Talkington Trail, Upper Talkington Trail, Rim Trail, and Upper Paddock Creek Trail. This side is also connected to the Painted Canyon Trail.
I did not hike the whole West Loop Trail or East Loop Trail, or really even the whole length of the Badlands Spur Trail. (Although it was most of it.)
I was on the Badlands Spur Trail for a total of a little less than 1.5 hours round trip.
It was around a 2.8 mile hike round trip.
I started at the Badlands Spur trailhead.
The Badlands Spur trailhead parking is directly along the South Unit Scenic Drive.
From the Badlands Spur trailhead, I hiked to the Badlands Spur Trail / Lower Talkington Trail junction. There is a sign post indicating that it’s the trail junction.
And then I turned around and hiked back.
When you’re at the Badlands Spur trailhead and facing the rock formations (aka trail side), the direction of the Lower Talkington Trail is to the right. Once again, there is a sign that will point you in that direction.
👆 From the Badlands Spur Trailhead, you can hike to Lower Talkington Trail junction, 1.4 miles away.
👆 From the Badlands Spur Trailhead, you can hike to Upper Paddock Creek Trail junction, 0.4 miles one way.
More ways to (maybe!) see wildlife in Theodore Roosevelt National Park:
- Jones Creek Trail… maybe see horses, prairie dogs, and buffalo?!
- Ekblom Trail… maybe see buffalo?!
- Old East Entrance Trail… maybe see prairie dogs?!
- Cottonwood Campground… maybe see buffalo?!
- North Unit Scenic Drive… probably see buffalo!
More below of hiking along Badlands Spur Trail with horse sightings!
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Hiking the Badlands Spur Trail from Badlands Spur trailhead to Lower Talkington Trail junction
I hiked the Badlands Spur Trail in August 2021 starting a little before 2pm.
You want to make sure you bring a lot of water (and snacks!) if you will be hiking in the North Dakota summer heat!
So once you are driving along the South Unit Scenic Drive and you are getting near, you will look out for the Badlands Spur trailhead sign!
You will find it directly along side of the road.
There is also a designated parking area for the Badlands Spur trailhead along the side of the road.
And then you can start hiking on the Badlands Spur Trail!
The Badlands Spur Trail starts by walking along the South Unit Scenic Drive.
And then you will start hiking more “inland” away from the road!
👆 Hiking for about 15 minutes one way.
Now, I had been hiking for around 30 minutes on the Badlands Spur Trail when I saw some horses!
If you didn’t see the Badlands Spur Trail horse video above, then you can watch it on youtube! You will also see a bunch of horses running… galloping. 😜
I continued hiking to the Lower Talkington Trail junction.
This is where you can continue hiking on the West Loop Trail or East Loop Trail by taking the Lower Talkington Trail in either direction.
👆 From the Badlands Spur – Lower Talkington Trail Junction, you can hike the Lower Talkington Trail to Jones Creek Trail Junction, 1.8 miles away.
👆 From the Badlands Spur – Lower Talkington Trail Junction, you can hike the Lower Talkington Trail to Upper Talkington Trail Junction, 2.3 miles away.
I turned around back the way I came!
And then you can get back on the road for more of the South Unit Scenic Drive!
And that’s a bit about my experience hiking the Badlands Spur Trail! Your experience may vary!
Where to (maybe!) see wildlife in Theodore Roosevelt National Park:
- Jones Creek Trail… maybe see horses, prairie dogs, and buffalo?!
- Ekblom Trail… maybe see buffalo?!
- Old East Entrance Trail… maybe see prairie dogs?!
- Cottonwood Campground… maybe see buffalo?!
- North Unit Scenic Drive… probably see buffalo!
Where to see wildlife in South Dakota:
- Sage Creek Campground… buffalo and prairie dogs?!
- Where to see bighorn sheep
See more: Hiking in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
HAPPY HIKING THE BADLANDS SPUR TRAIL HOPEFULLY WITH WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS!
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