Hi there!
The Notch Trail is an iconic hike in Badlands National Park.
What makes it iconic is the Notch Trail ladder!
The Notch Trail is the Badlands hike with a ladder!
This is a kind of rope log ladder so it moves a little when you’re on it.
This ladder part of the trail makes the Notch Trail one of the scary trails of Badlands National Park!
Note that this doesn’t mean that you will be scared.
I get scared easily. 😜
But actually, you don’t need to climb the ladder up in order to hike the Notch Trail. 😂
When I was there, there were a number of people who climbed up the steep trail that was off to the left of the ladder.
I did this too. 😆
This does have some of the dry and loose gravel, which at a steep angle can cause slipping if you’re not careful… and even if you are.
I did come down on the ladder though. 😱
And yeah the whole time I thought I was going to slip and fall off the ladder. 😆😬😅
But I get scared easily like that. 😜
🌞
So the Notch Trail is one of the adventure trails of Badlands National Park.
If you can get past the Notch Trail ladder, then you will be able to manage the rest of the trail just fine.
This will have you hiking with rock formations all around you, and it ends with a viewpoint of the open grasslands.
The Notch Trail is listed as 1.5 miles round trip.
You might spend about 1 hour on the Notch Trail round trip.
Here is how the National Park Service describes the Notch Trail:
After meandering through a canyon, this 1.5-mile round trip trail climbs a log ladder and follows a ledge to “the Notch” for a dramatic view of the White River Valley.
Watch for drop-offs.
Not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights.
Treacherous during or after heavy rains or snow.
What to do near the Badlands ladder hike?!
You’ve got options!
The parking lot of the Notch Trail is also the start of other trails!
If you parked near Notch Trail, you can now start the Window Trail which is right near the Notch Trail.
Or, you can also start the Castle Trail that’s located in the middle of the parking lot across the road, which means that parking near Notch Trail will be just fine for starting the Castle Trail.
Or, once you’ve finished up the Notch Trail, you can then drive down to the other side of the parking lot to start the Door Trail!
Or, you could just walk to Door Trail from Notch Trail too, but driving there means you get to cool off in the car’s AC for at least a little bit. The Badlands are hot! Just saying! No shame in wanting to get a bit of a cool down when it’s in the 90s… or higher! 😜
Stay safe in hot weather, especially when there’s potential you’ll be out on the trail for over an hour like on the Notch Trail!
Carry a water bottle with you any time you step out of the car!
You never know if you’ll want to wander around the nearby rock formations, which means you may be out in that hot weather longer than you intended!
Also always have a gallon jug or 2 (or more) in your car for easy fill-up of water… and so you’ll always have access to water!
When you’re at the parking lot, look out for wildlife too! I saw bighorn sheep in Badlands National Park at the parking lot!
HAPPY CLIMBING UP THE NOTCH TRAIL LADDER!
More for Badlands trip planning:
- Best hikes in Badlands National Park
- Best campgrounds in Badlands National Park
- Things to do in Badlands National Park
- Badlands National Park to Mount Rushmore
- Best places to visit in South Dakota
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