Hi there!
The Saddle Pass Trail is one of the trails that I thought was a scary trail in Badlands National Park.
Note that this doesn’t mean that you will be scared. I get scared easily. 😜
The trail itself is short. It’s listed as a quarter of a mile round trip.
Here is how the National Park Service describes the Saddle Pass Trail:
This short trail climbs up the Badlands Wall to a view over the White River Valley.
Despite being one of the shorter trails in the park, Saddle Pass is one of the steepest, with approximately 300 feet of elevation change.
This short but steep trail is not recommended when wet, for those with a fear of heights, or people with knee or ankle concerns.
So…
What makes the Saddle Pass Trail a dangerous hike in Badlands National Park?
In short, it’s the dry loose gravel on a steep slope that made this scary for me.
I was afraid that I was going to slip and go sliding down the hill and maybe off the cliff! Okay, maybe that is a bit dramatic 😜, but I was worried about slipping and falling.
I was wearing hiking boots and I was quite happy to have my hiking poles for additional stability in going up the hill.
Follow the blue posts to stay on the Saddle Pass Trail!
First, no matter where you are hiking in Badlands National Park, if you’re hiking on an official trail, then always be looking for the next post ahead to know that you are still on your intended trail! There are lots of side trails here and there, so it’s not that difficult to get off the trail if you’re not paying attention.
And apparently, it’s not that difficult to get started on the wrong trail at Saddle Pass Trail!
Before I even started hiking on the Saddle Pass Trail, there was a quick moment where I wasn’t even sure about getting to the top of this trail.
Here is how my hike started.
I rounded the bend…
And OMG. That looks crazy!
There are 2 guys who look like they are struggling to come down the trail.
Well, it turns out that wasn’t the actual trail.
I looked over and saw a sign post that indicated the Saddle Pass Trail.
I wasn’t sure if these guys purposely decided to go up that way. It turns out they didn’t. They wanted to go on the Saddle Pass Trail. But this is what happens if you just follow the first trail you see! Always look for the post!
It looked like they were having great difficulty coming down. They did manage to come down just fine though, it just took some time. They then did the actual Saddle Pass Trail they intended to do.
The adventures of hiking in Badlands National Park!! 😄
What to do after you reach the top of Saddle Pass Trail
Of course, you can head straight back down! (Be careful with that loose gravel!)
Or, the Saddle Pass Trail connects to other trails, so you can make it into a longer hike in the Badlands.
Once you reach the top of the Saddle Pass Trail, you’ll find a trail junction to get you on the Castle Trail or Medicine Root Trail.
You can go left, straight, or right!
The Castle Trail goes in both directions to the left and right, and then the Medicine Loop will be straight.
Hiking from Saddle Pass trail junction:
- Saddle Pass to Medicine Root Trail to Castle Trail loop: around 4.2 miles round trip
- Saddle Pass to Door Trail: around 6.8 miles round trip
- Saddle Pass to Fossil Exhibit Trail: around 4 miles round trip
How to see the views from the top of Saddle Pass without hiking the Saddle Pass Trail: Castle Trail to Saddle Pass Trail
Similarly, even if you don’t want to hike the Saddle Pass Trail, you can get to the top of Saddle Pass Trail by hiking another trail.
The Castle Trail goes right by the Saddle Pass Trail.
So when you are hiking the Castle Trail, when you come to the trail junction (there will be a sign), you can stop and take the side trail to see the Saddle Pass Trail!
You can start the Castle Trail from near the Door Trail / Window Trail / Notch Trail (same parking) or from near the Fossil Trail. Basically the trail goes straight across from one end to the other, and Saddle Pass is in the middle.
The whole Castle Trail out-and-back is around 10 miles round trip.
If you don’t want to hike the whole Castle Trail, starting at either end will offer you worthy views of the badlands. You can make Saddle Pass your turnaround point when starting from either direction! That may be 4-5 miles round trip. See more about where to start hiking the Castle Trail.
More below about hiking the Saddle Pass Trail!
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Starting the Saddle Pass Trail
The Saddle Pass trailhead parking can be found directly along Badlands Loop Road, which is the main road that goes through Badlands National Park.
Saddle Pass trailhead is on google maps. Before you go, it can be good to download the offline google maps (it’s free) since you may not get service inside the park.
When you get near, you’ll see a sign for Saddle Pass Trail.
You will be able to see scenic views of the badlands from the Saddle Pass trailhead without even stepping foot on the trail. (Well, you can see scenic views even as you’re driving TO Saddle Pass Trail!)
The field across the road from the Saddle Pass Trail parking lot is also an area where I saw bighorn sheep in Badlands National Park! So be on the lookout!
Once you are ready to get started on your hike, you can cross the bridge!
👆 A rugged 1/4 mile climb to the junction with Castle Trail: Finding the pass too steep and rough for wagon traffic, homesteaders on the way to Interior SD parked their rigs at the top, then walked or coaxed their horses down.
And off you go on the Saddle Pass Trail! Be on the lookout for the trail posts!
And then you’ll reach the top of the Saddle Pass Trail!
And then… you can head back down, or locate another trail!
And that’s a bit about hiking the Saddle Pass Trail!
If you’re interested in Saddle Pass Trail, you may also be interested in these activities:
- The other scary hike: Notch Trail aka Badlands ladder hike
- Best hikes in Badlands National Park
- Badlands National Park campground to see buffalo and prairie dogs
- Things to do in Badlands National Park for views
- Things to do in the Black Hills
- Best hikes in Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota badlands)
- Things to do in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- National parks in South Dakota
- National parks in Wyoming
HAPPY CLIMBING UP THE SADDLE PASS TRAIL!
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