Hi there!
If you’re looking to stretch your legs a bit as you’re driving the Badlands Loop Road, then you might want to make a stop for the Window Trail!
The Window Trail of Badlands National Park is a nice leisurely trail that is pretty short and comes with scenic views of the South Dakota badlands.
You’ll walk the boardwalk trail, and at the end of the boardwalk you will arrive at the “window” of the Badlands “wall.”
And through this window of the wall gives you a different viewpoint of the Badlands!
Because of the convenient location off the main road, Window Trail is one of the easy things to do in Badlands National Park.
The official description of Window Trail, as described by the National Park Service:
This short trail leads to a natural window in the Badlands Wall with a view of an intricately eroded canyon.
The National Park Service also describes the Window Trail as easy.
The Window Trail is officially listed as 0.25 miles with a suggested time of 20 minutes. That said, even if you are casually walking and taking in the views, you can easily complete the Window Trail in 10 minutes.
Getting to the Window trailhead parking
The Window Trail starts from a pretty big parking lot which is also the parking for other nearby trailheads.
Other trails you can start from the Window Trail parking lot include the Notch Trail, the Door Trail, and the Castle Trail. All of these trails are worthy in their own way, if you want to make time for them before or after the Window Trail!
This Window Trail parking lot is found in the Cedar Pass area of Badlands National Park, and it’s near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, as well as both the Interior entrance and the northeast entrance of Badlands National Park.
Ben Reifel Visitor Center to Window Trail is about a 5 minute drive. (google maps)
Northeast entrance of Badlands National Park to Window Trail is about a 5 minute drive. (google maps)
Cedar Pass campground to Window Trail is about a 5 minute drive. (google maps) This is near the Interior entrance.
Sage Creek campground to Window Trail is about a 1 hour drive if you take I-90. (google maps) It will be about a 1.5 hour drive if you drive entirely through the park along Badlands Loop Road… if you don’t stop at all! (google maps)
For google maps, Window Trailhead is on google maps and will get you there. It may be best to download offline google maps before you go (it’s free) as data may be sporadic throughout Badlands National Park.
Where to park for the Window Trail
So again, the parking lot for Window Trail is big. If you want to be the closest to Window Trail, when you are facing the Badlands formations on the parking lot side, you will want to park closer to the RIGHT side of the parking lot.
More below about what you’ll see as you are walking to the window of the Badlands wall!
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Now…
What you’ll see hiking the Window Trail to the window of the Badlands Wall!
aka PHOTOS!
So the Window trailhead starts directly at the parking lot. You will just look for the trailhead sign that says Window Trail. Before you start, it’s always a good habit to read the trailhead sign and take a picture of the map if there is one! (It will be impossible to go the wrong way or get lost on the Window Trail, but it’s just a good thing to do in general!)
And then off you go on the trail!
And then possibly in less than 5 minutes you will reach the window of the Badlands Wall!
And then once you’ve taken in the views from the Badlands Wall window, you can head back!
And that’s a bit about taking the Window Trail of the Badlands!
What to do near Window Trail?!
You’ve got options!
As you now know, the parking lot of the Window Trail is also the start of other trails!
If you parked near Window Trail, you can now start the Notch Trail for the Badlands ladder hike which is right near the Window 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 Window Trail will be just fine for starting the Castle Trail.
Share the Badlands National Park video!
Or, once you’ve finished up the Window 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 Window 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, even if it’s a short and “easy hike” like Window 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 Window Trail parking lot, look out for wildlife too! I saw bighorn sheep in Badlands National Park at the parking lot!
HAPPY WALKING THE WINDOW TRAIL TO THE BADLANDS WALL!
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