The Door Trail

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Located within the Northern Great Plains, Badlands National Park protects 244,000 acres of ruggedly beautiful landscapes - native mixed grass prairie, fossils, spectacular desert scenery, and a variety of native wildlife await the intrepid visitor.

Numerous scenic overlooks along the Badlands Loop Road provide amazing views of the expansive desert wilderness, but to truly experience the beauty of the Badlands you need to get off road and on a trail - the Door Trail is a great introduction to the spires, buttes, and vastness of the mako sica, the Lakota name for the area.

The Door Trail, a 0.75 mile out and back path, leads hikers along a boardwalk for the first 0.25 miles, before passing through a break in the Badlands Wall known as “the Door” - the boardwalk ends with an overlook, but inquisitive hikers can venture out into the desert. Follow the yellow markers to an endpoint with a view, or explore wherever your heart desires!