Castle Trail (Badlands) Hiking Guide
The Castle Trail is the longest maintained trail in Badlands National Park and the best way to get away from the overlooks and into the formations. It runs from the Door and Window parking area to the Fossil Exhibit Trail, mostly level, with buttes and spires on one side and prairie on the other. It also makes a good stand-in while the nearby Notch Trail is closed.
Permit: Badlands National Park charges an entrance fee: $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle or $15 per person entering on foot or bike (age 16 and up), each valid 7 days. A Badlands annual pass is $55 and the America the Beautiful pass is accepted. No cash.
Distance and Options
The park lists the Castle Trail as 10 miles round trip, five miles each way between the Door and Window parking area and the Fossil Exhibit Trail, and rates it moderate. AllTrails maps the out-and-back at 10.3 miles with 249 feet of gain and estimates three to three and a half hours. If you can shuttle a car, hiking it one way from one end to the other halves the distance. For a loop, the four-mile Medicine Root Loop joins the Castle Trail near the Old Northeast Road and at the top of Saddle Pass.
What the Walking Is Like
The park describes the route as relatively level as it passes along the badlands formations. The park's general warning about rain applies here as on every Badlands trail: conditions change fast, so pack rain gear and turn back if a storm rolls in over the wall.
Heat and Water
This is a long day with almost no shade. The park's rule of thumb is two quarts of water per person for every two hours on the trail, which means carrying a lot for the full out-and-back. Bring a hat, sunscreen and rain gear, since storms move in fast. The park's own dog-walking page calls summer too hot to leave pets in the car and warns of rattlesnakes, which says a lot about midday conditions; spring and fall are the seasons to aim for.
Wildlife and Rules
Keep at least 100 feet from any wildlife you meet; if an animal reacts to you, the park says you are too close. Wear sturdy footwear against cactus spines and snakes. Everything in the park, from fossils to rocks and plants, stays where you find it. Pets are not permitted on Badlands trails, so leave dogs at home or plan a walk on a park road with them instead.
Fee and Trailheads
The entrance fee is $30 per private vehicle for seven days, card only, at the Northeast, Pinnacles or Interior stations or online. The east end starts at the Door and Window parking area, which also serves the Door and Window trails. The west end is at the Fossil Exhibit Trail. Rangers at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center can suggest routes for your fitness and time.
Hiking tips for Castle Trail (Badlands)
- Carry more water than feels necessary; the park suggests two quarts per two hours.
- Start at sunrise in warm months to finish before the midday heat.
- Use the Medicine Root Loop to make a shorter loop from Saddle Pass or the Old Northeast Road.
- Ask at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center about conditions before a long day out.
- Pack rain gear; Badlands storms build quickly even on clear mornings.
Nearby trails to explore
- Notch Trail (Badlands)
- Lookout Point and Centennial Trail Loop (Wind Cave)
- Black Elk Peak Trail 9 from Sylvan Lake
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Ten miles through the Badlands goes faster with company, and a shuttle partner makes it a one-way walk. Use TrailMates to find hikers in the Black Hills and Badlands for the Castle Trail. Download the TrailMates app to connect.