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Badlands Notch Trail Hike

Badlands Notch Trail is a hike in South Dakota, USA, with a practical distance, season, packing, and safety overview.

By For The RepsPublished Jun 3, 2026Updated Jun 3, 20264 min read
In this guide5 sections
  1. 01Short description
  2. 02Why it is worth doing
  3. 03What to bring
  4. 04Safety notes
  5. 05Beginner suitability
hike scenery for Badlands Notch Trail near South Dakota
hike scenery for Badlands Notch Trail near South Dakota. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Notch_View_Badlands_National_Park_South_Dakota_2024.jpg. Notch View Badlands National Park South Dakota 2024 by Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Sourced from Wikimedia Commons. Search query: "Badlands Notch". Relevance score: 71.
Region
USA
Country
USA
Activity
hike
Difficulty
Advanced
Distance
14-14 km
Duration
5-8 hours
Best season
Spring through fall
Beginner friendly
With experience

Short description

Badlands Notch Trail offers a useful outdoor day in South Dakota. The route is best treated as steady aerobic movement rather than a test.

Why it is worth doing

Suggested addition

This hike gives you a change of scenery, natural pacing, and a low-pressure way to build confidence outside the gym or road routine.

What to bring

Suggested addition
  • supportive shoes
  • water
  • snacks
  • weather layer
  • map or offline route
  • sun protection

Safety notes

Suggested addition
  • Check weather, daylight, and route closures before starting.
  • Turn around early if conditions change or footing becomes unsafe.

Beginner suitability

Suggested addition

This is best for people with prior outdoor experience or a local guide.

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