Quick scenic drive through badlands

My husband and i are driving (quickly) across country and don%26#39;t have much time to take in the sites however, when possible we want to pick up some key places. Tomorrow morning we are leaving eastern wisconsin and driving to rapid city. That said, we really want to take in the badlands if it doesn%26#39;t add too much to are already long (12-13 hour) drive.

Does anyone know how scenic it would be taking the 44 at cactus flats to rapid city instead of the 90? will we get to see much of the actual badlands?

What about taking the badlands loop instead? What is that road like and is it really slow going?

we wont be arriving to the area until about 7pm at night - does that give us enough time to drive through the park?

Any adivce would be great!

Quick scenic drive through badlands

I%26#39;ll make this REALLY easy for you....

When driving along I-90 (you%26#39;ll be west bound), get off Exit 131 and head south (towards the park and the tiny town of Interior). Stay on the ';Badlands Loop Road'; which will (no surprise here) loop you through the most scenic portions of the badlands. You will be amazed at the scenery. This loop will drop you right back onto I-90 at Wall, SD, Exit 110. It is not very far mileage wise, and will take you maybe 1 hour without stops. You have a good chance of seeing buffalo and prairie dogs and pronghorns, especially at that time of day. If you have no chance of seeing buffalo anywhere else along your trip, ask the rangers at the station where you pay for your park pass where they are (they%26#39;ll show you on the map) and you can go and hunt them down. If you%26#39;ll be seeing buffalo elsewhere or don%26#39;t really care, then you can just travel straight through.

44 is too long and too dull and won%26#39;t be worthwhile at night.

Sunset should be around 7:30 p.m. But note that is MOUNTAIN time, which you will still be in CENTRAL time when you leave Wisconsin. So you will pick up an hour along the way. Make sure you don%26#39;t get in any later than 7 a.m. Adjust your start time for the day if you must. Getting in around sunset will be stunning, but being there after dark will be pointless. I think if you%26#39;re pulling off I-90 between 6:30 and 6:45 it will be perfect. Still worthwhile at 7 p.m.

There are numerous LITTLE hikes available by pulling your car off along the Loop Road and following a marked trail. Some only take around 5 minutes. Look at your map that they give you at the park entrance. You may be dying to stretch your legs by this point in the trip, so it might work well for you.

If you need to eat, you can grab something in Wall after dark.

Quick scenic drive through badlands

Thanks for both the post and the response. We are driving in the opposite direction today, and were wondering about the feasibility of doing the badlands loop this morning. Sounds like we definitely can. Any advice about which specific short hikes are worth doing? We are coming from Glacier and Yellowstone, so have seen our share of wildlife on this trip. Thanks!

There are LOTS of little walks that are basically ';pull your car over and fall out and walk'; type. Just pull over whenever the area looks good and you see the brown national park trail marking signs. Most you walk out as far as you want, then turn around and come back. Some are short loops.

If you want to do something a ';little bit more'; I would highly recommend the ';Notch Trail'; if you are steady on your feet. It%26#39;s fun, you walk in a canyon, climb up a ';ladder'; then walk a trail along a cliff. There are all sorts of warning signs at the beginning about wearing heavy hiking boots, etc. etc. but my husband did it in flip-flops (I know, he%26#39;s crazy) and my kids were in sneakers and I was in sturdy sandals. There is a spectacular view at the end of the hike and the whole thing feels like a fun adventure. Do take water, as it is HOT amongst the rocks. The whole thing can be done in maybe 35 minutes there and back if you don%26#39;t dawdle and no one has to be dragged screaming along because they%26#39;re terrified of heights, or you stop to pose lots of silly photos on the ladder, etc etc.

The Door Trail and the Windows Trail leave from the same large parking lot. Both take about 10 - 15 minutes. The Notch Trail leaves from the north end of that same parking lot and is slightly longer (1 3/4 mile round trip). It is also for the little more adventurous, as you climb a log and rope ladder along the way. I consider all three of these not to be missed.

The Castle Trail/Medicine Root Trail starts across the road from that same parking lot. This one makes about a 10 mile round trip, so probably doesn%26#39;t fit in the short hike category, unless you want to just start and turn around.

The Saddle Pass Trail connects the Loop Road to the middle of the Castle Trail/Medicine Root Trail. It%26#39;s short (.2 miles), but steep. See my review for pictures.

The Cliff Shelf Nature Trail a little further down the road, just north of the Visitor Center. It%26#39;s a half mile loop, and is a must see. It%26#39;s very easy walking: boardwalk, steps.

The Fossil Exhibit Nature Trail is a 1/4 mile wheelchair accessible trial 5 miles northwest of the Visitor Center. Examples of fossils that have been found are under clear domes.

Agree with DrDebi...

Take the Notch trail and plenty of water. We took a 32 bottle of water between 2 adults and 2 children and on the return trip we ran out. No danger.... you probably need at a couple of bottles to take with you.

The heat was coming off the rocks. I wouldn%26#39;t call them rocks, but there are more very hard compact clay. There were only a few trees (cedar), we used the shading from the hills as cover. It is about a 45 minute hike (to and back).

The notch ladder was a little nerving particularly with children (ages 10 and 13) They managed though. You sit down before going back down turn around on your fours and back down beginning with your feet (step by step). Is is more vertical near the top, but slopes more horizontally from the middle on down to the floor. THe ladder length is about 30 feet.

There are a few points once your above the floor where there are some drop-offs and some signs posted, ';do not take this trail';, you have to go around or take another route as 5 yards of trail are too close to the edge particularly from erosion.

Again, the kids managed and enjoyed this little hike, but do take enough water, a hat, and sunscreen....

The drive through the park is a must. It took me around 3-4 hours but I stopped at every look out and hiked the many short trails.

Here is a link which will give you some idea of how the park looks like.

%26lt;a href=';eqtravelphotography.com/badlands-scenic-driv鈥?/a>';%26gt;Badlands Scenic Drive%26lt;/a%26gt;

I took the 240 loop yesterday on my way back to Wisconsin from Deadwood. I only spent about an hour because I had such a long drive ahead of me.

There were several interesting looking places I would have like to hike if I had more time.

I am really glad I took the time to at least drive thru the park. It was really worth the $15.00 admission even to just drive thru as quickly as I did.

It sounds like if you are afraid of heights, then Notch Trail would not be good for you. Am I correct in that? Being near narrow ledges with dropoffs scares me alot..so am I right in skipping this trail??

Go ahead and do it, and if you get to a point that is no longer comfortable for you, then turn around and go back. Easy enough! My oldest son, who was 11 at the time is quite afraid of heights/falling. He made it up the ladder and around the cliff and balked at the ';Danger'; sign where you have to crawl up and over a rock to get to the final segment (I have to admit that part gave me pause, also). At that point you%26#39;re almost done with the trail. He turned around and went back to the ladder. My husband finally coaxed him the last section.

Really any of the trails (including the Notch) you can turn around when ever it gets too hot or high or whatever for you. The first half of the Notch trail you%26#39;re at the base of a small canyon, then you go up the ladder and you%26#39;re at the top of the little canyon. Go as far as you are comfortable.

Thank you for your advice.

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