Notch Trail

Super fun hike! The ladder section was definitely the highlight — it even has a rubber grip halfway up for extra support before you continue the climb. Not too difficult overall, and I’d highly recommend it 🙂

A must do hike if you are visiting the Badlands. The trail, the hike and the views are truly worth it. It’s about 1.5 miles return, but not easy at all, and I would not recommend for elders or kids as there is a ladder to climb and also some narrow spots which can be pretty dangerous if you’re not careful as you gain quite an elevation.Be aware of the weather conditions, plan and wear accordingly.

Don’t underestimate this short trail; it has a hundred-foot ladder-style climb, and some places where you could fall deep if you stumble over your feet at inopportune moments. The end is in a notch or pass, where you get a great view on the landscape to the southeast. Lots of people seem to drop their stuff down there, and it’s too steep and deep to get down, so you’d be up for a long hike through trail-less terrain to get there from a different starting point (there might be some free cell phones and hats in it for you though)