Welcome to another Travel Tuesday! We’re headed out of Minnesota this week and off to South Dakota to check out the Notch Trail in Badlands National Park!
Notch Trail in Badlands National Park
Distance: 1.3 miles out + back
Elevation: 131 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Admission: $25 for 1 private vehicle (good for 7 days); free with annual park pass ($80)
Parking: Included with admission fee
Trailhead Address: Notch Trail, Interior, SD 57750
I’d recommend going earlier in the day so it’s not too hot! As with all hikes, bringing water would also be a good idea.
I know the ladder doesn’t look too bad (steep) from the bottom, but wait til you get to the top and look down! :P
If you look up while you’re climbing, it’s almost like you’re climbing up to the sky!
This probably isn’t the best hike for anyone who’s super afraid of heights, as going up (but especially coming down) the rope ladder would probably be unnerving for some. My friend made it up and down with some encouraging pep talks!
Almost to the view!
There’s a pretty view at the end that’s definitely well worth the hike! I believe there’s supposed to be a waterfall somewhere along this trail, but when we went in July, we didn’t see one.
Please stay on the trail, as there are rattlesnakes around here! I didn’t hear any rattling here, but there were definitely lots of signs warning hikers about em’.
This is what the ladder looks like from the top!
- Have you ever been to Badlands National Park?
- Would you climb up (or down) that ladder?
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What a fun time! I love how you seek out such cool places to visit. Traveling is so much fun
It definitely is! :] I miss it already!
What a beautiful trail! I need to check this out! Love your pictures
Thank you! :]!
This hike looks so gorgeous! I’ll have to check this out when I’m in the area!
Angela recently posted…Keto Diet Holiday Survival Tips
I hope you get to go sometime! :]
Wow, nature is amazing. It looks so peaceful and almost unreal. Thanks for sharing this.
It definitely looked pretty surreal to me too!
What a fascinating landscape! I would love to check it out someday!
Yay! I hope you get to sometime! <3
Farrah recently posted…McCorkle to Indian Joe Creek to Cave Rocks Road Loop
This looks like a fun hiking trail! I’m not very good at climbing, but I do like the look of that wooden ladder! I really like the landscape here too – so pretty !
It was definitely a fun one—I loved the scenery at the top! :D
Wow this landscape is amazing, I’d love to come and take photos here! I imagine it must be stunning at sunrise or sunset.
Ahh, it’d be so awesome to come here for photos at sunrise/sunset! *-*
Wow it looks like quite an adventurous hiking trail!And the views are stunning 😍🤗 Thanks for sharing ❤️
Thanks for stopping by! :] I loved the views on this one!
Farrah recently posted…McCorkle to Indian Joe Creek to Cave Rocks Road Loop
Badlands National Park has been on my list for a long time and this trail looks amazing, I can’t wait to visit. That ladder looks a little sketchy but the view from the top seems like it would be worth it.
Ahh, I hope you get to go sometime! <3 It was definitely worth the visit + I'd love to go back! The ladder did look a tad sketch but views were absolutely worth it (and it was sturdier than it looked, hehe)!
Farrah recently posted…McCorkle to Indian Joe Creek to Cave Rocks Road Loop
That ladder looks SO fun! I would love to try this trail. And it’s not too long, either. Pinned for future planning!
Sharon recently posted…Things to Do in Idyllwild
Yay! I hope you get to go sometime! :D
Woooah Farrah, the view down that ladder is pretty impressive isn’t it! This may be a pretty short walk, but it has SUCH cool views. The notch trail looks brilliant (as long as you go early in the morning before it’s too hot!)
It issss! The view down definitely freaked my friend out (I have an unfortunate accidental habit of accidentally dragging her and her sister on adventures involving heights :'( ), but yay for pretty views!? <3
Farrah recently posted…Hiking Half Dome in Yosemite National Park
That ladder looks a little intense, and also SO fun! What a fun thing to add to the hike :)
hehehe, just a tad, but so worth it!
Farrah recently posted…Hiking Half Dome in Yosemite National Park
I haven’t made it to Badlands but it is for sure on my short list. This looks like an awesome hike!
It definitely was! I hope you get to go sometime soon! :]
Farrah recently posted…Hiking Half Dome in Yosemite National Park