Castle Trail, Badlands N.P.
6 images 1 contributors Shoot with care
Sue Wolfe
Shoot with care
Follow the National Park's rules. Climbing on the buttes can cause erosion. If you find a fossil leave it where it is, take a photo, and tell a Park Ranger what you have uncovered. Finally, keep a safe distance from wildlife—the Park recommends 100 feet.
About this spot
The Castle Trail is the longest maintained trail in the Park (5 miles one way) and will take 2-3 hours to hike. If you do not want to hike the entire path, hike a section and retrace your steps to the “Door/Window/Notch” parking area. If done in its entirety, the trail ends at the Fossil Exhibit parking lot.
The nicest section of the trail may be the section from the Notch Trail parking lot to the junction with Medicine Root Trail. The Castle Trail is mostly flat and wanders through grasslands, though there are a few sections where you hike through canyons of colorful hills.
The nicest section of the trail may be the section from the Notch Trail parking lot to the junction with Medicine Root Trail. The Castle Trail is mostly flat and wanders through grasslands, though there are a few sections where you hike through canyons of colorful hills.
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