Badlands National Park: The Door Trail

The Door Trail at Badlands National Park

The Door Trail is a popular hike at Badlands National Park located in the large parking lot that also includes the Notch and Window trails. These can be found near the Interior entrance to the park. The Door is a great hike that allows visitors to get out into the rocks and Hoodoo of the park. The first half is an accessible path that leads to a great landing. While the second half is when you get to do some exploring!

The Frontside

The hike to the Door starts at the north end of the parking lot with a long wood walkway that wraps around the wall of rock that is the feature of the popular hiking area. There are a couple of infographics letting you know more information about the surrounding area. The views of these giant rocks is really impressive from the accessible walkway.

For those who aren’t looking for a long hike but some great views or those who have any mobility concerns, the front side of this trail is really great. There is an observation point just a tenth of a mile from the parking lot. This is the same spot that expands out to what I call the backside maze of the trail.

The Backside Maze

If you are feeling adventurous and have the ability, the rest of this hike is really fun. From the observation point, there is access to get out into the rocks and explore! There is a trail that is marked with poles but it is a bit loose and the options are endless. You can explore all the way to the end of the Door trail or just get down in the rocks for a bit. I will say, if you are accustomed to hiking on an open trail, it can get a little confusing to find all of the markers.

It definitely isn’t a true maze, but it gives that feel with so many rocks formations rising from the ground. The further you hike, the more amazing the views become. It feels like these rocks just go on forever. Yet, somehow it feels small enough to be comfortable. I had so much fun walking through the rocks and pausing just to take it all in.

If you find all of the markers, you will eventually find your way to the sign that just says, “End of Trail”. That was my favorite spot of the hike. It is where the small rocks stop at a bit of a canyon and across it is a wall of multi-colored towering rocks. It reminded me a lot of the painted desert in Arizona. It is really a beautiful site.

Views and Accessibility

While there are some great views at the end of the trail, that doesn’t mean you have to go all the way there to really enjoy the trail. There are amazing views from the start of the trail and through all areas of the backside. I saw a lot of families with small kids who just went a short distance into the rocks to enjoy the views without having to explore too far.

For those with mobility concerns, there are still some great views from the viewpoint and the trail leading up to the backside. The walkway should allow even wheelchairs to make it to some of the best views of the Badlands.

This was one of my favorite trails at the Badlands because there is just so much to do for so many people. I loved the idea of moving freely through the rocks and enjoying the views of this magical land.

Video of the Hiking the Door Trail at Badlands National Park

I have put this time-lapse video together of the Badlands Door Trail hike so other hikers can get a feel of what the hike is like. If you enjoy this video make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. It is free to subscribe and you will get the latest outdoor content.

Distance and Elevation Gain

If you don’t have the AllTrails app you might want to check it out, I really love mine. It records your progress and is a great way to search for hikes that are nearby and gives you difficulty measurements. According to AllTrails today’s hike was around 1.0 mile and had a total elevation gain of about 46 feet including undulations. That put the high point at around 2640 feet. I was also moving for a total 28 minutes.

I am a Pro member of AllTrails and love it. If you are interested in the platform, please consider using my affiliate link for AllTrails. It gives me a small commission with no extra cost to you.

Effort

This isn’t a very difficult trail physically but it does have some challenges if you make it out into the rocks. There is a little bit of up and downs in the rocks. There is also technical skill needed to be able to follow the markers to make it to the end of the trail. However, you don’t necessarily need to make it all the way to the end. I am going to mark this as an easy hike but there are some challenges.

Terrain

The first half of the Door Trail at the Badlands is on a wooden walkway and is very easy to handle. The second part of the trail in the rocks is wide open on hard rock. Footing on the rocks is pretty easy but you will need to be able to find your way around the best paths. One major concern is that the trail is totally exposed. The sun and wind can be intense so make sure you have protection from the weather.

Access to the Badlands Door Trail

The Door Trail is found within Badlands National Park. It is the first designed trail after the welcome center coming in from the Interior side of the park. There is an entrance fee for the park or you can use an annual parks pass. Check here for more information on park fees.

Wrapping up the Badlands National Park Door Trail

The Door Trail at Badlands National Park is one of my favorite trails of the park. The back section in the rocks is so much fun to explore. There is a dedicated trail that follows markers around the rocks but it is so fun just to wander around the rocky terrain. The views are also so enjoyable with so many unique formations throughout the park.

There is also an accessible section of this trail for those with mobility concerns. Be careful if you go in the hotter months as there is no shade at all on the trail.

I have added this hike and all of my hikes to the interactive map page you can find here. If you have any suggestions for hikes or comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!

Gallery of the Door Trail

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