Badland National Park: Castle Trail to Saddle Pass Junction Hike

Badlands National Park: Castle Trail to Saddle Pass Junction Hike

The Castle trail is one of the longest trails in Badlands National Park and connects not only sections of the park but also several trails. There are a couple of places you can start the Castle trail as it crosses the center of the park, but we took it from the Fossil Trail and followed it to the junction of the Saddle Pass trail. This took us a total of 4 miles on the out and back and showed some of the best views of the rock formations that make up the center of the Badlands.

The Badlands

My favorite part of the Castle Trail to Saddle Pass Junction hike was the very start. This is the section that is all in the rocks! The trail is pretty loose with a few trail markers directing you in the distance but there are so many cool small rock formations that it is easy to wander to your favorites. I saw a bunch of families with small kids who spent their entire time just running around these rocks and it looked like they were having a great time.

This was honestly so much fun just exploring the open rocky terrain and meandering my way to the main trail. To follow the actual trail is only about a third of a mile but there are many different ways to get to the prairie section so it may take you more or less time. One thing to consider is just how open this is and how there is no relief from the sun!

Prairie Views

Once you make it through the rocks the trail gets a little more traditional, although with a twist. For the majority of this hike, the trail is a hard packed dirt trail through the edge of the prairie that is right next to all of the rocks. It almost gives a walking next to a river feel but the river is of rock.

While the views are still there the remaining mile and a half or so becomes relatively flat and level. Above and in the distance are some amazing rock formations, below and to the side is the field of rock. You will occasionally pass back down into the rockier terrain as needed but for the most part you are walking on across the prairie. It blows my mind to realize that underneath these flat grasslands could possibly lay enormous fields of rock like the ones exposed here.

Crossroads

Two miles from the trailhead is when I found myself at the crossroads of a couple of trails. The Saddle Pass, Medicine Root and Castle trails all converge in a wonderful open area that is surrounded with these really cool cliffs. The Castle trail will continue on to the East and cross the park. The Medicine Root trial heads to the north before re-merging with the Castle Trail out east and the Saddle Pass trail heads to the south over the small pass.

I was already two miles in at this point and fighting against the clock so had to turn back but there is definitely more exploring to do from this point. However, this crossroads section is really cool. It is a staging area for all of these trails but the rock walls that surround are amazing. I stood here for quite a bit just turning around and staring at all the unique rock walls. While the whole area has these little mesas popping up, this feels like the epicenter.

Rock Formations

Rock formations are really the theme of the whole Castle Hike. Some you get close to, others stay in the distance and never seem to get closer. These are rock walls that feel very out of place in the flat lands of the Midwest yet fully in place in the Badlands.

Even when returning on the out and back trail, which can some times get repetitive, was exciting because there was another set of formations to look at on the return trip. As the sun started to fade, these rocks also took on different shades and contributed to an entirely different mood. It was definitely the best motivator to keep walking on this hike to see what I would see next.

Overall I felt like these rock formations made this feel like a three tier hike. There was the below ground section to start, the ground level prairie and the above ground sections that helped to keep me wandering. It is a very unique hike for sure.

Video of the Badlands Castle Trail to Saddle Pass

I have put this time-lapse video together of the Castle Trail to Saddle Pass 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

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 4.10 miles and had a total elevation gain of about 115 feet including undulations. That put the high point at around 2677 feet. I was also moving for a total 1 hour and 23 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 section of the Castle Trail in Badlands National Park isn’t too challenging but it is relatively long compared to other spots in the park. One of the hardest parts is trail finding. In the early section there are a few trail markers and later a few cairns you need to use to find your way. Continuing past the crossroads could lead to more difficult terrain but I will rank this section as moderate because it is mostly flat but long.

Terrain

The start of this section of the Castle trail is really cool. It is down in the rocks and is only marked with a few trail markers. Otherwise it is pretty open for exploration. As you progress the trail becomes a narrow, hard packed dirt trail that traverses through the prairie. One big warning, there is absolutely no shade on this trail. Weather conditions can be extreme so make sure you are prepared with sun, wind and weather protections.

Finding the Castle Trail in Badlands National Park

The Window 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: Castle Trail to Saddle Pass

This was such a fun hike after a series of shorter hikes through the Badlands National Park. I really loved the first section down in the rocks and it so much fun to just wander on what felt like another planet. As I made my way up to the prairie sections, I couldn’t stop staring at all of the amazing rock formations that surrounded the area. I loved that they just kept getting closer and closer and I was able to explore so many of them. What a fun way to feel the vastness of the Badlands and enjoy the unique geology that it has.

While the hike isn’t too challenging, it is very exposed and could become dangerous if you are unprepared or have smaller children with you. Make sure that you have plenty of water and protection from the elements if you are going to explore any of the hikes in the Badlands. Once you are prepared, go out and enjoy the wonders of this really cool 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 Badlands Castle Trail to Saddle Pass

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