CASTLE TRAIL: Epic Hike in Badlands National Park (+ Photos)

castle trail badlands national park south dakota — Castle Trail in Badlands National Park

At just over 5 miles long, the Castle Trail is Badlands National Park’s longest maintained trail. For a lot of folks, this is their absolute favorite trail in the park. It’s tough to argue against them.

Sweeping grassy prairie lands, dramatic badlands formations, big blue skies, prairie dogs, the occasional bighorn sheep, and opportunities for sweeping panoramic views – what’s not to love?

In this brief article I’ve included everything you need to know about hiking the Castle Trail in Badlands National Park including:

Map of the Castle Trail
Castle Trail Details
Description of the Trail
Getting to the trailhead
Alternate Routes

Without further ado, let’s get started!

Table of Contents: Hiking the Castle Trail

The Castle Trail

Castle Trail Details

The Castle Trail is a point to point trail with endpoints at the Door, Window, & Notch Trail parking lot near the Northeast Entrance and the Fossil Trailhead (more on that below).

Location: Northeast Entrance

Length: 5 miles each way (alternate routes also available

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (depending on your route)

Elevation Gain: Minimal

Time Required: 2-4 hours (depending on route)

Recommendations for the Trail

The Best Guide Book

I like this guide book the best for Badlands.

The Best Map

I like this map best for Badlands National Park.

Sunscreen

There’s very little cover on the Castle Trail so use it. Lots of it. Especially this one which I never leave the house without because it plays nice with our dear friend, earth 🙂

Leave No Trace

Practice it. Read about the seven principles and live life by them.

Getting to the Castle Trailhead

As you can see in the map above, there are actually four different potential entry points to the Castle Trail.

The most popular of these is the trailhead you’ll find on Google Maps located across the street from the Notch, Door, & Window Trail parking lot.
The other terminus of the Castle Trail is at the Fossil Trailhead located just over 7 miles down Badlands Loop Road (highway 240) from the Notch Trailhead.
Another option picking up the Castle Trail from the Medicine Root Trailhead located off National Park Road.
Finally you can also access the Castle Trail from the top of the Saddle Pass Trail.

Castle Trail Map & Route Descriptions

I couldn’t really find a map I liked enough to share so I just created my own above to convey the different routes available with the Castle Trail. In the map below you can see there are lots of opportunities for variations on the Castle Trail.

castle trail map badlands national park — Castle Trail Map Badlands National Park

There are 5 different potential routes for hiking the Castle Trail which I’ve listed here.

Castle Trail Point to Point

I recommend this route as the best option for a few reasons. This route is the easiest with the best overall experience as you don’t have to repeat any of the trail. While the terrain is pretty flat this direction feels a bit more “downhill” to me. The catch is that you’ll need a second car or driver to be located at the other end of the trail. Whether that means someone volunteers to skip the hike and make the drive or parking two cars is up to you!

Castle Trail Out & Back

This is for folks looking for a really hardy, 10 mile out and back trail. The scenery is beautiful so if you’re up for it then why not! Simply hike to the end of the trail (or as far as you want to go) then head back to the car.

Castle Trail Reverse

This route starts at the Fossil Trail instead of the official Castle Trailhead. From here you can either go as far as you want and return back to the Fossil Trailhead for an out and back.

Castle Trail + Medicine Root Trail Loop

This 11 mile route is basically the same as the Castle Trail out & back but on one of the directions you take the Medicine Root Trail to change up the scenery a bit.

Saddle Pass Trail + Castle Trail + Medicine Root Trail Loop

This is probably the second best way to hike the Castle Trail with an added benefit of not needing multiple drivers or cars. For this route, park at the Saddle Pass Trailhead and hike up to the top of Saddle Pass. From there, connect with the Medicine Root Trail and then loop back on the Castle Trail.

5 Best Routes – Hiking the Castle Trail

1. Castle Trail Point to Point (to Fossil Trail)

Distance: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 100 feet
Time Required: 2-3 hours

Park at the Notch, Window, & Door Trail parking lot for this route. Starting at the official Castle Trailhead across the street from the parking lot, the hike starts off flat and remains flat basically the entire way.

I recommend starting this hike early in the morning to take advantage of the cooler temperatures as there is basically no cover the whole way.

The scenery at first will be a mix of tall grass and medium size badlands formations that increase in height as you continue down the trail. In the spring & summer the grass is vibrant green while in the fall (my favorite time to visit) the grass is golden yellow.

Eventually you’ll pass through the first section of taller badlands formations and reach National Park Road. After crossing the road you’ll see signage and a junction with Medicine Root Trail. Stay to the left and continue down into the wide open prairie.

Keep your eyes peeled for rattlesnakes as the park is full of them. You might see some pronghorn in this area and hear the beautiful songs of the western meadowlark.

On the right side of the trail will be mostly prairie while on the left more badlands formations will begin to come into view. At about the 3 mile mark the trail will reach the junction with Saddle Pass Trail. If you’re up for a short detour to soak in some panoramic views walk down Saddle Pass to the cliffs edge (about .1 miles).

From here it’s just another 2 miles or so to the Fossil Trail junction.

2. Castle Trail Out & Back

Distance: 10.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Time Required: 4-6 hours

This trail route is the same as the one above with the scenery twice as great (repeated on the way back). Plan to start this hike as early as possible in the morning as afternoon temperatures and sun exposure will cook the best of us.

3. Castle Trail Reverse

Distance: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 100 feet
Time Required: 2-3 hours

This route is just the reverse of the first route on the list. Instead of starting at the official Castle Trailhead across the street from the Window Trail, you’ll start across the street from the Fossil Trailhead.

To do the 5 mile point to point you’ll need an extra driver or car waiting for you at the far end.

fossil trail badlands national park south dakota — Junction of the Fossil Trail & Castle Trail | Badlands National Park

4. Castle Trail + Medicine Root Trail Loop

Distance: 11 miles
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Time Required: 4-6 hours

This is another variation on the second route of the Castle Trail options. For this one you can start at either end of the Castle Trail and instead of doing a straight out and back you’ll choose one direction to change things up via the Medicine Root Trail.

saddle pass trail badlands national park south dakota — Views from the Castle Trail in Badlands National Park

5. Saddle Pass Trail + Castle Trail + Medicine Root Trail Loop

Distance: 4.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 400 feet
Time Required: 2-3 hours

As I mentioned earlier, this is likely the second best way to hike the Castle Trail with an added benefit of not needing multiple drivers or cars.

For this route, park at the Saddle Pass Trailhead and hike the steep but short trek up to the top of Saddle Pass. Soak in the epic views before continuing on.

From there, connect with the Medicine Root Trail. Once you reach the junction near National Park Road, loop back via the Castle Trail. Eventually you’ll reach the top of Saddle Pass again where you can hike back down the way you came up.

saddle pass trail badlands national park — Saddle Pass Trail from the bottom

Castle Trail Interactive Map

Summary of the Castle Trail Hike

5 miles point to point hike
One of the best hikes in Badlands National Park
5 different routes to take
Easy to moderate hike

Nearby Hikes

The Notch Trail is another one of the best hikes in Badlands National Park with an epic log ladder located at the South end of the same parking lot.

The Window Trail is another great trail with boardwalks that is just a quarter of a mile long with “windows” or viewpoints out into the badlands.

The Door Trail is another kid-friendly trail with boardwalks at .75 miles long located at the north end of the parking lot.

The Fossil Trail is probably the most kid-friendly trail in the park with cool fossil exhibits and lots of interactive areas.

Getting to the Castle Trailhead

The Castle Trailhead is located off the main park road (highway 240) just 2.5 miles from the northeast entrance to Badlands National Park – a mere 5 minutes driving.

Shortly after entering the park you’ll see signage for the large parking lot for the Door Trail, Window Trail, Castle Trail, and Notch Trail. I recommend parking in the middle of the lot near the Window Trailhead which is the closest walk to the Castle Trailhead.