Photo album, map of Badlands’ Door Trail

Hiking the Door Trail in Badlands National Park is like a two-for-one deal. The trail begins amid the prairie’s level and open grasslands. It ends in a bizarre menagerie of spires and domes encased by striped, twisting canyon walls.

The trail is located two miles northeast of the Ben Reifel Visitor Center (where a trail guide is available for purchase) on the Loop Road. Pull over in the large Door and Window parking area. The 0.75-mile trail starts in the parking lot’s northern end.

Among the best times to hike the trail is sunrise when dawn lights the rock formations in unique colorations:

Map of Door Trail:

Panorama of Badlands from Door Trail:

White mudhills of The Wall:

Peaks in Badlands:

Door Trail sunrise:

Here's a full description of the trail.

Learn about other great national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.