Hiking the Saddle Pass Trail in Badlands National Park
Distance (One Way): 0.4 miles / 0.6 km
Elevation Gain: 210 ft. / 64 m
The Saddle Pass Trail in Badlands National Park is a very short, somewhat steep, out-and-back day hike that connects Badlands Loop Road with the Medicine Root Loop Trail and the Castle Trail.
That said, what I personally think makes the Saddle Pass Trail so unique is that it’s the only established trail in Badlands National Park that climbs the Badlands Wall, which is why I used the words 'somewhat steep.'
I say this because the vast majority of day hikes in Badlands National Park have very little elevation change, but the Saddle Pass Trail is the one exception to this rule.
This makes the short hike off Badlands Loop Road to Saddle Pass one of the best areas in Badlands National Park to hike off-trail—and yes, if you’re wondering, off-trail hiking is completely legal, given the park’s open-hiking policy!
All this to say, I personally think the Saddle Pass Trail is one of the more underrated adventures in Badlands National Park, even if you only plan to use it as a connector trail to the larger trail network once at the top.
Saddle Pass Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Saddle Pass Trailhead is located in a small parking lot directly off Badlands Loop Road, about 2.1 miles (3.4 km) west of the visitor center.
That said, the Saddle Pass Trail is not nearly as popular as the trails that begin from the Millard Ridge Trailhead just up the road, but it is busy enough that parking can be hard to come by during the peak summer travel season.
Google Maps Directions: Saddle Pass Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Badlands
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Badlands National Park.
Hiking the Saddle Pass Trail
The Saddle Pass Trail begins on a very flat path, but this doesn’t last long as the short trail begins climbing after just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) to reach the top of the Badlands Wall.
This is where the Saddle Pass Trail begins its ascent, which doesn’t become flat again until it reaches Saddle Pass at the top of the Badlands Wall.
Some hikers may prefer to use trekking poles on the short but relatively steep hike up the Saddle Pass Trail.
In addition to poles, I always recommend hiking in a hooded sun shirt in Badlands National Park—especially if you plan to continue farther once at the Castle/ Medicine Root Trail at the end of the hike, as there are essentially no places to find shade on any of these three beautiful adventures.
During the winter off-season months, micro-spikes may be necessary to hike these more exposed sections of the Saddle Pass Trail safely.
This is where exploring off-trail starts to become easier and more fun—and remember, Badlands National Park has an open-hiking policy.
This means it’s completely legal to leave the trail at any point, which is one of the main reasons I think the Saddle Pass Trail is one of the best things to do in Badlands National Park!
Saddle Pass
This is where the trail finally reaches the top of Saddle Pass, roughly 210 ft. (64 m) higher than the trailhead below.
From here, hike slightly to the left to find where the Saddle Pass Trail continues toward the Castle Trail and the start of the Medicine Root Loop, about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) ahead.
Saddle Pass-Castle-Medicine Root Loop Junction
The end of the Saddle Pass Trail is where it meets both the Medicine Root Loop Trail on the paths heading both straight and to the right, and the Castle Trail to both the left and right, as the Castle Trail forms the southern 'half' of the Medicine Root Loop.
That said, my favorite sections of all these trails is the Castle Trail between the Millard Ridge Trailhead to the east and the start of the Medicine Root Loop off Old Northeast Road.
I mention this because if you’re trying to prioritize your time in Badlands National Park, I recommend reading my thoughts about the first 1.2 miles (1.9 km) of the Castle Trail, as I believe it’s one of the better day hikes of all there is to consider within the park.
Read My Separate Posts: Castle Trail / Medicine Root Loop Trail
