While seeing Badlands National Park from the road is always a good time, the best way to really see the park is by hiking it. There are numerous short trails that will take you away from the beaten path and into the wilderness of Badlands National Park. Please do not take any fossils in the park. Pets are only allowed in campgrounds on leashes six feet or shorter and along roads. Pets are not allowed on trails. Badlands National Park urges you to do two things: visit the Ben Reifel Visitor Center before heading into the backcountry, and to have two quarts of water per person for two hours on the trail. Sunscreen, hats and sunglasses are important pieces of gear for Badlands National Park day hikes.

Several day hikes in Badlands National Park:

Castle Trail: 10 miles round trip
Cliff Shelf Nature Trail: 1/2 mile round trip
Door Trail: 3/4 mile round trip
Fossil Exhibit Trail: 1/2 mile round trip
Notch Trail: 1 1/2 mile round trip
Saddle Pass Trail: 0.2 miles round trip
Window Trail: 1/4 mile round trip

Equipment checklist:

sturdy and lightweight tent
comfortable backpack or daypack
enough water for your hike or a quality water purifier/filter
raingear
a sleeping bag rated properly for the time of the year
comfortable, already broken in hiking boots to avoid blisters
matches or lighter
hat and gloves in crisp conditions
quality winbreaker and liner
proper amount of food (high odor items like sardines are probably not a good choice)
sunblock
a hat
sunglasses
camera
bear spray
cooking utensils
knife
scrub pad
20 feet of light rope
insect repellent
sleeping bag
cooking stove