Use this guide as a helpful source if you’re headed to Badlands National Park in October! After visiting the Badlands in both the summer and fall, I’m sharing all of the details on what you can expect. Spoiler: Expect the unexpected when it comes to the weather in October - it’s a transitional month!
If you’re not familiar with this beautiful park, here’s a quick intro. Badlands National Park is located in Western South Dakota and known for its uniquely eroded landscape, as a place for fossil discovery and as an amazing place to spot wildlife. It’s not uncommon to see bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs and perhaps a black-footed ferret as you roam the park.
Badlands is a beautiful and underrated national park that you can see a lot of in just one day. There are several overlooks to admire just a short walk from your car, plus longer trails for those who love exploring more out in the backcountry.
This guide includes what you can expect for the weather in October, plus all of the best things to do in Badlands National Park so that you can have a memorable national park vacation.
What to Expect when Visiting Badlands National Park in October
What is the weather like in October at Badlands National Park?
The weather in Badlands National Park in October can vary a lot throughout the month. At the beginning of the month, you’re likely to experience nice temperatures and sunny days (highs may still be 90°F, with lows in the 40’s°F and 50’s°F).
However, by the end of the month, you may experience snow and frigid temperatures. I visited at the end of October and there was snow and freezing winds. It was hard to be out of our car for more than a couple minutes because it was so cold!
October is a transitional time, and you never know exactly what type of weather you’ll get. So it’s best to be prepared with layers.
It’s also good to know that the visitor centers close or reduce their hours starting in October. The Ben Reifel reduces their hours from October to April (from 8-5 to 9-4) and the White River Visitor Center closes completely from October until May.
Despite the chance of snow, October is a wonderful time to enjoy less crowds and the beautiful landscapes.
Badlands National Park is not really known for its fall foliage (the park doesn’t have many trees). However, you can enjoy some beautiful fall foliage nearby in the Black Hills, in areas such as Spearfish Canyon and Custer State Park.
Overall, early October is a fantastic time to visit Badlands National Park, while the end of the October may be extremely cold.
Tips for Visiting Badlands National Park in the Fall
- Please make sure to leave no trace while you’re exploring. Pack out your trash, never approach or feed any wildlife (including prairie dogs) and respect those around you.
- Fall is a transitional time of year. Be sure to check the forecast ahead of time and bring layers to stay warm if it’s colder than you expect.
- Download the Guide Along audio tour and listen as you explore the area! The tour will tell stories of the history, geology and things to do in the area. It’s a great way to learn about the area and receive stop recommendations as you drive.
- Badlands National Park charges $30 per vehicle. If you’ll be visiting multiple national parks over the course of a year, you should purchase an America the Beautiful Pass to save money!
- Badlands National Park has an Open Hike Policy, meaning you can hike off-trail. However, please make sure you’re properly prepared with water and the 10 essentials if you’re headed out into the wilderness.
The Best Things to do in Badlands National Park
Here are the best things to do in Badlands National Park year round!
Hiking in the Badlands
In my opinion, the best thing to do in Badlands National Park is to hike! There are several trails in the park for all abilities.
New to hiking? Read my beginner's hiking guide!
Notch Trail
1.5 miles, 127 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate
The short but iconic Notch Trail is most known for its large ladder, which is about 25-feet tall. The ladder features wooden beams attached with steel cables. Soon after climbing the ladder, you’ll be rewarded with a lovely viewpoint through the rocks of the valley below.
The ladder is a bit of a choke point on this trail, so I recommend getting an early start.
Window Trail
0.3 miles, 13 feet of elevation gain, rated easy
This short and accessible trail follows along a boardwalk and leads to an opening in the rocks with a nice view.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye out for rattlesnakes in this area and be sure to keep your distance.
Door Trail
0.9 miles, 22 feet of elevation gain, rated easy
This short trail is super unique because you start on a boardwalk, then you can step off and walk along the rocks. As you walk towards the viewpoint, you’ll be surrounded by rocks and get the feeling that you’re inside a Star Wars movie. It’s a neat trail that is worth a bit of your time!
Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
0.5 miles, 65 feet of elevation gain, rated easy
The Cliff Shelf Nature Trail is neat because you’ll get to enjoy some greenery mixed in with the barren rocks. The trail has a series of steps built up along a cliff right under the Notch Trail Viewpoint. I also saw bighorn sheep nearby!
Saddle Pass Trail
0.7 miles, 216 feet of elevation gain, rated hard
The Saddle Pass Trail is arguably the hardest trail in the park due to its steepness. You’ll climb up a very steep hill that also has a few areas that are slippery with small rocks. If you’re up for the challenge, it’s a rewarding climb!
Fun Fact: This was a route used by homesteaders, but they had to leave their wagons at the top and guide their horses down because it was so steep and challenging.
Medicine Root and Castle Trail Loop
4 miles, 111 feet of elevation gain, rated easy
You can begin this loop trail in multiple areas, including from the top of the Saddle Pass Trail. The Castle Trail has some neat views where you’ll get to walk among jagged rock formations. However, the Medicine Root Trail was very overgrown (and therefore unpleasant) when I hiked it. If you want to hike this, be sure to wear pants and expect some narrow sections.
Fossil Exhibit Trail
0.4 miles, 9 feet of elevation gain, rated easy
This is a super quick boardwalk loop where you can learn about the extinct creatures that were once found in this area. Mosasaurs, brontotheres, oreodonts and more once roamed these lands! The trail has signage that features fossil replicas you can touch.
Scenic Drives in Badlands National Park
If you don’t want to hike for any reason, it’s worth driving through the park and stopping at the various overlooks!
Badlands Loop Road
Driving the Badlands Loop Road is a must-do in Badlands National Park. Most of the popular trails are on the east side of the park, so I recommend starting there for hiking, and then enjoying a scenic drive through the rest of the park.
The scenic drive is about 13 miles long. You could complete it in under an hour, but you’ll certainly want to make several stops to take in the views from the many overlooks.
A few of the best overlooks in the Badlands are:
Panorama Point, which offers expansive views of the White River Valley.
Yellow Mounds Overlook, which is one of the most colorful areas of the park. You’ll be among yellow, purple and orange hills.
Pinnacles Overlook, a sweeping overlook that has a view of the expansive Sage Creek Wilderness Area.
Other great overlooks include the Bigfoot Pass, Prairie Wind and Burns Basin.
Pro Tip: Drive carefully and watch for bison, pronghorn, big-horned sheep, prairie dogs and other wildlife along the way!
Sage Creek Rim Road
It’s worth driving a bit of Sage Creek Rim Road, which feels like an extension of the Badlands Loop Road. The road is unpaved, but any car should be okay for at least the first five miles.
The 3 popular stops to make along this road are the Hay Butter Overlook, the Badlands Wilderness Overlook and Roberts Prairie Dog Town. The prairie dog town is especially neat because you can admire the various holes and behavior of the prairie dogs. They’re super cute - just please keep your distance.
Things To Do Near the Badlands
The Iconic Wall Drug
Located right outside of the Western edge of Badlands National Park, Wall Drug should not be missed. This iconic roadside attraction has everything from food to souvenirs to photo ops to a chapel. It’s a tourist trap, but certainly worth a stop at least once.
I wasn’t super impressed by the food, but walking around Wall Drug is a lot of fun. It opened in 1931 and is a whopping 76,000-square feet. You can find a large restaurant, a coffee shop, fresh donuts, historic photographs, animatronics and much more.
Keep in mind that the backyard space closes during the colder months, but Wall Drug is open year round.
The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is a fascinating place to learn a bit of Cold War history. During this time, several nuclear missiles were hidden out in the Great Plains.
The Visitor Center for this park is located right outside of the East Entrance to Badlands National Park. It’s full of interesting exhibits where you can learn all about why these missiles were placed and more.
Keep in mind: The visitor center is open from Tuesday to Saturday.
You can also visit the Delta-01 and Delta-09 missile silos. You can get a small glimpse of Delta-01 by walking to the front gate, but in order to go through the gate, you’ll need to reserve a tour, which can be reserved 90 days in advance. These tours can be hard to get, so mark your calendar to reserve ahead of time if it’s something you’re interested in. However, it will be easier to snag a slot in October than in the more popular summer months.
There are no tours offered of Delta-09, but you visit at surface level and take an audio tour.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide helps you plan a fantastic trip to Badlands National Park in the fall! While the weather can be hit or miss, a fall trip to this park is sure to bring fewer crowds. Plus, this park is beautiful at all times of year!
For More Midwest Travel Guides, check out these blogs:
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