Saddle Pass Trail - Badlands National Park - near Wall, SD
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 43° 45.496 W 101° 58.466
14T E 260556 N 4849325
Actually about 4 different choices for you to pick from here.
Waymark Code: WMM35A
Location: South Dakota, United States
Date Posted: 07/13/2014
Views: 12
County of trail: Pennington County
Location of trail: Badlands Loop Road, Badlands national Park
Trail head for Castle Trail, Door Trail, Saddle Pass Trail and Medicine Root Trail
Marker on site for trails - text:
Welcome to the Saddle Pass Trail. This short but steep trail is not recommended when wet, for those with a fear of heights or people with knee or ankle concerns. Good route finding skills are required as trail markers can be difficult to find. There are several options available to you as a Saddle Pass Trail user.
Medicine Root Loop (round trip) 4.2 miles 2 hours Difficult
Hike up the Saddle Pass Trail to its junction with Medicine Root Trail. Continue north on the Medicine Root Trail and follow it in a loop east to the junction with Castle Trail. Follow the Castle Trail west back to the top of the Saddle Pass Trail. Descend carefully to the parking area.
Saddle Pass to Door Trail ( one way) 3.4 miles 3 hours Difficult
Climb the Saddle Pass Trail to the junction with Castle Trail. Turn right onto the Castle Trail and follow the trail across the Old Northeast Road to the trail end at the Door/Window parking area. This route requires two vehicles or arraignments for someone to meet you at the Door/Window Parking Area in approximately three hours.
A shuttle service is NOT available to bring you back to your car.
Saddle Pass to Fossil Exhibit Trail (one way) 2 miles 2 hours Difficult
Hike the Saddle Pass trail to the junction with Castle Trail. Turn left and follow the Castle Trail west to the Fossil Trail Exhibit Area. The route requires two vehicles or arraignments for someone to meet you at the Fossil Exhibit Trail in approximately 2 hours. A shuttle service is NOT available to bring you back to your car.
For Your Safely
Each person should carry at least two quarts of water with them on any option of the Castle Trail
Wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Temperatures above 100° F are frequent and there is no shade. Long pants are always recommended as protection from sun burn and ticks.
Wear closed toe whoes with good ankle support. Trails can be rough and uneven. The long sharp spines of prickly pear cacti can easily skewer an unsuspecting foot or running shoe.
Be aware of where you place your hands and feet. The prairie rattlesnake that lives in the Badlands sleeps in crevaces to get out of the sun and hunts in dense prairie grasses. Hike quietly and you may hear the prairie rattlesnake's warning before you encounter it.
Pets are not allowed on park trails. Do not leave them in your car where temperatures can climb to life threatening extremes within minutes.
LEAVE NO TRACE, LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND