State: South Dakota
Location: Badlands National Park
Length, Round Trip: 0.5 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Elevation Change: 200 feet
Trail Surface: Boardwalk
Best Season: Spring, Fall
Difficulty: Easy
Usage: Heavy
Wild Mustangs in the Badlands
Trail Information
The Cliff Shelf Nature Trail is a 1/2 mile loop that winds through a wooded prairie oasis surrounded by the parched Badlands. There is a trail guide that is available for purchase at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center or at the trailhead. Walkers will wander in and out of small shaded areas and take advantage of boardwalks and a flight of stairs in place to protected fragile resources. Located 1/2 mile north of the Visitor Center, the trail does climb approximately 200 feet in elevation. The views of the White River Valley from this trail are incomparable. The parking lot is small and cannot accommodate long vehicles towing trailers.
Warning: Digging and/or moving fossils or artifacts from their locations in the ground is prohibited by Federal law. This is taken very seriously in Badlands Park. Offenders are prosecuted. Fines range from $50.00 to $250,000 and in severe cases offenders have been jailed.
Directions
From Ben Reifel Visitor Center:
Take Badlands Loop Road about 0.5 miles north (right out of the visitor center) to the parking area.
