Door Trail - 0.3 Miles Round-Trip

The Door Trail boardwalk leads into the heart of the Badland Wall. At its terminus is an interpretive sign discussing the Wall's geologic significance, formation and erosive forces acting upon it. Views from the Door Trail are simply outstanding, and best lit in the afternoon.

For those with the time and inclination, a spur from the boardwalk leads out onto a vast stretch of rolling mud hills. Yellow signposts mark a short cross-country route through the spectacular vicinity.

Despite being surrounded by formidable terrain, this informal but marked route is easily traversed and family friendly.

For those who haven't the time or ability to explore the park's longer trails, this brief excursion is highly recommended. Visitors will enjoy getting off trail and experiencing first hand the Badlands' unique terrain and geologic composition.

Stretching for nearly 60 miles west to east, The Badland Wall we see today was carved over the past 500,000 years by three river systems and millennia of rain, wind and exposure.

Predating and setting the stage for such a rapid occurrence, The White River eroded a scarp - a long steep slope or cliff at the edge of a plateau or ridge - in the lower plains south of the Park.

Subsequent storms over the next 5 million years eroded away at this 'Wall-in-the-making', causing its crest to recede northward away from the river and toward the upper plains. Erosion of the Badland Wall (and other Park formations) occurs at a rate of almost one inch per year, extraordinarily fast in geologic terms.