Trails, by their very nature, are meant to be challenging. No matter what level of your ability, overcoming such challenges can add to the pleasure of getting out into natural settings.
The Badlands are called the Badlands because the terrain there is rugged. Badlands National Park provides several trails designed to help people navigate the rough terrain. These trails have varying levels of difficulty, providing the possibility for a wide variety of people to enjoy the challenge and the natural beauty. Making some of these trails accessible for users of assistive devices is a daunting task amidst the jagged edges, constant erosion and desert–like conditions.
Given all this, The Ample Traveler© was pleased to see how well the park had done at providing opportunities for assistive device users to enjoy scenic overlooks, high prairie grassy lands and sandy lowlands.
Three specific trails are designed to be accessible to almost everyone.
The Fossil Trail is mostly accessible, though there are no handrails and there are a couple of steeper inclines that might be difficult for wheelchair users and for persons who have trouble with their knees, hips or feet. This trail is about 1/4 of mile long and does not provide seating along the way, so stamina could be a problem for some people.
The Window Trail is fully accessible for wheelchairs and scooters. It is about 1/4 mile round trip and leads to a wonderful view of the Badlands. The Door Trail is not fully accessible, but a 3/4 mile round trip part of it is hard surfaced. The National Park Service recommends it to "athletic or assisted wheelchair users." Both of these trails take you into the distinctive formations so you can see the notches up close and personal. You have a sense of walking on the bottom of an ocean floor.
A fourth area might be worth trying, though it isn't identified by the NPS as accessible. At the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail, there is a ramp to get up on the shelf. While most of the trail is inaccessible for wheelchairs, scooters or walkers, a small portion is flat and leads to a beautiful scenic overlook that has sturdy benches where one can sit and look out on the vast expanse. The rest of the trail can be difficult in spots for some people because there are stairs and inclines; however, much of the trail has handrails to make climbing easier. This is the greenest trail in the park with plenty of wildlife. Rabbits, deer, cliff dwelling birds and chipmunks are often sighted there. The accessible overlook is a great place to view both sunrises and sunsets.
In addition to trails, there were several easily accessible overlooks available along the main loop. These are not as clearly marked in park materials as the trails. Like the trails above, these overlooks often had sturdy board walks that offer easy access for devices. Unlike the trails, guard rails and hand rails were often available to assist those with stamina and balance needs. Even in less accessible overlooks that had steps, staying near the parking lot provided stunning views.
Three overlooks caught our eye:
Prairie Wind Overlook –– a chance to look out over the grassy lands that top many of the sandy formations throughout the park.
Homestead Overlook –– a walk out onto a cliff that allows for a grand panoramic view that seems to stretch for miles.
Bigfoot Pass Overlook –– restrooms and a picnic area make this stop appealing. One overlook leads to a beautiful view of the jagged formations. The other gives you another view of the grassy prairies.
Two members of The Ample Traveler© went on the Notch Trail. This trail is not for the frail, those needing devices, those with lower body pain or those with stamina issues. It is over a mile round trip and includes scaling a cliff on a ladder. However, it is worth mentioning here because the ladder (near the middle of the trail) held up under the weight of a 300–pound man. He reports that a couple of rungs were creaky, but for the most part, the climb was well–supported and the view was worth the challenge.
The wonderful part of all these trails is that Badlands National Park with the assistance of volunteers from TelecomPioneers (formally known as American Telephone Pioneers) have created several accessible trails that allow for a number of people to enjoy the Badlands who would have not otherwise been able to do so. The rugged terrain makes this a difficult job, so The Ample Traveler© would like to express its appreciation to the park and the pioneers for finding ways to make room for everyone.