Badlands: the Notch Trail Is Closed to Repair Its Ladder

If you'd penciled the Notch Trail onto your itinerary, it's time to rework your plans. Since August 31, 2026, this iconic Badlands trail has been closed to the public, and the closure also covers everything within 100 feet of the official route. In other words, you can't hike it, and you can't skirt around it from the sides either.

The reason is very concrete. A section of the ladder that runs along the route has deteriorated to the point of becoming a safety hazard for hikers. Park crews are working right now to fix this stretch, which is one of the high points of the route. It's that wooden ladder set against the rock wall that gives the Notch Trail its slightly vertiginous reputation. Until the work is done, the area stays closed until further notice.

For you, this changes two things. First, don't count on this trail if your visit falls in the next few days or weeks, since no reopening date has been announced. Second, we strongly advise against pushing through or trying to approach from another angle. The closure deliberately covers a wide band around the path, precisely to keep visitors away from the damaged ladder.

Here's the good news. Badlands is far more than this one trail. Other trails stay open and let you take in the striped ridges and eroded formations that are the park's signature. Before you head out, take the time to plan your day with the Badlands park guide, where we lay out the hiking alternatives and the viewpoints you can reach without any trouble.

We'll keep an eye on the repairs and update this post as soon as a reopening is announced. In the meantime, check trail conditions with the visitor center on the day you arrive. Out on the ground, ranger instructions always come first.