1 active Badlands alert
- ClosureNotch Trail closed for ladder repairsNotch Trail and all areas within 100 feet of the designated trail are closed; do not enter the closure area.Official details
Overview
About Cliff Shelf Nature Area
Cliff Shelf is a juniper-covered natural shelf below the Badlands Wall, reached from the signed trailhead beside SD Highway 240 near Ben Reifel Visitor Center. This destination pin marks the entrance to the nature area, beside the start of the trail; it does not mark an elevated viewing platform.
Why stop
- Rare shady juniper pocket with a short boardwalk-and-stairs loop
- Wide views over the White River Valley and the Badlands Wall
- Excellent spot for birdwatching
Heads up
- Stairs and inclines make it more than a flat stroll
- Rattlesnakes are possible along the route
- Small parking area can fill at peak times
Map
Where it is
Loading the Badlands map
Full mapLocal know-how
Tips for visiting Cliff Shelf Nature Area
Go counterclockwise to tackle most of the stairs early, then descend.
Arrive early or late; the small lot can fill on summer weekends.
Watch for rattlesnakes and stay on the boardwalks.
The boardwalk can be slick with dust or frost; wear grippy shoes.
Dawn or dusk improves birding and gives softer, photogenic light.
Plan your stop
Before you go
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Badlands Tour Guide
Your drive to Cliff Shelf Nature Area, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Badlands National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this place
Cliff Shelf Nature Trail and OverlookListen
“The turnoff ahead is for the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail. This spot is a real contrast to the rest of the park. It’s a half-mile loop on a boardwalk that weaves through a rare, shady grove of juniper trees.”
Plays as you drive up to Cliff Shelf Nature Area in the Parkwolf Badlands Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Cedar Pass Overlook: A Classic Badlands View
- Ben Reifel Visitor Center and Fossil Lab
- A Trail for Everyone: Window, Notch, and Castle
- Cedar Pass Lodge, Campground, and Services
- 111 audio storiesacross Badlands’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bison, Bighorn Sheep, Prairie Dog, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 11 trails, 30 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“We recently toured Badlands, Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore and more! We learned so much from this app as we toured each of these sites. The audio tours are worth the money.”
Guide
More about Cliff Shelf Nature Area
Exploring the AreaThe canonical Cliff Shelf Nature Trail leads through the area on a combination of boardwalks,…
The canonical Cliff Shelf Nature Trail leads through the area on a combination of boardwalks, stairs, and natural paths. Views toward the White River Valley unfold along the climbing loop. The upper viewing area requires walking uphill; it is separate from the roadside trailhead.
Nature and VisitingThe juniper woodland offers a contrasting habitat in the open badlands and is popular for…
The juniper woodland offers a contrasting habitat in the open badlands and is popular for birdwatching. Bring water and suitable footwear, expect stairs, and check current park guidance before starting the walk. The route and its trailhead are available separately in the trail listing.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Badlands
760 sightingsBisonMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
1,058 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
900 sightingsPrairie DogMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
331 sightingsPronghornMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
303 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
87 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Badlands. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
