Parking
Start at the Cliff Shelf pullout on SD-240; designated auto and bus/RV parking is available.
Overview
About Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
Why go
- Juniper shade beside the Badlands Wall
- A brief loop with views across the formations
Heads up
- Stairs and a 200-foot climb in a short walk
- Published mileage differs from the measured circuit
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Badlands map
Full mapElevation2,618–2,710 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
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
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Badlands Tour Guide
Your drive to Cliff Shelf Nature Trail, 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.
See the Badlands audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Cliff Shelf Nature Trail0:00 / 0:21
“You're nearing Cliff Shelf Nature Trail, a short loop through junipers with views below the Badlands Wall. I'd choose it for a little shade and a chance to watch birds among the trees.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Badlands Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Ben Reifel Visitor Center
- Door, Window and Notch Trailheads
- Cedar Pass Lodge and Waysides
- Cedar Pass Campground and Amphitheater
- 116 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, 34 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.”
Trail guide
Hiking Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
A short loop with a real climbCliff Shelf Nature Trail is a loop from the SD-240 pullout, following a shared approach to the…
Cliff Shelf Nature Trail is a loop from the SD-240 pullout, following a shared approach to the juniper shelf before circling the Badlands Wall. The mapped circuit, including the return along that approach, is about 0.5 mile round trip. Allow around 30 minutes; despite its short length, it climbs about 200 feet and is rated moderate. Mileage is inconsistent: another current published figure is 0.86 mile, so treat the route estimate as approximate.
What the footing feels likeBoardwalk, stairs, and natural path alternate as the trail winds among junipers and around the…
Boardwalk, stairs, and natural path alternate as the trail winds among junipers and around the shelf. The first stretch is wheelchair accessible; stairs make the full loop inaccessible to wheelchair users. The route returns along its short shared approach after circling the shelf.
Views and birdlifeJunipers shade parts of the route, with openings toward pale, eroded Badlands formations below…
Junipers shade parts of the route, with openings toward pale, eroded Badlands formations below the Wall. This is a good place for birdwatching. A small pond forms only occasionally and can attract wildlife, so don't count on seeing water or animals. For a photo, frame the pinnacles through juniper branches to show both the wooded shelf and the formations beyond.
Start and restrictionsBegin at the Cliff Shelf pullout on SD-240; designated parking is listed for cars and buses or…
Begin at the Cliff Shelf pullout on SD-240; designated parking is listed for cars and buses or RVs. Water and restroom availability at the pullout were not confirmed, so bring water. Pets are not allowed on park trails.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Badlands
760 sightingsBisonMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
1,061 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
906 sightingsPrairie DogMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
333 sightingsPronghornMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
304 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.
