Lower Paddock Creek Trail

Overview

Lower Paddock Creek is about the big-sky Badlands experience: a quiet creek valley, rolling buttes, and lots of wildlife. Expect an open, prairie-and-badlands walk with frequent prairie dog towns and a real chance of seeing bison (and occasionally wild horses and elk). It’s not a summit hike—this one’s about space, solitude, and animal encounters.

Trail stats & route

Most day hikers treat it as a 7.4-mile out-and-back (total) with roughly 500 feet of cumulative gain and a typical outing around 2.5–3 hours. The named corridor itself is about 3.6 miles one way, so you can also hike it point-to-point or fold it into a larger South Unit loop. The path is singletrack through the creek drainage, used by hikers, runners, horseback riders, and sometimes cyclists.

What you’ll see

The trail follows the Lower Paddock Creek valley through classic Badlands terrain—layered buttes, soft colors, and wide-open views. You’ll likely pass several prairie dog towns and should keep an eye out for bison; elk, deer, and even wild horses roam the area. It’s largely flat to gently rolling with a few short, steeper pulls out of dry creek cuts.

Conditions, navigation, and tips

There are multiple creek-bed crossings; after rain, expect mud and slippery footing. Some stretches can be overgrown—long pants help. A few signposts get knocked around by bison, so bring a map/app and pay attention at junctions. There’s little shade: wear sun protection and carry all the water you need. In summer, conditions are often good (August gets solid reviews), but avoid the trail right after heavy rain. In winter, road access can be affected by closures. If you’re expanding to an overnight, secure a backcountry permit at the visitor center. Yield to horseback riders, give wildlife generous space, and practice Leave No Trace.