We'll meet up at the Ben Reifel Visitors Center at 9:30am and then head to our first hike, the Door Trail, about two miles north of the BRVC. This hike is only .75 miles long and follows a boardwalk until the dirt trail begins.  This trail slopes upwards and ends at a "door" through which hikers should have a great view of the grasslands below

Next, we'll return to the same parking area and give the Window Trail a try.  It is also a short hike, less than a half mile, but ends again with spectacular views of the Badlands grasslands and rock formations.

Our third hike, the Notch Trail, is much more strenuous and is about 1.5 miles long.  We will begin in a canyon, then climb a ladder up to a narrow ledge which we'll then follow to the "notch," another, higher viewpoint with an expansive view of the White River Valley.

After a lunch at some point along the Badlands Loop Road, we'll continue westward onto Sage Creek road through the Sage Creek Wilderness and may do some off-trail hiking wherever the urge suits us.  Nothing long, though, no more than 1-2 miles.  At the conclusion of this final hike, we'll finish off and head back to either the BRVC or Rapid City.

 The Ben Reifel Visitor center is about 65 miles East of Rapid City off I-90 south of exit 131 at Cactus Flat.  Once inside the park, the BRVC is about 10 miles past the Northeast park entrance.

Contact hike organizer for more details and information about carpooling from Rapid City. 

Please note that this hike is on a Thursday!