Sunrise from the Door Trail in Badlands National Park

Chase Dawn: Where to see a Breathtaking Sunrise in Badlands National Park

The Door Trail is in Badlands National Park in South Dakota. It is less than a mile long and has minimal elevation gain. It’s also one of the very best places to watch the sunrise in Badlands.

My wife and I hiked this trail at dawn on an early fall morning. We’d spent the day exploring the park and camped that night at Cedar Pass Campground, just down the road from the trailhead.

Trail Name: The Door Trail
Trailhead Location: Parking lot north of Ben Reifel Visitor Center
Distance: 0.9 Mile Roundtrip
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Type: Out & Back
Features: Sunrise Views
Dogs: No

Sunrise from The Door Trail in Badlands National Park

We pulled into the large parking lot while it was still dark outside. It was mostly empty, but to my surprise, we were not the first people here. After making coffee and eating breakfast, we turned on our headlamps and headed down the trail.

The first part of the trail is a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk that leads through “The Door,” a break in the Badlands Wall. There is an excellent viewing platform where you can enjoy the sunrise. It was still dark when we arrived, so we headed past the boardwalk into the Badlands bedrock. From there, the trail is marked with yellow posts marking the primitive portion of the trail.

We eventually returned to the viewing platform, joining another couple waiting for sunrise. The view was simply incredible. The pictures here honestly do not do it justice. It was pretty cloudy, but the sun peaking through glowed brilliant yellow and orange. We spent about 45 minutes relaxing, sipping coffee, and enjoying the sunrise.

This is a popular trail in the morning. By the time we returned to the car, the parking lot was beginning to fill in. If you want relative solitude, get there before sunrise.

Other Places to Enjoy Sunrise in Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park is famous for its glowing sunrises and sunsets. The Big Badlands Overlook, Norbeck Pass, Dillon Pass, and Panorama Point are excellent places to enjoy sunrises.