After our hike yesterday evening, we went into the town of Wall to get gas, make dinner in a city park, and get ice cream at Wall Drug. This morning we awoke in the campground and spent some time observing the wildlife living nearby, including the prairie dogs,
and a killdeer mom with four chicks.
After eating breakfast and packing up camp, we headed east again to the Saddle Pass Trailhead where we would start our hike of the Saddle Pass Trail and Medicine Root Loop. Along the way to the trailhead we stopped at the impressive Toadstool Rock.
We also observed some wildlife on the way, including pronghorn
and bison.
Out hike started by crossing a muddy drainage on a bridge.
After a short hike in a drainage,
the trail climbs the steep and slippery badland formations to the top of the Badlands Wall.
Once at the top the terrain flattens out significantly. We opted to hike the loop in a clockwise direction, starting out on the Medicine Root Trail headed east.
The Medicine Root section of the hike was the least interesting. Still, there were wildflowers to be seen along the way, including plenty of wild rose.
We followed cairns
and a generally well-defined footpath.
As we approached the eastern junction with the Castle Trail, the dramatic formations that the park is known for started to come into view.
At the junction, we followed the Castle Trail west and back towards the Saddle Pass Trail. This section of trail offered the best scenery of the hike.
The final section of the hike, the descent down the Saddle Pass Trail, was the trickiest part.
We took our time and soon enough we were back at the trailhead for the long drive home.
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