Wilderness

Explore, learn, protect. Do you care about exploring, learning about, and protecting the Badlands? If yes, become a Junior Ranger! There are many ways to earn a Junior Ranger badge at Badlands National Park, and this fun activity book is a great place to start. This booklet includes activities like mazes, crosswords, drawings, and more to help you learn about the Badlands. Discover all the park has to offer, from fossils to wildlife to Lakota culture to the prairie. Become a Junior Ranger We have Junior Ranger activity books waiting for you at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center throughout the entire year. You can also receive a digital copy by contacting the park ahead of time via email or by calling (605)-433-5245. You can also become a Junior Ranger and earn a patch by completing a fun online activity called Pick Your Park Adventure . Take a virtual adventure through the Badlands, send us a quick email, and receive your official patch in the mail! If you opt to earn a badge with a Junior Ranger book, complete all the fun-filled activities and watch the exciting park movie, Land of Stone and Light , or attend a daily ranger-guided program (summer only). Return your completed book to a ranger at the visitor center desk, take the Junior Ranger pledge, and earn your badge! Don't have enough time to finish the book while you are in the park? No problem! Send your book back to the park when you complete it. A ranger will check your work and mail the book back to you with a badge and signed certificate.

Crack-In-Rock Day Hikes Day trips to Crack-In-Rock will be offered each year in April and October. The number of participants on each hike is limited to 12 to preserve these fragile resources. Hikes may be conducted with smaller groups depending on staff availability. Spots are filled on a first come first served basis with a waitlist of 5 people per hike. Two people maximum can be signed up at one time. The 2026 October hikes are now FULL and registration is closed. For questions about this hike please contact FLAG_Ranger_Hikes@nps.gov . Participants will be driven by NPS staff in 4x4 vehicles and then led on a guided hike to the Crack-In-Rock Pueblo and other nearby archeological sites to experience protected petroglyph panels and Ancestral Puebloan structures. This day hike will be approximately four miles total in desert conditions. The hike is strenuous to include uneven terrain and steep talus slopes, participants will be exposed to outdoor conditions all day. These sites and the lands they are on are culturally significant to the 13 Traditionally Associated Tribes of Wupatki National Monument, all of whom have ancestral ties to this area.

The La Verkin Creek Trail to Kolob Arch allows hikers outstanding opportunities for solitude in a primitive area of Zion Wilderness. The trail begins at Lee Pass with stunning views of the Kolob Canyons as it crosses Timber Creek and continues to descend toward La Verkin Creek. After seven miles, a spur trail leads hikers to a viewpoint where they can see Kolob Arch. With a span of 287 feet and a thickness of 75 feet, Kolob Arch is one of the world's largest natural arches.

A good way to view the rocks without driving up the road, this mostly-level trail takes you to Rhyolite Canyon, a canyon lined with rock pinnacles. Walk 1.5 miles / 2.4 km until you reach the junction between Upper Rhyolite Canyon and Sarah Deming trails. Return the same way.

Distance: 4.8 to 6.5 miles (7.7 to 10.4 km) roundtrip, strenuous The hikes described on this page feature steep 400 meter (1300 feet) climbs to Mount Wittenberg, the highest point on the Point Reyes Peninsula at 1407 feet (426 meters) in elevation, with a few limited views of the ocean and Olema Valley near the ridge crest. These routes pass through a dense mixed Douglas fir and oak forest and a few open meadows. These routes are also mostly within the Phillip Burton Wilderness . Please practice Leave No Trace principles. Start at the Bear Valley Trailhead and follow the relatively flat Bear Valley Trail south through a meadow for 0.2 miles (0.3 km), passing into the Phillip Burton Wilderness. Turn right on to the Mount Wittenberg Trail and ascend through the forest, passing through a few meadows, for a distance of 1.8 miles (2.9 km) to the Mount Wittenberg-Z Ranch trail junction, which is located in a meadow along the ridge crest. From this junction, the 0.3-mile-long (0.5-kilometer-long) Mount Wittenberg Summit Trail leads, as its name suggests, to the summit of Mount Wittenberg. The once unobstructed views from near the summit have, since 2000, become obstructed by dense Douglas fir thickets that sprouted shortly after the 1995 Vision Fire . While the 2020 Woodward Fire burned through much of the forest around Mount Wittenberg, the view-obstructing Douglas fir thickets were largely left unscathed. Return back to the Mount Wittenberg-Z Ranch trail junction where there are a few options to return to the trailhead: Retrace your route back to the Bear Valley trailhead for a total of 4.8 miles (7.7 km) roundtrip. Return via the Meadow Trail for a 5.4-mile-long (8.6-km-long) loop. From the Mount Wittenberg-Z Ranch trail junction, continue west along the Mount Wittenberg Trail for 0.4 miles (0.6 km) to its junction with the Meadow and Sky trails. Along this section of trail, one may be rewarded (weather dependent) with views looking west across the peninsula to the Pacific Ocean. From the Meadow-Sky trail junction, descend the Meadow Trail through forest and a couple meadows for 1.6 miles (2.6 miles) to the Bear Valley Trail. Turn left and follow Bear Valley Creek downstream for 0.8 miles (1.3 km) to return to the Bear Valley Trailhead. Return via the Horse Trail for a 6.5-mile-long (10.4-km-long) loop. From the Mount Wittenberg-Z Ranch trail junction, turn north and follow the Z Ranch Trail through a thicket of Douglas fir for 0.7 miles (1.2 km) to the Horse Trail. Turn right and follow the Horse Trail downhill for 2.4 miles (3.8 miles) to its junction with the Morgan Trail. Along this section, there are a few gaps in the forest canopy that provide views to the north of Inverness Ridge and Bolinas Ridge and just a little bit of Tomales Bay. Turn right and follow the Morgan Trail around the west side of the Morgan Horse Ranch to return to the Bear Valley Trailhead. This route description alone is not a substitute for a trail map. Print out the Point Reyes National Seashore's South District trail map (3,422 KB PDF) before your visit, or pick one up at the Bear Valley Visitor Center on your way. Always check current conditions before heading out into the park and familiarize yourself with park regulations . Please practice Leave No Trace principles. Visit the park's Hiking at Point Reyes National Seashore page for hiking tips and information about trail etiquette and safety. Visit the park's Trail Advisories and Closures page for current information about closed trails, trails blocked by trees, or other temporary hazards or advisories.

Distance : ~13 miles (21 km), strenuous Travel from forest to tidepools on this ambitious walk through the central part of the Phillip Burton Wilderness . This trail includes beautiful forest and spectacular coastal hiking with sweeping ocean views. Much of this area through which this route passes was burned in the Woodward Fire , which was started by lightning strikes in August of 2020. Start at the Bear Valley Trailhead and follow the relatively flat Bear Valley Trail south. A short distance beyond a sign indicating you are entering the Phillip Burton Wilderness, you will get to choose between two routes that will lead you to the Sky Trail along the crest of Inverness Ridge. Turn right on to the Mount Wittenberg Trail 0.2 miles (0.3 km) from the trailhead if you want a more strenuous ascent of about 1,130 feet (~340 m) over a distance of 1.8 miles (2.9 km). While the Woodward Fire burned along most of the length of the Mount Wittenberg Trail, it primarily burned in the understory and left most of the canopy of the Douglas fir forest intact. As a result, there are very few far-reaching views from this trail until you reach the ridge crest. Remain on the Mount Wittenberg Trail at the Z Ranch Trail junction, which is located at the highest point along this route with an elevation of 1270 feet (385 m).* From the crest of Inverness Ridge along the western 0.4 mile-long (0.6-kilometer-long) leg of the Mount Wittenberg Trail, you may be rewarded (weather dependent) with views looking west across the peninsula to the Pacific Ocean. The Mount Wittenberg Trail intersects with the Sky Trail 0.4 miles (0.6 km) beyond the Z Ranch Trail junction and 2.4 miles (3.8 km) from the Bear Valley Trailhead. *From Mount Wittenberg-Z Ranch Trail junction, the 0.3-mile-long (0.5-kilometer-long) Mount Wittenberg Summit Trail leads, as its name suggests, to the summit of Mount Wittenberg (elevation 1407 feet (426 m). The once unobstructed views from near the summit have, since 2000, become obstructed by dense Douglas fir thickets that sprouted shortly after the 1995 Vision Fire . While the 2020 Woodward Fire burned through much of the forest around Mount Wittenberg, the view-obstructing Douglas fir thickets were largely left unscathed. So, without being rewarded with views for their effort, many hikers pass on ascending the Mount Wittenberg Summit Trail. Turn right on to the Meadow Trail 0.8 miles (1.3 km) from the trailhead if you want a slightly easier climb over Inverness Ridge. Similar to the Mount Wittenberg Trail, the Woodward Fire mostly impacted the understory of the forest along the Meadow Trail. While the trail does pass through a fairly large meadow (after which the trail was named), views from the meadow are of forested hillsides less than a mile distant. The Meadow Trail ascends about 840 feet (~255 m) over a distance of 1.6 miles (2.6 km) before intersecting with the Sky Trail 2.4 miles (3.8 km) from the Bear Valley Trailhead. The elevation at this intersection is ~1080 feet (~327 m). Both the Mount Wittenberg Trail and the Meadow Trail intersect the Sky Trail at the same large trail junction. Turn left (south) on to the Sky Trail and follow it for 0.8 miles (1.3 km) to its junction with the Woodward Valley Trail. Once hemmed in by a ~six-foot-tall (~two-meter-tall) hedge of huckleberry bushes, the Woodward Fire cleared out most of the shrubs and a lot of the lower branches of the trees in this area so that this section of trail feels a bit more open than it did before 2020. Turn right (west) on to the Woodward Valley Trail, which was one of the lushest, greenest trails in the park before the Woodward Fire. The Woodward Valley Trail descends about 800 feet (~240 meters) over a distance of 2.0 miles (3.2 km) before intersecting with the Coast Trail, where you will turn left/south. Open ocean views are plentiful along the last 0.5 miles (0.8 km) of the Woodward Valley Trail and along the length of the Coast Trail as you pass through coastal grasslands intermixed with some coastal scrub. The Sculptured Beach Trail branches off after 0.5 miles (0.8 km), leading down to Sculptured Beach , where there are tidepools exposed at low tides. A second location to descend to a beach occurs 2.5 miles (4 km) later when you reach the Kelham Beach Trail junction. The Sculptured Beach and Kelham Beach Trails are indefinitely closed due to storm damage. Continuing south on the Coast Trail for another 0.9 miles (1.5 km ) brings you to the Coast-Bear Valley Trail junction. Turn left on to the Bear Valley Trail and follow it 4 miles (6.4 km) east and north back to the Bear Valley Trailhead parking lot. The Bear Valley Trail has a gentle grade as it first follows Coast Creek to Divide Meadow and then gradually descends along Bear Valley Creek for the final 1.6 miles (2.6 km) of this hike. Aside from the large meadow at Divide Meadow, the trail passes through a beautiful forest of buckeyes, oaks, and Douglas firs. Restrooms and water are available at the Bear Valley Trailhead parking lot. Otherwise, there are no other facilities along this route until you reach Divide Meadow, at which there are vault toilets, but no potable water. This route description alone is not a substitute for a trail map. Print out the Point Reyes National Seashore's South District trail map (3,422 KB PDF) before your visit, or pick one up at the Bear Valley Visitor Center on your way. Always check current conditions before heading out into the park and familiarize yourself with park regulations . Please practice Leave No Trace principles. Visit the park's Hiking at Point Reyes National Seashore page for hiking tips and information about trail etiquette and safety. Visit the park's Trail Advisories and Closures page for current information about closed trails, trails blocked by trees, or other temporary hazards or advisories.

Swamp Canyon appears relatively small and sheltered from the overlook, allowing the viewer to develop a more intimate connection with the landscape than some of the grander viewpoints in the park. The Swamp Canyon Loop, which starts at the viewpoint, is more rugged than the Bryce Amphitheater trails, taking hikers into a more forested backcountry hike. There is less signage on this hike and hikers are encouraged to carry a map. Trailhead: Swamp Canyon Viewpoint (Mile 6 on the Southern Scenic Drive) Parking: At Swamp Canyon Viewpoint (check when parking lots are busiest ). Oversized vehicles permitted. Distance: 4.0 mile (6.4 km) Approximate Time: 3-4 hours Elevation Gain: 800 feet (244 meters) Difficulty: Moderate (less than 1000 feet elevation gain, moderate length) Services: None. Shuttle Service: None. Private options may be available. This trail may be inaccessible during mid-winter due to snow depths ranging from 2-15 ft. (.7-5 m) Pets are not allowed on this trail. Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal?

Distance: 2.8 mi. (4.5 km) roundtrip Abbotts Lagoon is known for fantastic birding opportunities (particularly in the fall and winter), and beautiful wildflowers in the spring. Abbotts Lagoon is actually a series of three coastal lagoons. The upper (easternmost) lagoon is the smallest and contains the freshest water; the lower (westernmost) lagoon is the largest and saltiest. The beginning of this trail is an easy stroll past pastures and through coastal scrub before skirting along the southern edge of the middle lagoon. After 0.9 miles (1.5 km), you will arrive at a footbridge that crosses a short stream that connects the middle and lower lagoons. From this point, continue for an extra 0.5 miles (800 meters) along the north edge of the lower lagoon and amid the sand dunes to arrive at the Point Reyes Beach (aka the Great Beach). Return via the same trail. Be advised that beyond the footbridge, the trail enters the Phillip Burton Wilderness and the trail is considered to be unmaintained. Take note of your surroundings before exploring the beach or the lagoon area so you can ensure you'll be able to find the trail again for your return trip. Please be respectful of fragile coastal dune vegetation. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, hiking south of Abbotts Lagoon on the Great Beach is prohibited on weekends and holidays to protect nesting western snowy plovers . Sneaker waves and strong coastal surf are just a few of the hazards of which visitors should be aware while visiting Point Reyes beaches. Beaches may be closed at various times of the year to protect park wildlife and visitors alike. Please visit Point Reyes National Seashore's Current Conditions page to learn about any current beach closures. This route description alone is not a substitute for a trail map. Print out the park's North District trail map (3,409 KB PDF) before your visit, or pick one up at a visitor center on your way. Always check current conditions before heading out into the park and familiarize yourself with park regulations . Please practice Leave No Trace principles. Visit the park's Hiking at Point Reyes National Seashore page for hiking tips and information about trail etiquette and safety. Visit the park's Trail Advisories and Closures page for current information about closed trails, trails blocked by trees, or other temporary hazards or advisories.

The Riggs Spring Loop is a backcountry trail that begins and ends at Yovimpa Point. This trail travels through spruce, fir, and bristlecone forests offering beautiful views of distant cliffs. The western section of the trail is steeper and more heavily forested. Permits are not required to hike this trail, but all overnight stays require a permit . Trailhead: Yovimpa Point Parking: At trailhead; oversized vehicles permitted Distance: 8.6 miles (13.9 km) Approximate Time: 5 hours Elevation Gain: 2200 feet (671 meters) Difficulty: Strenuous Services: Accessible restrooms available at Yovimpa Point (year-round). No water-fill stations. Shuttle Service: None. Private options may be available. This trail may be inaccessible during mid-winter due to snow depths ranging from 2-15 ft. (.7-5 m) Pets are not allowed on this trail. Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal? Backcountry camping is permitted only in designated backcountry campsites and all overnight backcountry stays require a permit. Typically this loop is hiked in a counter-clockwise direction with a single overnight. Some backcountry hikers will combine this loop with additional nights along the Under-the-Rim Trail . For more information and reservation information visit our Backcountry Information page .

Castor canadensis The North American beaver is the second largest rodent in the world behind the Capybara of South America. Found throughout the U.S. and Canada, these semiaquatic ecosystem engineers construct dams and lodges that affect the hydrology and ecology of their surroundings. As a keystone species, their presence in riparian habitats affects many neighboring animal and plant species.