Badlands Sunrises & Sunsets

Many visitors like to catch a sunset or sunrise in Badlands National Park. The lighting at this time of day is spectacular and well worth waking up early or staying out late. Check out this page to learn more about the best spots to enjoy these times of day. Photographers call the time around sunrise and sunset the “magic” hour because the light is soft and casts a warm glow on the landscape. In the Badlands, subtle shades of red, yellow, and buff in the pinnacles and buttes become deeper and richer at these times of day. Look for the colors to become extra saturated after a rainstorm. The long rays of light in the magic hour cast dramatic shadows, adding a three-dimensional quality to photographs. For sunrises, try the Big Badlands Overlook, the Door Trail, the Norbeck Pass area, the Dillon Pass area, and Panorama Point, just west of Bigfoot Pass. Each of these areas provide views of the sunrise itself, along with the first rays of light that hit pinnacles facing east. For sunsets, try Pinnacles Overlook, Conata Basin Overlook, Bigfoot Pass Picnic Area, and the Norbeck Pass area. Walking the Castle Trail (west for sunrise, east for sunset) is a great way to view the changing light on the north side of the Wall and provides a wonderful opportunity to explore and immerse yourself in the environment.