How difficult is Black Hills National Forest Motorized Trail System?

Black Hills National Forest Motorized Trail System is rated difficult.

When is the best time to visit Black Hills National Forest Motorized Trail System?

The best months are May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Avoid Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar.

Do you need a permit for Black Hills National Forest Motorized Trail System?

Yes — a permit is required. It is managed by U.S. Forest Service — check the agency listing for current requirements and fees.

Guides/OHV areas

OHV area600+ miles of designated motorized routes across the forest trail midifficulty: difficult

Black Hills National Forest Motorized Trail System

AgencyU.S. Forest ServiceLast verified—

Photo by Runner1928 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Area vitals6 facts

Trail miles

600+ miles of designated motorized routes across the forest

Technical difficulty

Difficult

Vehicle classes

ATV, UTV / Side-by-side, 4WD truck/SUV, Motorcycle / Dirt bike

Best months

May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Permit

Required

Cell coverage

Spotty in the deeper drainages; service in Custer, Hill City, Lead, Spearfish, and Newcastle.

Take action

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The Black Hills National Forest Motorized Trail System spans both Dakotas and the Wyoming portion of the Black Hills, with 600-plus miles of designated motorized trails plus an extensive network of forest roads. The system covers ponderosa pine, granite outcrops, and grassland meadows between Custer, Hill City, Lead, Spearfish, and the Wyoming line. The forest's Trail Use Pass program funds maintenance through user fees.

Difficulty ranges from graded gravel forest roads suitable for stock 4WDs to advanced single-track for motorcycles. Most routes are open from late spring through fall; winter brings closures with snow on the higher trails. The forest manages the trails out of multiple ranger districts (Hell Canyon, Northern Hills, Mystic, Bearlodge), each covering a regional cluster.

Hazards

Read before you go

Bison in Custer State Park. The state park abuts the FS land and has a free-roaming bison herd. Maintain distance.
Sturgis Rally crowds. Early August is the most-crowded week.
Width restrictions vary. Check trail signage; ATV/UTV widths range from 50 to 65 inches.
Rapid weather changes. Thunderstorms develop fast in summer.
Fire restrictions. The Hills are fire-prone; check current Stage I/II/III restrictions.

Area map

OHV area

Coordinates 44.06670, -103.73330

Area facts

7 fields

Agency	U.S. Forest Service
Nearest town	Custer, South Dakota
Permit	South Dakota requires non-resident OHV permits for non-street-licensed vehicles. Wyoming side requires Wyoming OHV registration. All registered street-licensed vehicles operate under standard licensing. Trail Use Pass is required for off-highway and motor-vehicle trail riding on the forest.
Agency contact	605-673-9200 (Hell Canyon Ranger District) / 605-642-4622 (Northern Hills Ranger District)
Website	www.fs.usda.gov/r02/blackhills/recreation/ohv-information
Closed	Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Coordinates	44.06670, -103.73330

Getting there

Directions

The Black Hills NF has 21 designated motorized trailheads spread across more than 700 miles of OHV trail, plus 500 miles of "Roads Open to All Vehicles" connecting them. Popular launching points:

Stageyard: From Lead, SD, take US-85 / US-14A southwest 7.8 miles to Hanna Road; the trailhead sits 4.5 miles south of Hanna Campground.

Ditch Creek: From Hill City, head west on Deerfield Road for 22 miles past Deerfield Lake. Turn south (left) onto Ditch Creek Road and travel 4 miles to the trailhead.

Dalton Lake: From Sturgis, take I-90 Exit 32 and head south on Vanocker Canyon Highway for 12.5 miles to Dalton Lake Road. Turn east on Dalton Lake Road for 3.7 miles.

Wyoming-side trails require a Wyoming State ORV Permit; the Black Hills NF Trail Permit covers the South Dakota side. See the MVUM and the Black Hills NF OHV Information page for the full trailhead list.

Photos

1 photo

Photos · 1

Field notes

Getting Oriented

The Black Hills National Forest covers approximately 1.25 million acres across western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. The motorized trail system is organized by ranger district: Hell Canyon (Custer area, southern Hills), Mystic (Hill City area, central Hills), Northern Hills (Lead/Spearfish area), and Bearlodge (Wyoming side). Each district has its own trail clusters; the Trail Use Pass program is forest-wide.

What to Expect

The trail network is varied. Forest roads run throughout and are open to mixed-use vehicles. Designated motorized trails range from improved gravel two-track up to single-track restricted to motorcycles. ATV/UTV trails are signed up to 50 inches wide; some areas have 65-inch limits. Forest roads accept full-size 4WDs.

Vehicle and Permit Rules

A Trail Use Pass is required for off-highway and motor-vehicle trail riding (annual or week-long passes available). Forest roads do not require the pass.
South Dakota OHV registration is required for non-licensed vehicles operating in the SD portions of the forest.
Wyoming OHV registration is required for the Bearlodge district side.
Spark arresters are required.
Street-licensed 4WDs are permitted on all open routes.

Hub Trailheads

Custer area. Multiple trailheads off CO-87 and US-385 for the Hell Canyon district trails.
Hill City area. Mystic district trailheads near Sheridan Lake and Pactola Reservoir.
Spearfish / Lead area. Northern Hills district trailheads in the Roughlock and Spearfish Canyon-adjacent country.
Sundance, Wyoming. Bearlodge district trailheads on the Wyoming side, near Devils Tower.

Where to Camp

The forest maintains many developed campgrounds: Pactola, Sheridan Lake, Custer Trail, Comanche Park, Stockade Lake, Roubaix Lake, Dalton Lake, and Reuter (in Wyoming). Custer State Park (state-managed) also has multiple developed campgrounds in the southern Hills. Dispersed camping is allowed on FS land off side roads with the standard 14-day stay limit.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

Buy a Trail Use Pass before riding. Available at FS offices, sporting-goods retailers, and online.
The Black Hills MVUM (motor-vehicle use map) is the authoritative source for which routes are open. Print or buy a copy.
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in early August fills lodging across the region. Reserve well in advance or plan around the rally week.
Top off in town. Forest roads cover long distances between fuel.
Combine with the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, Spearfish Canyon, or the Devils Tower visit for a multi-day Hills tour.

Frequently asked

Common questions

How difficult is Black Hills National Forest Motorized Trail System?: Black Hills National Forest Motorized Trail System is rated difficult.
When is the best time to visit Black Hills National Forest Motorized Trail System?: The best months are May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Avoid Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar.
Do you need a permit for Black Hills National Forest Motorized Trail System?: Yes — a permit is required. It is managed by U.S. Forest Service — check the agency listing for current requirements and fees.
Is there cell service at Black Hills National Forest Motorized Trail System?: Spotty in the deeper drainages; service in Custer, Hill City, Lead, Spearfish, and Newcastle.