Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Buffalo Chip, South Dakota

Bulldog

This is a scenic trail with some beautiful views. It's a great trail to see the fall colors. The only real challenge to the trail comes when meeting oncoming traffic, as parts are on a…
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Total Miles
8.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Bulldog

This is a beautiful winding trail up through the trees to the top of a high point overlooking Bear Butte State Park. The only real challenges are when you meet oncoming vehicles, as it is…
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Total Miles
6.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Crystal Cave Trail

Crystal Cave is a very easy ride to the end of the trail where you will find an overlook to what many call the "Mini Grand Canyon" of the Black Hills. The trail is a…
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Total Miles
4.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Moses Hill

Moses Hill is a scenic point-to-point trail in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is named for a very steep portion that gets you to the top of the mountain, which is tree covered,…
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Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
3 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Piedmont To Nemo Trail

As you travel through this trail, you are instantly surrounded by the Black Hills National Forest. The route is compromised of rocky terrain along with some uphill travel with views of the nearby town of…
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Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Bear Mountain Lookout to Pactola Reservoir

From Bear Mountain Lookout to Pactola Reservoir, this gravel road will show you the best the Black Hills National Forest has to offer. Take your time along the expansive alpine meadows & while driving along…
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Total Miles
59.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

China Gulch - FSR #249

China Gulch takes you on a range of road types, from a two-vehicle wide gravel road near Hill City to a single vehicle road that travels adjacent to rock walls. The road at the north…
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Total Miles
12.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Spaw Gulch - FSR#606

This road is an easy 4.6-mile one-way road that leads to a popular Black Hill spot, Flannigan's Cabin, aka Miner's Hotel. The road traverses through various terrain and is wider on the south end and…
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Total Miles
4.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Spearfish Mountain

Spearfish Mountain is one of the three peaks that make up the mountains surrounding Spearfish. It is the only one accessible by off road vehicles. A short drive down Christensen Drive will lead you to…
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Total Miles
4.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Castle Creek

Castle Creek Forest Service road is very scenic and travels along Castle Creek which runs through a gulch in almost the middle of the Black Hills National Forest. There are several locations where you cross…
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Total Miles
11.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Rocky Gulch

This trail is fun during all seasons of the year but is best enjoyed during the spring through fall months. During the winter months this rocky, and narrow trail can quickly become challenging to those…
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Total Miles
4.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Su

Foster's Gultch

This is a scenic trail meandering through ponderosa pine and quaking aspen trees. From the Rockerville Road entrance of this trail, is it a maintained gravel road that slowly gets narrower, but stays very easy…
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Total Miles
12.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Tinton Road

This is a great way to access trails in the area. It is a wide gravel road with several unloading areas. The traffic can get heavy at times. Beware of dust and wash boards.
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Total Miles
24.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Game Farm

Game farm is a local favorite in the Spearfish Area. The area is a game preserve for the South Dakota Fish and Game Department. It can be accessed from Higgins Gultch Road, or from Tinton…
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Total Miles
7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Cement Ridge Fire Lookout

Leaving Spearfish Canyon from Savoy, you'll find yourself on Roughlock Falls Road, a well-maintained gravel road that leads you up to Cement Ridge Fire Lookout, which boasts expansive views of the Black Hills Forest and…
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Total Miles
11.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Canyon Rim

This trail system off Tinton Road will give you hours of fun. With 4 main loops, you travel through some of the best the Black Hills has to offer. Before or after riding you can…
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Total Miles
9.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Medicine Mountain Road

This is a road that starts out two-vehicles wide and narrows as it goes. Along the way there is a old corral and a one-lane bridge. Once you reach the intersection with FS301, it widens…
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Total Miles
6.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Bobcat Ridge

This single-lane gravel trail has some great views of Bobcat Ridge. It takes you from Medicine Mountain Road to Six Mile Road.
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Total Miles
4.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Ditch Creek Br & Long Canyon

This route runs from Six Mile (north end) along Odakota Mountain, through Long Draw, and down to Ditch Creek (south end). On the east side of the Ditch Creek trailhead lies one of the scenic…
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Total Miles
6.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

White House Gulch FS RD 477

This trail has some great views of the southern Black Hills. It is mainly a dirt two-track trail. It may be impassable when wet.
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Total Miles
4.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

FS 2A

This two-track dirt road leads to a dead end at a kelly hump/tank trap. There are some great camping spots along this road.
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Total Miles
1.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Ditch Creek

While many people make Bear Mountain Lookout a destination, the overlook at the end of FS 291.3K is spectacular any time of the year and is definitely one not to miss. This route off Ditch…
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Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Boundary Gulch

Boundary Gulch trail is a Black Hills favorite for off-road enthusiasts of all kinds. The trail leads you to the Cement Ridge Fire lookout. Along the way, you will find ponds, scenic outlooks and the…
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Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Custer Mountain Cutoff

This is a scenic trail winding through ponderosa pines and quaking aspens. There are gates to get through, so be sure to close them behind you. This trail skirts the edges of Custer State Park.
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Total Miles
6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Alkali Spring

This road is a good way to run North or South from Ditch Creek to Custer Limestone. This road runs along some private land and there is a cattle gate at the South end about…
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Total Miles
3.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Beaver Creek Road(FS 111)

This is a well-maintained, narrow gravel road. There are many great views and a beautiful campground on this drive.
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Total Miles
9.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Windmill Draw to Hell Canyon to Alkali Ridge

Travel from Windmill Draw - (FSR 681) to Hell Canyon - (FSR 284.2L) to Alkali Ridge (FSR 284.2C). This 7.7-mile route, from Custer Limestone Road in the north to US Highway 16 in the south,…
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Total Miles
7.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Mud Springs Road

Mud Springs Road is a scenic route that runs North/South from Custer Limestone road to US Highway 16 just West of Jewel Cave National Monument. This does take you through cattle grazing areas so expect…
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Total Miles
8.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Summit Road(FS 265)

This trail leads from Boles Canyon Road to the Summit Ridge cabin and fire lookout. Great views and a good picnic spot.
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Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Boles Canyon(FS 117)

This is a wide gravel road. There are many camping opportunities along this road.
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Total Miles
3.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa