Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Deadwood, South Dakota

Recharge your soul with this great part of the South Dakota Landscape. This is one of the most beautiful drives overlooking the cities of Lead and Deadwood. Keep an eye open for all the wildlife…
Learn more about Lead and Deadwood Overlook

Another fantastic historical site in the Black Hills National Forest is the China Wall. The waypoint on the track shows exactly where the hike begins, and it's only about 600 yards to the wall. It's…
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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…
Learn more about Spearfish Mountain

Ride from downtown Sturgis, and within just 2 miles, you're on dirt. This is a fun hilly rocky trail that takes you into the Black Hills National Forest without having to travel busy Highway 14A.…
Learn more about Black Hills Forest Access from Sturgis

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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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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This short 0.7-mile trail is an offshoot of Bulldog Trail, quick, and easily accessible from Vanocker Canyon. Upon leaving the highway, you will be presented with two choices. The left trail is Veterans Peak. This…
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FS 206 into Besant Park is one of those low-key gems -- narrow in spots, winding through thick timber, and then suddenly opening up into wide meadows that feel like they've been hidden for decades.…
Learn more about Besant Park Road - FS 206

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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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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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.
Learn more about Tinton Road

This dirt bike only trail in a moderate combination of roots, small water puddles, and rocks. There are some sharper rock sections but overall the trail is tame with no clear large obstacles. There are…
Learn more about Boxelder Ridge Cut Through Final Leg

This dirt bike trail has many different surfaces and sections. Part of the trail will almost appear as a full-size truck trail while other sections have narrow pass-throughs between large rocks. There are some rocky…
Learn more about Benchmark Trail

This dirt bike only trail takes you from many of the trails west of Highway 385 back toward the other trail system east. The trail has some intermittent rocks and roots but is quite wide…
Learn more about Boxelder Ridge Wooded Hills Cut Through

This dirt bike route was a rather smooth and flowy trail. I did not notice many rocks or roots and the bulk of the trail was not overly narrow. One thing that may trip people…
Learn more about Crystal Mount Single Track

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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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…
Learn more about Cement Ridge Fire Lookout

This is a snapshot of the much longer Experimental Forest Road on the map. This trail appears to be a major access road for all sorts of other trails and potentially dispersed camping if allowed.…
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This scenic road is packed with historical significance. There are gorgeous hiking and biking trails as well as multiple equestrian areas as part of this road. You will be treated to the historic original Ft.…
Learn more about Fort Meade Backcountry Byway

This dirt bike only trail has a few obstacles and an expansive trail. Parts of the highway can be seen from the trail throughout the ride. There are some mildly exciting rocky sections with some…
Learn more about Dirt Bike Friendly Highway 385

This dirt road is a pretty typical unmaintained road for the black hills. Some surfaces are gravel while others can be a mixture of dirt. This does not require high clearance, most vehicles could easily…
Learn more about East Gimlet Trail

FS 231 is a well-maintained Forest Service road that acts more like a scenic backbone through this part of the Black Hills. Graded and wide enough for two vehicles in most places, it's the kind…
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FS 231.4 is a short but well-maintained spur off the main 231 corridor, offering easy access deeper into the hills without much challenge. It's solid gravel with good drainage, typically passable year-round unless snowed in.…
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Don't sleep on 231.5 -- this is a full-on 12-mile run through classic northern Black Hills country, starting muddy and tight in subalpine fir and opening up as it drops toward Black Fox Campground. It…
Learn more about South Rapid 231.5

From Bear Mountain Lookout to Pactola Reservoir, this gravel road will show you the best the Black Hills National Forest offers. Take your time along the expansive alpine meadows & while driving along Lightening Creek,…
Learn more about Bear Mountain Lookout to Pactola Reservoir

This typical forest road extends even longer than this recording. If you are attempting to take a forest road that runs parallel to 385, this forest road connects the bulk of the trails on the…
Learn more about Boodleman Forest Road

This is a SXS trail designated for vehicles 62" or less in the Black Hills National Forest west of Rapid City, South Dakota. It starts on a wide path next to a wooden fence with…
Learn more about Centennial 8089

Bombard Draw kicks off just west of Black Fox Campground and works steadily uphill into a narrow valley that feels tucked away from just about everything. It's a solid Forest Service road with a few…
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This route is a more scenic route to go between the towns of Mystic/Rochford than traveling on Mystic Road and Rochford Road. The route is not a maintained road like Mystic/Rochford Road. Part of the…
Learn more about Pony Gulch, Divide, & Bloody Gulch (FS 184.1)

This is a short single track in the Black Hills that is part of the Bogus Trail System. The trail goes through a pine forest, full of loose pieces of rock littering the trail. The…
Learn more about Nemo 8550