Dirt Bike Trails Near Boulder Canyon, South Dakota

Select a location:

Camp 5

This is a fun trail that offers access to several other trails in the area, such as Calamity Canyon and Kong, and it parallels Hal Johns for much of the trail. There are several spots…
Learn more about Camp 5
Total Miles
5.7
Tech Rating
4 Moderate
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,…
Learn more about Moses Hill
Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
3 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

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…
Learn more about Bulldog
Total Miles
8.2
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…
Learn more about Crystal Cave Trail
Total Miles
4.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Kelly Spur Road (FS 136) Loop

This is a short detour/loop off Vanocker Canyon Road to the west and is about 2.5 miles between the beginning/end of Vanocker Canyon Road. The southern portion runs east/west along Little Elk Creek and is…
Learn more about Kelly Spur Road (FS 136) Loop
Total Miles
5.9
Tech Rating
4 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Custer Peak Fire Lookout

The trail up to Custer Peak Fire Lookout offers riders views of the Black Hills National Forest that are second to none. The lookout was first built in 1911 and replaced in 1935 with the…
Learn more about Custer Peak Fire Lookout
Total Miles
4.2
Tech Rating
4 Moderate
Best Time
Su / Fa

Crystal Mount Single Track

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
Total Miles
1.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Sp / Su

Benchmark Trail

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
Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

South Boxelder Creek Overpass

This dirt bike only trail features some excellent views of water, bluffs, and forests. The trail has a small water crossing at the beginning or end depending on where you enter. Following the water crossing,…
Learn more about South Boxelder Creek Overpass
Total Miles
3.2
Tech Rating
4 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Boxelder Ridge Cut Through Final Leg

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
Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Boxelder Ridge Wooded Hills Cut Through

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
Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Dirt Bike Friendly Highway 385

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
Total Miles
1.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Boulder Scenic Cut Through

This was one of my favorite dirt bike only trails I rode in the Black Hills. It is not overly technical but consistently challenges with temporarily tight spots, larger rocks, roots, and other obstacles. Nothing…
Learn more about Boulder Scenic Cut Through
Total Miles
1.2
Tech Rating
4 Moderate
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

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…
Learn more about Spearfish Mountain
Total Miles
4.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Experimental Forest Road

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.…
Learn more about Experimental Forest Road
Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Boodleman Forest Road

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
Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

East Gimlet Trail

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
Total Miles
1.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

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 offers. Take your time along the expansive alpine meadows & while driving along Lightening Creek,…
Learn more about Bear Mountain Lookout to Pactola Reservoir
Total Miles
59.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Raspberry Ridge

Connecting to the "Cheerios" Bypass Raspberry Ridge is a narrow semi-rocky trail best enjoyed by those with high clearance vehicles. Steep and narrow descents and ascents are full of rocks and boulders making the trail…
Learn more about Raspberry Ridge
Total Miles
1.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

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…
Learn more about Piedmont To Nemo Trail
Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Bogus Jim (FS 201) and Duran (FS 679.1)

This route is a southern alternative to riding Merritt Estes Road and Nemo Road. Erskine Gulch Road is just north of where Duran meets with Nemo Road, so you can use this instead of riding…
Learn more about Bogus Jim (FS 201) and Duran (FS 679.1)
Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Merritt Peak Central Pass Through

This is a dirt bike only trail with nice views. There is typical loose rock, sticks, roots, and some sharp rock. Overall this was a smooth trail that winds through the forest. One region of…
Learn more about Merritt Peak Central Pass Through
Total Miles
2.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Merritt Peak North Loop Return

This is a dirt bike only trail that concludes the loop that can be taken around Merritt Peak. There are a few tight switchbacks on this trail that hug the hill, multiple steep rocky inclines,…
Learn more about Merritt Peak North Loop Return
Total Miles
0.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Merritt Peak SE Leg

This is a dirt-bike-only route with lots of loose rock (rounded and shale-like), roots, and sharp rock stuck in the ground yet protruding out of the ground. There are some sharp rock climbs and descents…
Learn more about Merritt Peak SE Leg
Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
4 Moderate
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa

Pony Gulch, Divide, & Bloody Gulch (FS 184.1)

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)
Total Miles
6.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

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.
Learn more about Tinton Road
Total Miles
24.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

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…
Learn more about Castle Creek
Total Miles
11.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

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…
Learn more about Game Farm
Total Miles
7
Tech Rating
1 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…
Learn more about Spaw Gulch - FSR#606
Total Miles
4.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

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…
Learn more about China Gulch - FSR #249
Total Miles
12.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa