Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Gordon, Nebraska

The three trails that comprise this route are all at or just under 3 miles long. The first two-thirds (Little Wolf East and Highline) are well-maintained gravel;most of the last third is dirt - a portion of which washes out and creates deep, wide ruts. Several areas of the trail also collect runoff ...
Learn more about Little Wolves

This trail is a 2-track that's mainly comprised of hard pack dirt. There are minor to medium-sized washouts and ruts that can fill with mud after heavy rainfall. There are a few areas on the 213 section of this run that will put you in slight off-camber conditions. The majority of this run is in ope...
Learn more about Highline Trail

The trail starts and ends on loose gravel. The center section of the trail is mainly comprised of 2-track hard pack natural dirt. There are several large 'whoops', ruts, and washouts along the center section where additional ground clearance would be preferred. The center section has the potential t...
Learn more about Kings Canyon Trail

This is a two-part trail that's mainly 2-track and is comprised of hard-pack dirt. The trail starts off pretty tame when accessed from Kings Canyon, but conditions worsen after turning onto Trail 214. There are a few spots on 214 where off-camber conditions will reach 18-20 degrees, maybe more if yo...
Learn more about Strong Canyon Run

This is a 2-track trail that is very rough due to it being mainly composed of ruts and washouts. Be prepared to be bounced around quite a bit. It's an out-and-back that offers some amazing views of the area. The trail is mainly comprised of hard pack dirt, but there are a few areas where it becomes ...
Learn more about Outrider - FS 779

This is a 2-track trail that's mainly comprised of hard-pack dirt. The trail has ruts, washouts, and whoops that could fill with mud after rain. A few of the whoops could require a vehicle with extra ground clearance, as they are tall and steep. There is also a small section that's filled with loose...
Learn more about Coffee Mill Butte - FS 702

This is a fun two-track dirt trail that gives you a glimpse into the grasslands and Badlands most people don't get to experience. You may encounter lots of prairie dogs and large herds of antelope. Do not attempt this trail if it is raining/snowing or if there has been moisture in the last week;it w...
Learn more about Sage Creek Conata West

Conata Basin Road is a two-lane gravel route that winds through the stunning expanse of Buffalo Gap National Grassland, leading straight into the heart of Badlands National Park. Beginning off SD-44 to the south, this scenic drive carries you northward, offering panoramic views of the wide-open prai...
Learn more about Conata Basin Road

Sugarloaf Road is a scenic route that runs east-west about 9 miles south of the Nebraska-South Dakota border, connecting Toadstool Road in Sioux County, Nebraska, with Nebraska Highway 71 in Dawes County, Nebraska. The road weaves its way through buttes and rolling hills blanketed with mixed-grass p...
Learn more about Sugarloaf Road

This an easy, scenic dirt road that leads to some really cool overlooks of the south portion of Badlands National Park. It has 2 distinct sections with the first part being accessible to all vehicles and the second part only for high clearance 4WD vehicles. There are multiple places to stop and take...
Learn more about Sheep Mountain Table Road

This short spur trail off Sugarloaf Road provides access to the 12-acre Boardgate Reservoir in the Oglala National Grassland. The trail itself has a sand and gravel surface. The trail is out-and-back, and has a turnaround area adjacent to the reservoir. Small washouts from seasonal rains are possibl...
Learn more about Boardgate (FR 910)

This out-and-back spur trail off Sugarloaf Road is not quite a mile and a half in length, but it's well worth the drive. It's a sandy two-track through the grass for most of the trail, with a little bit of gravel and rock here and there. About 0.8 miles from the trailhead, a rise in elevation provid...
Learn more about Prairie Hills - FR 939

This is an out-and-back trail, with the trail ending at the border of neighboring private property. The trail starts behind a wire cattle gate, be sure to always shut the gate behind you. For the first mile, the trail snakes through a wide grassy valley of relatively soft loamy dirt, although you wo...
Learn more about Bear Creek Spur

Spring Draw Rd is an accessible, well-maintained Gravel Road that connects Indian Creek Rd Hwy 44 and takes you through the northwest part of Buffalo Gap Natl Grassland. You might be able to see prairie dogs along the road. The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. Thes...
Learn more about Spring Draw Rd

Indian Creek Rd is an easy well-maintained Gravel Road that starts in Scenic at the Bombing Range Rd and takes you through the north west part of Buffalo Gap Natl Grassland. You might be able to see prairie dogs along the road.The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. T...
Learn more about Indian Creek Rd

Horton Road is a remote two-track that runs along the northern boundary of Badlands National Park in South Dakota. This lightly maintained backcountry road cuts through open prairie terrain, with long, straight stretches flanked by grasslands, ranch fencing, and power lines.The trail provides expans...
Learn more about Horton Road - Northern Boundary of Badlands National Park

Sage Creek Rim Road is an accessible, scenic dirt and gravel route ideal for stock vehicles, overland rigs, and passenger cars seeking sweeping vistas of Badlands National Park. Running along the rim of the Sage Creek Basin, this well-maintained corridor offers stunning overlooks of rugged sandstone...
Learn more about Sagecreek Rim Road

Conklin (Forest Road 924) is an out-and-back trail that runs north-south, meandering over rolling hills in the Oglala National Grassland. The trailhead is located a mile south of the South Dakota-Nebraska border on Hat Creek Road. The entire trail is two-track, on a grass-covered sandy surface that ...
Learn more about Conklin - FR 924

The three trails that comprise this route are all at or just under 3 miles long. The first two-thirds (Little Wolf East and Highline) are well-maintained gravel;most of the last third is dirt - a portion of which washes out and creates deep, wide ruts. Several areas of the trail also collect runoff ...
Learn more about Little Wolves

This trail is a 2-track that's mainly comprised of hard pack dirt. There are minor to medium-sized washouts and ruts that can fill with mud after heavy rainfall. There are a few areas on the 213 section of this run that will put you in slight off-camber conditions. The majority of this run is in ope...
Learn more about Highline Trail

The trail starts and ends on loose gravel. The center section of the trail is mainly comprised of 2-track hard pack natural dirt. There are several large 'whoops', ruts, and washouts along the center section where additional ground clearance would be preferred. The center section has the potential t...
Learn more about Kings Canyon Trail

This is a two-part trail that's mainly 2-track and is comprised of hard-pack dirt. The trail starts off pretty tame when accessed from Kings Canyon, but conditions worsen after turning onto Trail 214. There are a few spots on 214 where off-camber conditions will reach 18-20 degrees, maybe more if yo...
Learn more about Strong Canyon Run

The three trails that comprise this route are all at or just under 3 miles long. The first two-thirds (Little Wolf East and Highline) are well-maintained gravel;most of the last third is dirt - a portion of which washes out and creates deep, wide ruts. Several areas of the trail also collect runoff ...
Learn more about Little Wolves

This trail is a 2-track that's mainly comprised of hard pack dirt. There are minor to medium-sized washouts and ruts that can fill with mud after heavy rainfall. There are a few areas on the 213 section of this run that will put you in slight off-camber conditions. The majority of this run is in ope...
Learn more about Highline Trail

The trail starts and ends on loose gravel. The center section of the trail is mainly comprised of 2-track hard pack natural dirt. There are several large 'whoops', ruts, and washouts along the center section where additional ground clearance would be preferred. The center section has the potential t...
Learn more about Kings Canyon Trail

This is a two-part trail that's mainly 2-track and is comprised of hard-pack dirt. The trail starts off pretty tame when accessed from Kings Canyon, but conditions worsen after turning onto Trail 214. There are a few spots on 214 where off-camber conditions will reach 18-20 degrees, maybe more if yo...
Learn more about Strong Canyon Run