Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Hulett, Wyoming

Bear Lodge is an easy well maintained road for Jeeps, SUVs, Overlanders and horse trailers. 4x4 might be needed in the spring, as there might still be snow and mud. Any vehicle, without four-wheel-drive, may enjoy this road during the dry season. This road has many access points for mountain biking,...
Learn more about Bear Lodge

This is an easy and slow drive with a few hills to climb along the way. Most of the hills could get very difficult if there is any measurable amount of rain. Towards the end there are several areas where you have to open and close several fences. There are lots of opportunities to see mule deer, coy...
Learn more about DJ 220

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 remnants of Tinton Town, an old mining town that turned into a sawmill for the area. There is privat...
Learn more about Boundary Gulch

Weston Hills is an excellent riding area for off-roaders of all skill levels, showcasing rugged clay hills, scenic rock formations, and stands of ponderosa pines. Spanning approximately 12.1 miles, the route climbs from an elevation of 3,805 feet to a peak of 4,519 feet, offering four-wheel-drive ve...
Learn more about Weston Hills

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 in the Big Hill Parking lot. Big Hill offers a staging area with room for trailers. Game Farm offers scenic view...
Learn more about Game Farm

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 surrounding area. If you decide to take the trail down to Grand Canyon Road, bew...
Learn more about Cement Ridge Fire Lookout

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 the trail head. From here there is one main shot up to the top with a few different spurs off the m...
Learn more about Spearfish Mountain

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 runs parallel to the creek in spots, winding through some steep cuts and shaded drainages where you...
Learn more about South Rapid 231.5

Tinton Road (Forest Service Road 134) is a scenic, 25.2-mile graded gravel road connecting Spearfish, South Dakota, to the western Black Hills National Forest. Reaching 6,533 feet, this wide, flat corridor is suitable for all vehicles in dry conditions, winding through pine forests and open valleys....
Learn more about Tinton Road

Boles Canyon is an easy route from South Rapid to Highway 85, which you can connect to Tinton Road. There is a 400-foot elevation change during this 4.9-mile route. It's a single-lane road that is navigable with any vehicle. The area is used for cattle grazing, so be on the lookout for them.
Learn more about Boles Canyon

Redbird Canyon Road (FS 376) is a scenic gravel route nestled within the Black Hills National Forest, offering a tranquil drive through dense pine forests and striking red rock outcrops. The road meanders through a series of homesteads before the canyon narrows, revealing a diverse mix of pine and d...
Learn more about Redbird Canyon Road

Beaver Creek Road (FS 111) is an easy, scenic gravel route through the Black Hills National Forest, making it an excellent option for scenic drivers, campers, and overlanders seeking a peaceful mountain escape. Spanning approximately 5.6 miles across the Wyoming and South Dakota border, this well-ma...
Learn more about Beaver Creek Road (FS 111)

This route begins near Flag Mountain’s summit—just off steep pine ridges—and follows Forest Service Road 189.2 down into the wide-open Northern Hills side of the forest. The climb starts rough: expect loose gravel, bare rock ledges, and uneven tread that’ll challenge a stock pickup from the outset. ...
Learn more about Flag Mountain - FS 189.2

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. This route stays mellow overall but has a few tight one-lane sections that add just enough spice. The ...
Learn more about Besant Park Road - FS 206

Trebor Draw starts off Forest Service Road 631 and winds through the heart of Trebor Draw in the Mystic Ranger District. It’s a beautiful stretch—tight pine forest gives way to big, open plains the higher you climb. Rocky in spots with loose tread and tight turns, the trail is rough enough to keep t...
Learn more about Trebor Draw - FS 631.2

West Deerfield Road (FS 110) is a scenic gravel route in the Black Hills National Forest, stretching northwest from Deerfield Reservoir. This well-maintained road meanders through dense pine forests and open meadows, offering a tranquil drive suitable for most vehicles in dry conditions. The road pr...
Learn more about West DeerField - FS 110

This trail begins just off Lost Gulch - FS 172.1 and winds uphill before traversing over to an intersection with Pillar Peak - FS 8040. It is an easy-to-traverse leg of the alternate route from Lost Gulch - FS 172.1 over to Galena. It is a combination of gravel and sand/silt roadbed. This section of...
Learn more about Pillar Peak - FS 8041

This road connects Lost Gulch - FS 172.1 to Pillar Peak - FS 8040. This trail is a combination of loose rock, gravel, and dirt. There are some shelf road sections with nice views down into Lost Gulch. This is a mild trail connecting to a much harder trail. This trail is a great route when combined w...
Learn more about Lost Gulch Branch 1H - FS 172.1H

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 well worth the hike. The trail begins at Highway 385 on the south, and it runs up through Galena and ...
Learn more about China Wall Trail

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 washed-out sections, some embedded rock, and one or two off-camber turns that'll wake you up -- but o...
Learn more about Black Fox Camp Road

Bear Lodge is an easy well maintained road for Jeeps, SUVs, Overlanders and horse trailers. 4x4 might be needed in the spring, as there might still be snow and mud. Any vehicle, without four-wheel-drive, may enjoy this road during the dry season. This road has many access points for mountain biking,...
Learn more about Bear Lodge

This is an easy and slow drive with a few hills to climb along the way. Most of the hills could get very difficult if there is any measurable amount of rain. Towards the end there are several areas where you have to open and close several fences. There are lots of opportunities to see mule deer, coy...
Learn more about DJ 220

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 remnants of Tinton Town, an old mining town that turned into a sawmill for the area. There is privat...
Learn more about Boundary Gulch

Weston Hills is an excellent riding area for off-roaders of all skill levels, showcasing rugged clay hills, scenic rock formations, and stands of ponderosa pines. Spanning approximately 12.1 miles, the route climbs from an elevation of 3,805 feet to a peak of 4,519 feet, offering four-wheel-drive ve...
Learn more about Weston Hills

Bear Lodge is an easy well maintained road for Jeeps, SUVs, Overlanders and horse trailers. 4x4 might be needed in the spring, as there might still be snow and mud. Any vehicle, without four-wheel-drive, may enjoy this road during the dry season. This road has many access points for mountain biking,...
Learn more about Bear Lodge

This is an easy and slow drive with a few hills to climb along the way. Most of the hills could get very difficult if there is any measurable amount of rain. Towards the end there are several areas where you have to open and close several fences. There are lots of opportunities to see mule deer, coy...
Learn more about DJ 220

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 remnants of Tinton Town, an old mining town that turned into a sawmill for the area. There is privat...
Learn more about Boundary Gulch

Weston Hills is an excellent riding area for off-roaders of all skill levels, showcasing rugged clay hills, scenic rock formations, and stands of ponderosa pines. Spanning approximately 12.1 miles, the route climbs from an elevation of 3,805 feet to a peak of 4,519 feet, offering four-wheel-drive ve...
Learn more about Weston Hills