Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Keystone, South Dakota

FS650 makes a tight little lollipop-shaped loop just off the Raga area that's easy to overlook--but it's worth the turn. The road is mostly solid dirt with a few rock shelves, mellow enough for most high-clearance vehicles. As you wind around the loop, the timber opens up just enough to catch glimps...
Learn more about Lollipop Camp Raga - FS 650

This is a well-maintained gravel route leading into one of the Black Hills' most popular recreation zones. Lined with towering pines and lake views, the road features numerous dispersed and designated camping spots, many with easy lake access. Ideal for all vehicle types, the route offers a peaceful...
Learn more about Calumet Road

If you're visiting the Mount Rushmore area or just passing through on Highway 16, this is a convenient trail that's well worth exploring. The trailhead is located right off the highway, making it easy to access. Be cautious when turning off Highway 16, though—traffic can move quickly, so signal well...
Learn more about FS 354.1C

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 who are unprepared. Expect tight corners and a narrow single-track trail with a heavily wooded are...
Learn more about Rocky Gulch

FS 366.3 is a main forest road that comes straight off the highway and sees heavy use, especially on weekends and during hunting season. The surface is well-packed dirt and gravel, wide enough for two vehicles to pass comfortably, though expect some washboarding in places. This area is popular with ...
Learn more about Beretta Road - FS 366.3

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 to a staging area for either "Hippie Hollow" hiking trail, or Bikini and T-Back trails, r...
Learn more about Foster's Gultch

Boulder Hill Road is a smooth and scenic gravel route winding through pine-covered hills with easy terrain and steady grades. The road offers abundant camping opportunities, including a spacious meadow capable of holding 10+ rigs--ideal for groups or solo rigs seeking room to spread out. Several sid...
Learn more about Boulder Hill - FS 358

This trail will run from Foster's Gulch to South Rockerville Road. Along this long run across a high ridge of the Black Hills National Forest, you will have some good scenery and will likely run across some wildlife. The obstacles on this route are a few or simple. A few places where standing water ...
Learn more about Long Run - 641

Branch 1A of the Twin Springs Cutoff is a short but scenic spur that leads to the back side of the Granite Ridge Lodge. It's an easy drive, just a bit rocky in spots, and stays close to the highway--making it a perfect pull-in for a quiet overnight or weekend basecamp. A few mellow offshoots branch ...
Learn more about Twin Springs Cutoff (Branch 1A)

Turkey Ridge--716 is an unmaintained trail with several areas where water can stand and form large mud holes. The terrain is somewhat scenic as it goes through wooded areas, and the trail is unmaintained and not traveled very much. There are not many obstacles or technical areas on this trail.
Learn more about Turkey Ridge - 719

Johnson Gulch is a Two track Forest Service road along a popular two track trail outside of Rapid City. This trail is scenic, and a nice jaunt if you'd like to stay close to town. This is an area used actively for target shooting. Be advised, and Stay safe. There are no legal lanes here. Allowing fo...
Learn more about Johnson Gulch - FS 674.1A

This trail is an excellent connector between Old Hill City Road and Highway 244, making it a convenient route that can save both time and miles compared to traveling the paved roads between the two. For the most part, the trail is easy to navigate and suitable for most high-clearance vehicles. While...
Learn more about Palmer - FS 356

This is a great trail if you're looking for a scenic ride through the valley with plenty of winding sections and several trail crossings that keep the drive interesting. The terrain offers a nice mix of easy cruising with just enough obstacles to make it enjoyable. There are a few rutted sections th...
Learn more about Valley Trail - FS 669

This is a beautiful trail that is easy and scenic. You can expect to drive on gravel, dirt, and some small rocks. Twin Sisters is located at the top with some cool views. This area in the Black Hills is very open with no trees, hence the name Bald Hills.
Learn more about Bald Hills

This trail serves as a great connector between FS 699.1A and the Ruby Gulch Main Trail, making it an excellent transition if you're exploring the area. The trail is very narrow in several places, so full-size vehicles should expect some branches brushing along the sides and roof. Drivers of wider ri...
Learn more about Ruby Gulch Branch - FS 738

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 end can be muddy after recent rain, but any high clearance vehicle will be able to take the route.
Learn more about China Gulch - FSR #249

This is a short and easy drive up a dirt road that offers some nice views once you get about halfway in. The road is relatively smooth and could be completed in almost any type of vehicle that has some ground clearance. Well worth the drive up to see some of the views.
Learn more about FS 243

Victoria 162 is a road that lands you onto Victoria 159 (commonly the main road through the Victoria trail system) or a way to access other roads/trails. Not only is this an incredibly scenic drive, but this area is also a common place for firearms enthusiasts. Be extra mindful of people and vehicle...
Learn more about Victoria 162

Victoria 09 is a short and easy single track through the Victoria Trail System. It's mostly a wide path, full of small loose rocks, that goes through grassy meadows under widely separated pine trees in a sparse pine forest. There are bigger chunks of rock in the trail, and you have to ride over embe...
Learn more about Victoria 09

Victoria 12 is an easy dirt bike trail, but it has become faint in spots and will require some route finding in order to ride the entire trail. The south end starts in a grassy meadow as a skinny trail, crossing some mud puddles, and flowing over rolling grassy hills covered in widely separated pine...
Learn more about Victoria 12

FS650 makes a tight little lollipop-shaped loop just off the Raga area that's easy to overlook--but it's worth the turn. The road is mostly solid dirt with a few rock shelves, mellow enough for most high-clearance vehicles. As you wind around the loop, the timber opens up just enough to catch glimps...
Learn more about Lollipop Camp Raga - FS 650

This is a well-maintained gravel route leading into one of the Black Hills' most popular recreation zones. Lined with towering pines and lake views, the road features numerous dispersed and designated camping spots, many with easy lake access. Ideal for all vehicle types, the route offers a peaceful...
Learn more about Calumet Road

If you're visiting the Mount Rushmore area or just passing through on Highway 16, this is a convenient trail that's well worth exploring. The trailhead is located right off the highway, making it easy to access. Be cautious when turning off Highway 16, though—traffic can move quickly, so signal well...
Learn more about FS 354.1C

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 who are unprepared. Expect tight corners and a narrow single-track trail with a heavily wooded are...
Learn more about Rocky Gulch

FS650 makes a tight little lollipop-shaped loop just off the Raga area that's easy to overlook--but it's worth the turn. The road is mostly solid dirt with a few rock shelves, mellow enough for most high-clearance vehicles. As you wind around the loop, the timber opens up just enough to catch glimps...
Learn more about Lollipop Camp Raga - FS 650

This is a well-maintained gravel route leading into one of the Black Hills' most popular recreation zones. Lined with towering pines and lake views, the road features numerous dispersed and designated camping spots, many with easy lake access. Ideal for all vehicle types, the route offers a peaceful...
Learn more about Calumet Road

If you're visiting the Mount Rushmore area or just passing through on Highway 16, this is a convenient trail that's well worth exploring. The trailhead is located right off the highway, making it easy to access. Be cautious when turning off Highway 16, though—traffic can move quickly, so signal well...
Learn more about FS 354.1C

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 who are unprepared. Expect tight corners and a narrow single-track trail with a heavily wooded are...
Learn more about Rocky Gulch