Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Mountain Plains, South Dakota

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

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

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

This trail is a 1.6-mile connecting route between Lost Gulch (FS 172.1) and the China Wall Trail. It consists of packed gravel, loose rocks, mild climbs and descents, as well as smaller ruts and mud puddles. It meets up with Lost Gulch at (44.36499, -103.61948) and connects to the China Wall Trail a...
Learn more about FS 567.1

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

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. From this trail, which goes over Red Hill, you can access the Camp 5/Calamity Jane trails area or go to ...
Learn more about Black Hills Forest Access from Sturgis

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

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 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 is a narrow trail that has a few pull-off locations for oncoming traffic but you'll wa...
Learn more about Veterans Peak Trail

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 a two-track trail, and shelf road in places. There is a nice overlook to pull off and enjoy the view.
Learn more about Bulldog

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. Meade Cemetery where many of our original settlers and calvary are buried. You will not be ...
Learn more about Fort Meade Backcountry Byway

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, but a short walk brings you to an overlook that allows you to see out of the trees to the surrounding valley. This ste...
Learn more about Moses Hill

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

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

Bulldog is an exceptionally scenic, beginner-friendly trail in the Black Hills National Forest that is perfect for offroaders wanting to experience stunning autumn colors and sweeping mountain vistas without navigating difficult obstacles. Winding through the hills southwest of Sturgis, this route c...
Learn more about Bulldog

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 inclines and declines but the rocks are not too large. Some areas of this trail see...
Learn more about Benchmark Trail

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 bushes and stumps to dodge but no narrow sections along this route. You will see almost only ever...
Learn more about Boxelder Ridge Cut Through Final Leg

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 up is the path itself is quite narrow so if you find yourself catching your tire on the none-dirt portion of the trail, it co...
Learn more about Crystal Mount Single Track

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

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

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

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

This trail is a 1.6-mile connecting route between Lost Gulch (FS 172.1) and the China Wall Trail. It consists of packed gravel, loose rocks, mild climbs and descents, as well as smaller ruts and mud puddles. It meets up with Lost Gulch at (44.36499, -103.61948) and connects to the China Wall Trail a...
Learn more about FS 567.1

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

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

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