Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Oral, South Dakota

Starting from the south end of the trail on Argyle Rd, the trail begins in a lightly treed pine forest and follows a natural dirt and limestone path that is mostly packed and single-car width wide. The route includes several sections of semi-loose rocky hill climbs, with small rocks 3-4 inches in di...
Learn more about Song Dog Road

Fisherman Flats Road, also known as Custer State Park Road 2, is an easy two-lane gravel road that provides a connection through the grasslands of Custer State Park's Wildlife Loop area. The route begins off CSP 1, directly across from the Wildlife Loop Visitor Center and just north of Oak Draw Road...
Learn more about Fisherman Flats Road

North Lame Johnny Road, also known as Custer State Park Road 4, is a two-lane gravel road that travels through the French Creek area of Custer State Park. The route can be accessed from the north at Highway 87 or from the south where it intersects Oak Draw Road (CSP 3). Along the way, it passes Fren...
Learn more about North Lame Johnny Road

Oak Draw Road, also known as Custer State Park Road 3, is a scenic two-lane gravel road that cuts across the wide open grasslands of the park's Wildlife Loop area. This lesser-traveled route offers an easy and enjoyable drive, with sweeping views of the prairie and abundant opportunities to spot wil...
Learn more about Oak Draw Road- CSP 3

Swint Road, also known as Custer State Park Road 5, is a two-lane gravel road that connects Fisherman Flats Road (CSP 2) with North Lame Johnny Road (CSP 4). The route travels through rolling grasslands and scattered pine stands, offering an alternative to the busier sections of the Wildlife Loop. T...
Learn more about Swint Road

Forestry Road 336-11, also known as Hines BR1i, is rocky with small to medium rock embedded in the soil. There are a few mud holes with very thick sticky mud after rains, but none are more than a few inches deep, so, should not present an issue. At the south end, connecting to County Road 382, also ...
Learn more about Hines Br1i / 336-11

Bowman Road Loop is a 7.4-mile trail near Pringle, South Dakota, that flows in and out of the pine forest around Bowman Ridge. The trail is primarily composed of rock and sand, with loose sections that may pose challenges. Stock 4WD vehicles should have no issues, but motorcycles and 2WD vehicles sh...
Learn more about Bowman Road Loop

This scenic gravel route offers incredible views of the Black Hills and is easily traversed by most vehicles. Stretching between Lower French Creek Road on the northeast end and Flynn Creek Road on the southwest end, the trail winds through a variety of beautiful and changing terrain. From groves of...
Learn more about Herbert Draw Road

This is a fantastic trail leading up to the summit of Cicero Peak. The route is only 1.7 miles long but climbs 485 feet to a peak elevation of 6,165 feet. Despite its relatively short length, the climb offers rewarding views for nearly the entire ascent. Loose rocks are all over and must be navigate...
Learn more about Cicero Peak Road

Mount Coolidge Road winds its way up the fire lookout mountain just off Highway 87, offering easy access to one of the best panoramic views in the central Black Hills. The road is gravel, maintained, and open to most vehicles during the summer season--though it can be washboarded and dusty. While mo...
Learn more about Mount Coolidge Road

It is an easy gravel road with good views, making for a beautiful shortcut to nearby trailheads. Many other activities off of this route include camping sites in the Black Hills National Forest along with horseback riding, hiking, and off-road trails to experience along the way. This trail runs from...
Learn more about Ghost Canyon Road

Custer Mountain Cutoff is an easy, highly accessible 3-mile scenic route near Custer, South Dakota, perfect for beginners, standard SUVs, and anyone looking for a relaxed drive through the Black Hills. Winding through dense stands of ponderosa pines and vibrant quaking aspens, this peaceful trail sk...
Learn more about Custer Mountain Cutoff

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, as you'll have many chances to spot deer and other wildlife along this route.
Learn more about Bear Mountain Lookout to Pactola Reservoir

Travel from Windmill Draw - (FSR 681) to Hell Canyon - (FSR 284.2L) to Alkali Ridge (FSR 284.2C). This 7.7-mile route, from Custer Limestone Road in the north to US Highway 16 in the south, covers a wide variety of terrain and is one of the highlights of what the Black Hills offers to offroad enthus...
Learn more about Windmill Draw to Hell Canyon to Alkali Ridge

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

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 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 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

Spring Creek Road (FS 305) is a scenic gravel forest route with smooth driving and light elevation changes, suitable for most vehicles. The road winds through dense pine forest and unique granite formations, offering a few peaceful, dispersed campsites along the way. Geology lovers will enjoy the st...
Learn more about Spring Creek Road - FS 305

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

Starting from the south end of the trail on Argyle Rd, the trail begins in a lightly treed pine forest and follows a natural dirt and limestone path that is mostly packed and single-car width wide. The route includes several sections of semi-loose rocky hill climbs, with small rocks 3-4 inches in di...
Learn more about Song Dog Road

Fisherman Flats Road, also known as Custer State Park Road 2, is an easy two-lane gravel road that provides a connection through the grasslands of Custer State Park's Wildlife Loop area. The route begins off CSP 1, directly across from the Wildlife Loop Visitor Center and just north of Oak Draw Road...
Learn more about Fisherman Flats Road

North Lame Johnny Road, also known as Custer State Park Road 4, is a two-lane gravel road that travels through the French Creek area of Custer State Park. The route can be accessed from the north at Highway 87 or from the south where it intersects Oak Draw Road (CSP 3). Along the way, it passes Fren...
Learn more about North Lame Johnny Road

Oak Draw Road, also known as Custer State Park Road 3, is a scenic two-lane gravel road that cuts across the wide open grasslands of the park's Wildlife Loop area. This lesser-traveled route offers an easy and enjoyable drive, with sweeping views of the prairie and abundant opportunities to spot wil...
Learn more about Oak Draw Road- CSP 3

Starting from the south end of the trail on Argyle Rd, the trail begins in a lightly treed pine forest and follows a natural dirt and limestone path that is mostly packed and single-car width wide. The route includes several sections of semi-loose rocky hill climbs, with small rocks 3-4 inches in di...
Learn more about Song Dog Road

Fisherman Flats Road, also known as Custer State Park Road 2, is an easy two-lane gravel road that provides a connection through the grasslands of Custer State Park's Wildlife Loop area. The route begins off CSP 1, directly across from the Wildlife Loop Visitor Center and just north of Oak Draw Road...
Learn more about Fisherman Flats Road

North Lame Johnny Road, also known as Custer State Park Road 4, is a two-lane gravel road that travels through the French Creek area of Custer State Park. The route can be accessed from the north at Highway 87 or from the south where it intersects Oak Draw Road (CSP 3). Along the way, it passes Fren...
Learn more about North Lame Johnny Road

Oak Draw Road, also known as Custer State Park Road 3, is a scenic two-lane gravel road that cuts across the wide open grasslands of the park's Wildlife Loop area. This lesser-traveled route offers an easy and enjoyable drive, with sweeping views of the prairie and abundant opportunities to spot wil...
Learn more about Oak Draw Road- CSP 3