Ruby Gulch Road - FS 738

Ruby Gulch Road is a quiet little spur tucked away in the central Black Hills, surrounded by dense pine forest and a handful of open ridgelines that make it ideal for glassing elk or stretching camp for a few days. The road is a mix of packed dirt and rock, rutted in sections, but doable with high clearance--4WD is a good idea if it's wet. Dispersed campsites dot the edges of the gulch, especially near the upper reaches where the timber opens up. This corridor is part of a larger habitat enhancement zone supported by the USFS and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation--small conifers have been thinned in recent years to restore historic meadows and improve elk movement. You'll see the difference: better sightlines, more native grasses, and plenty of signs if you're out early. Not much traffic out here unless it's rifle season. Pack in, pack out, leave no trace, and tread lightly.