Going to Spearfish, SD in June

[Randy6911]

7 of us will be riding June 6-11. First ride in that area so looking for good tips from someone who has ridden those trails. Thanks

 

[Admin]

 

[Montecresto]

Love that area!!! @Vikes79 probably can help you with that...👍

 

[all4sho]

the black hills are on my bucket list to go back one day, i lived in rapid city when i was a kid, that whole area is awesome!!

 

[CaptArn]

Have you looked at the Black Hills National Forrest web site? If not theres a lot of info including maps, riding areas, permits, ect.
Great ATV riding areas and miles and miles of fire roads. Where are you staying?

 

[Vikes79]

@-Bear- @NewHere2

It’s a great place to ride. Watch for fire danger. Bring extra water and a fire extinguisher or 2.

You will need the Avenza maps app and simply download before you journey out.

For first timers I recommend starting in Nemo SD. You’ll need a permit to ride.

From Nemo you can see some cool trails.

if you can, hit the Badlands too!

The flag pic is over looking Nemo SD. First pic is looking north at bear butte between Nemo and Sturgis on Bulldog canyon trail.

If you search the site for Black Hills, lots of good info.

Starting from Spearfish might require some highway time (or trailer) to find the trails. You’ll have to work your way to Deadwood to find them.

 

[Randy6911]

Have you looked at the Black Hills National Forrest web site? If not theres a lot of info including maps, riding areas, permits, ect.
Great ATV riding areas and miles and miles of fire roads. Where are you staying?

Yeah we checked out those things and YouTube, Avenza maps Etc. Just looking for feedback from someone here who has been. Thanks. Staying at Holiday Inn, Spearfish convention center, June 6-11th.

 

[Randy6911]

@-Bear- @NewHere2

It’s a great place to ride. Watch for fire danger. Bring extra water and a fire extinguisher or 2.

You will need the Avenza maps app and simply download before you journey out.

For first timers I recommend starting in Nemo SD. You’ll need a permit to ride.

From Nemo you can see some cool trails.

if you can, hit the Badlands too!

The flag pic is over looking Nemo SD. First pic is looking north at bear butte between Nemo and Sturgis on Bulldog canyon trail.

If you search the site for Black Hills, lots of good info.

Starting from Spearfish might require some highway time (or trailer) to find the trails. You’ll have to work your way to Deadwood to find them.


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Thanks, great info.

 

[Prntckt]

7 of us will be riding June 6-11. First ride in that area so looking for good tips from someone who has ridden those trails. Thanks

I’ll be watching this thread. I am going out there for the first time in mid July with seven other machines. Staying in the Terry Peak area.

 

[Prntckt]

@-Bear- @NewHere2

It’s a great place to ride. Watch for fire danger. Bring extra water and a fire extinguisher or 2.

You will need the Avenza maps app and simply download before you journey out.

For first timers I recommend starting in Nemo SD. You’ll need a permit to ride.

From Nemo you can see some cool trails.

if you can, hit the Badlands too!

The flag pic is over looking Nemo SD. First pic is looking north at bear butte between Nemo and Sturgis on Bulldog canyon trail.

If you search the site for Black Hills, lots of good info.

Starting from Spearfish might require some highway time (or trailer) to find the trails. You’ll have to work your way to Deadwood to find them.


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Awesome pictures and great advice. Is there a specific Avensa map(s) you’d recommend?

 

[Randy6911]

I’ll be watching this thread. I am going out there for the first time in mid July with seven other machines. Staying in the Terry Peak area.

I’ll post plenty of pictures. We are now up to 10 people confirmed and maybe 2 more.

 

[Randy6911]

Awesome pictures and great advice. Is there a specific Avensa map(s) you’d recommend?

These are the ones we downloaded
Black Hills NF
-Bearlodge ranger district MUVM
-Hell Canyon Ranger district MUVM
-Mystic ranger district MUVM
-Northern Hills Ranger District MUVM

 

[-Bear-]

@-Bear- @NewHere2

It’s a great place to ride. Watch for fire danger. Bring extra water and a fire extinguisher or 2.

You will need the Avenza maps app and simply download before you journey out.

For first timers I recommend starting in Nemo SD. You’ll need a permit to ride.

From Nemo you can see some cool trails.

if you can, hit the Badlands too!

The flag pic is over looking Nemo SD. First pic is looking north at bear butte between Nemo and Sturgis on Bulldog canyon trail.

If you search the site for Black Hills, lots of good info.

Starting from Spearfish might require some highway time (or trailer) to find the trails. You’ll have to work your way to Deadwood to find them.


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Love that place, I access most of those via the Piedmont trailhead. Got 3K miles logged between hills and Badlands. Avenza is most definitely the way to go. I have also been using this website to prioritize our weekend rides. It has gps markers for each trail system which includes all the things to see while riding that trail system. It tells you where everything ( mines, old bridge crossing, historical site, etc.) is located.

ATV TRAILHEADS

blackhillsdestinations.com

 

[-Bear-]

These are the ones we downloaded
Black Hills NF
-Bearlodge ranger district MUVM
-Hell Canyon Ranger district MUVM
-Mystic ranger district MUVM
-Northern Hills Ranger District MUVM

Those will get you anywhere in the hills, I also keep 2 extra on mine for badlands coverage (I use mostly for hunting), but if you find your way out to do something like the Farmingdale ride, they will cover you

 

[Vikes79]

These are the ones we downloaded
Black Hills NF
-Bearlodge ranger district MUVM
-Hell Canyon Ranger district MUVM
-Mystic ranger district MUVM
-Northern Hills Ranger District MUVM

Yep those are the ones you need!

 

[Randy6911]

While planning the trail rides I see a lot of trails marked 62” but our Talons are 64” width. Are their any issues for us riding on those trails? Narrow bridges or pipe trail guides, trail tree gaps, Rangers don’t allow, etc. We ride legally but just wanted some local feedback on what goes on there. I’ll call the ranger station but just curious. Thanks

 

[Vikes79]

While planning the trail rides I see a lot of trails marked 62” but our Talons are 64” width. Are their any issues for us riding on those trails? Narrow bridges or pipe trail guides, trail tree gaps, Rangers don’t allow, etc. We ride legally but just wanted some local feedback on what goes on there. I’ll call the ranger station but just curious. Thanks

Honestly I don’t know if I can answer that very well?

I’ve never been hassled about my P1k5...but some of the gates are super tight!

Some of the trails are tight. Just don’t drive like a jack wagon and be courteous to others.
You won’t be smoking along at 40 mph on most of the trails anyway ( too many blind corners, hair pin turns, etc).

Gaps between trees can be tight. My P1k5 rubs the top frame a lot at times.

A talon should be just fine on the 62” trails.

 

[Randy6911]

Ranger told us they hired 10 new temp. people this year to check the trails for over width vehicles and reckless activity. $250 fine and no longer issuing warning tickets first. I guess that extra 2 inches is a big deal after all. I hope he wasn’t just BS’ ing us. Well the next step up is the 82” trail system OR Colorado.

 

[-Bear-]

While planning the trail rides I see a lot of trails marked 62” but our Talons are 64” width. Are their any issues for us riding on those trails? Narrow bridges or pipe trail guides, trail tree gaps, Rangers don’t allow, etc. We ride legally but just wanted some local feedback on what goes on there. I’ll call the ranger station but just curious. Thanks

Like @Vikes79 said, you should be fine. I have only ever seen one enforcement of vehicle width since I began riding the hills and it was someone with a K5 Blazer on a 62" trail that was supposed to be closed from too much rain. There are some trails like the Cenntenial Trail (#8089) that have bridge crossings, they get a little on the skinny side. The first bridge on that trail coming from the trailhead near the Sugar Shack rubs both my driver's and passenger's tires simultaneously on my P1K5. Also, the summit of that trail has some great rock crawling, but when you begin the descent, it has a sluice box that rubs both sides of my upper cage. Most of the places will have a small bypass if you find the gap is too small to stay on the main trail. Just don't get caught trying to make your own paths that don't exist, that is where rangers ( and people, worry more about the locals) can get hostile.

 

[Randy6911]

Like @Vikes79 said, you should be fine. I have only ever seen one enforcement of vehicle width since I began riding the hills and it was someone with a K5 Blazer on a 62" trail that was supposed to be closed from too much rain. There are some trails like the Cenntenial Trail (#8089) that have bridge crossings, they get a little on the skinny side. The first bridge on that trail coming from the trailhead near the Sugar Shack rubs both my driver's and passenger's tires simultaneously on my P1K5. Also, the summit of that trail has some great rock crawling, but when you begin the descent, it has a sluice box that rubs both sides of my upper cage. Most of the places will have a small bypass if you find the gap is too small to stay on the main trail. Just don't get caught trying to make your own paths that don't exist, that is where rangers ( and people, worry more about the locals) can get hostile.

We stay on marked trails, ride at reasonable speeds and try to obey the rules. Unfortunately after hearing what the ranger said today about more aggressive enforcement this year, some of our group is getting concerned. I told them I was going and if I get a ticket the $250 fine will just be part of the trip expenses. We have enough people to split up into smaller groups and have good rides anywhere. So far nobody has backed out. We are 5 trucks with tandem wheel trailers driving 1,300 - 1,500 miles each, 2 people flying in and about 40 motel nights for the group we definitely want to have a great time. Hobbies never pay out, you just have to enjoy yourself and friends. Thank you guys for all the good info on the area. Here is an article about the enforcement.

Black Hills National Forest launches new OHV action team

NEMO — Black Hills National Forest Service officials have heard the cry from locals regarding the explosive influx of area off-highway vehicle (OHV) trail use and chose to address the

www.bhpioneer.com

 

[Vikes79]

We stay on marked trails, ride at reasonable speeds and try to obey the rules. Unfortunately after hearing what the ranger said today about more aggressive enforcement this year, some of our group is getting concerned. I told them I was going and if I get a ticket the $250 fine will just be part of the trip expenses. We have enough people to split up into smaller groups and have good rides anywhere. So far nobody has backed out. We are 5 trucks with tandem wheel trailers driving 1,300 - 1,500 miles each, 2 people flying in and about 40 motel nights for the group we definitely want to have a great time. Hobbies never pay out, you just have to enjoy yourself and friends. Thank you guys for all the good info on the area. Here is an article about the enforcement.

Black Hills National Forest launches new OHV action team

NEMO — Black Hills National Forest Service officials have heard the cry from locals regarding the explosive influx of area off-highway vehicle (OHV) trail use and chose to address the

www.bhpioneer.com

As a life long resident of SD whom has been riding the logging road or off road areas since the early 2000’s on quads and Ford Rangers, I don’t see any thing alarming in that article. As long as I can remember it’s always been people trying to work together.

It has always been the jack wagons that don’t respect the area that create problems. IE driving trails after heavy rains, etc.