Mountain Biking

Mountain Biking Areas

• Central Hills - Rapid City

  The Mystic Ranger District is located in the central portion of the Black Hills National Forest and has an office south of Rapid City, SD.

• Buzzards Roost Trailhead
• Centennial Trailheads (Trail #89) - Central Hills

  Seven trailheads provide access to the Centennial Trail in the central Black Hills. The seven trailheads are Brush Creek Trailhead, Calumet Trailhead, Dakota Point Trailhead, Deer Creek Trailhead, Rapid Creek Trailhead & Fishing access, Samelius Trailhead and Spring Creek Trailhead. This portion of the Centennial Trail is approximately 29 miles long, and is open for hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.

  The Centennial Trail is a 111 mile long trail from Bear Butte State Park to Wind Cave National Park.  It marks the 100th anniversary of state hood, 1889 to 1989, and represents the diversity of South Dakota. There are many other trailheads that also access the Centennail Trail across the Forest.

• Brush Creek Trailhead
• Calumet Trailhead
• Dakota Point Trailhead
• Deer Creek Trailhead
• Rapid Creek Trailhead & Fishing access
• Samelius Trailhead
• Spring Creek Trailhead
• Deerfield Reservoir Complex

  Deerfield Reservoir is located 20 miles west of Hill City, SD. The Bureau of Reclamation manages the dam and water. Castle Creek flows into and out of the reservoir and provides additional fishing opportunities. Ice fishing, snowmobiling and ice skating are popular winter sports here. The complex has three campgrounds, two picnic areas and the Deerfield Lake Loop Trail (Trail #40L).

  There are two boat launch areas; one at Dutchmen Campground (south side) and one at Custer Trails. Please note: The Custer Trails boat dock is not placed as the dock sustained extensive damage from wind and other elements. Gravel has been laid at this location and boats can still be launched there, however, sandals and/or footwear that can get wet is recommended.

  Travel on the reservoir is limited to five miles per hour and there is a no-wake restriction which provides for peaceful fishing and boating experiences.

  Reservoir water levels and boat ramp data can be found on the Bureau of Reclamation website for Pactola and Deerfield Reservoirs:  http://www.usbr.gov/gp/boat/

  Fish Your National Forests: This site can be accessed by Passenger Car; Fish available include: Trout; Types of fishing available include: Shore, Motorized boat, Float tube, Spin, Ice; Boat Launch available

• Deerfield Lake Loop Trailheads (Trail #40L)

  This 10 mile trail encircles Deerfield Lake. From Reynolds Prairie you'll have great views of the lake.  To the south, the trail winds through areas of tall pines and small meadows. This trail can be accessed from four trailheads: Custer Trail Trailhead, North Shore Trailhead, Hill Top Trailhead and the Gold Run Trailhead.

• Custer Trail Trailhead
• Gold Run Trailhead
• North Shore Trailhead
• Deerfield Trailheads (Trail #40)

  The Deerfield Trail is a 23 mile trail connecting the Deerfield Reservoir to the Centennial Trail. Between the Dougherty and Silver City Trailheads, you will wind through the deep canyons along both Slate Creek and Rapid Creek, crossing over 30 bridges. 

   

• Deer Creek Trailhead
• Dougherty Trailhead
• Kinney Canyon Trailhead
• Silver City Trailhead
• Ditch Creek System

  The Ditch Creek Trail System is approximately 15 miles west of Hill City.  It is in the high Limestone Plateau of the Black Hills.  This 100 mile trail system has a mix of open meadows, thick aspen, dense spruce and, high mountain streams.  Most trails are designed for OHV use, and some may be rocky in places.  There is one trailhead for this system.  Some trails are open yearlong, others open May 15-December 15 as they are shared with the snowmobile system during winter months.

• Ditch Creek Trailhead
• Spring Creek Trailhead
• Osprey Trailhead (Trail #58)
• Schroeder Trailhead
• Shanks Trailhead
• Northern Hills-Spearfish

  The Northern Hills Ranger District covers the northern portion of the Black Hills on the South Dakota side. Spearfish has nearby access to over 300 miles of snowmobile trails, groomed and ungroomed cross-country ski trails, a 100 mile long hiking trail (Centennial Trail) and many other trails, a 110 mile long biking, hiking and horseback trail (Mickelson Trail), and 2 downhill ski areas (ski areas are near Deadwood, SD - 15 miles away).

• Big Hill Trailhead
• Camp 5 Trailhead
• Centennial Trailheads (Trail #89) - Northern Hills

  Five trailheads provide access to the Centennial Trail in the northern Black Hills.The five trailheads are the Alkali Creek Trailhead (BLM), Elk Creek Trailhead, Dalton Lake Trailhead, South Boxelder Trailhead, and the Pilot Knob Trailhead. The north portion of the Centennial Trail is approximately 37 miles long, and is open for hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Off Highway Vehicles (OHV) less than or equal to 62 inches in width are allowed on the Centennial Trail between the Dalton Lake Trailhead and the Pilot Knob Trailhead.

• Dalton Lake Trailhead
• Elk Creek Trailhead
• Pilot Knob Trailhead
• South Boxelder Trailhead
• Crow Peak Trailhead (Trail #64)
• Dumont Trailhead
• Eagle Cliff Trailheads (Trail #68)

  The Eagle Cliff Trails were developed by local skiing enthusiasts in the mid 1980's. This trail system became popular among other recreationists because of the opportunity to create your own adventure.

  With twenty-one intertwining loop and dead-end trails, the system offers fun and challenge at every turn. Trails range from short, rugged and remote to longer, looping trails with a range of difficulty. The opportunity to combine trails and create a unique experience is only one of the highlights of this system.

  The trail difficulties are rated for cross-country skiing, other users may find them less difficult. Today the trails are maintained by the USDA Forest Service and the Eagle Cliff Ski Association.

  We ask that snowshoers not use the groomed ski trails. Snowshoeing damages the tracks that the ski clubs work hard to establish and maintain.  Snowshoe damage makes it very difficult to ski on the tracks.

  Eagle Cliff Brochure & Map

• Bratwurst Trailhead (Trail #68)
• Holey Rock Trailhead (Trail # 68)
• Old Baldy Trailhead (Trail #66)
• Piedmont Trailhead
• Red Lake Trailhead
• Riley Hill Trailhead
• Spearfish Canyon

  Overview

  Spearfish Canyon is renowned for its natural beauty & history framed by towering limestone canyon walls.

  • Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

    

    This byway is the best place in the Black Hills to see waterfalls, including Bridal Veil, Little Spearfish & Roughlock Falls. The byway is a favorite fall color drive when the aspen changes in Sept. The Byway also follows an old railroad grade that was abandoned after massive flooding in 1933. Old rail stops & mining camps include Savoy & Elmore.

  • Scenic Areas

    

    Learn More

  • Hiking

    

    Learn More

  • Camping

    

    Learn More

  • Map

    

    Image  SmartPhone Map

  • Photos

    

    View
• Little Spearfish Trailhead (Trail #80)
• Rimrock Trailhead (Trail #79)
• Spearfish Quarry Trailhead
• Stageyard Trailhead
• Sturgis Trail System

  In summer 2019, a Forest Service decision was signed approving a proposal from the City of Sturgis for the construction and maintenance of approximately 16 miles of non-motorized trails on the Black Hills National Forest. A special use permit issued by the Forest Service authorized the City of Sturgis to construct and maintain the Sturgis trail system. An additional 5.3 miles of new trails are located on City of Sturgis land, for a total of 21.3 miles.

  The Sturgis trail system forms a multiple-loop trail network in Vanocker Canyon, Deadman Mountain and Veteran’s Peak south of Sturgis. The trail network links into trails previously constructed by Black Hills Trails on City of Sturgis property around the Sturgis Reservoirs and into the existing Centennial trail, which is administered by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.

  In addition to the city trailhead in Sturgis, there are two other trailhead locations ~ Vanocker Trailhead, approximately three miles south of Sturgis and Veterans Peak Trailhead located near Veterans Peak, at the intersection of FSRs 139.1 and 139.1A. Note: These trailheads have not been constructed yet, but as funding makes itself available they will be completed. The public may currently park at these locations even though the trailheads are not defined.

  This trail system is open to hikers, runners, mountain bikers and horseback riders.

  Forest Trailheads:

  • Vanocker Trailhead
  • Veterans Peak Trailhead
• Vanocker Trailhead
• Veterans Peak Trailhead
• Tinton Trail System

  • Overview

    

    The Tinton trail was proposed for addition to the non-motorized trail system on the National Forest in 2018 by the local user group, Ridge Riders of the Black Hills and added as an official trail in 2019. The system consists of the Lower & Upper Tinton trailheads, the main Tinton trail stem and loop, a branch trail that connects to the Crow Peak trail, and a short loop trail that originates at the Lower Tinton trailhead (across from the Northern Hills Work Center) and provides a scenic overlook of Johnston Gulch. The Tinton trail network includes approximately 46 miles of trail. Around 11 miles of the Tinton trail overlap existing system trails at Big Hill, Rimrock, and Old Baldy. In 2015, the Youth Natural Resource Program worked with the Forest Service to meet certain parameters and specifications on the trail that aided in it being added to the National Forest System.

  Lower Tinton Trailhead

  Upper Tinton Trailhead

  North Zone Recreation SmartPhone Map

• Lower Tinton Trailhead
• Upper Tinton Trailhead
• Northwestern Hills - Sundance

  Bearlodge Ranger District (Northwestern Hills) encompasses the northern portion of the Black Hills on the Wyoming side.In the immediate vicinity is trout fishing, access to over 300 miles of snowmobile trails, hunting, hiking and camping. Forest Service campgrounds near Sundance are Cook Lake, Reuter, and Sundance Trailhead.

• Blacktail Trailhead
• Carson Draw Trail System Trailhead (Trail #87)
• Cook Lake Trailhead (Trail #88)
• Dugout Gulch Botanical Trailhead (Trail #77)
• Ogden Creek Trailhead
• Reuter Trailhead
• Sheepnose Trailhead (Trail #93)
• Sundance Trail System Trailhead (Trail #93)
• Southern Hills - Custer

  The Hell Canyon Ranger District is located in the southern third of the Black Hills National Forest, with offices in both Newcastle, WY and Custer, SD.

• Porcupine Trailhead
• Centennial Trailheads (Trail #89) - Southern Hills

  Several trailheads provide access to the Centennial Trail in the southern Black Hills including Big Pine Trailhead, Willow Creek Trailhead, Iron Creek East Trailhead (Trail #15) by Lakota Lake, Iron Creek West Trailhead (Trail #15), Iron Creek Trailhead in Custer State Park (CSP), Badger Hole Trailhead (CSP), French Creek Trailhead (CSP), Highland Creek Trailhead (CSP) and the Norbeck Trailhead (managed by Wind Cave National Park). This portion of the Centennial Trail is approximately 38 miles long, and is open for hiking and backpacking. Horseback riding and mountain biking are allowed on some portions of the trail.

• Big Pine Trailhead (Centennial #89)
• Iron Creek East Trailhead (Trail #15)
• Iron Creek West Trailhead (Trail #15)
• Bluebird Trailhead
• Hell Canyon Trailhead