Snowmobiling

See Special Restrictions - Over the Snow Travel Order, SD Map & WY Map (effective 12/15/22 - 03/31/23 or until rescinded)

In the 1.2 million-acre Black Hills National Forest there are a total of 416 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. The South Dakota Snowmobile Program includes 295 miles in South Dakota and through agreements with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, Wyoming (WY) Division of State Parks and Historic Sites, State of WY, and WY Trails, is contiguous with 55 miles in the Black Hills in WY.

Additionally the Bearlodge Mountains of the Black Hills National Forest have 66 miles of snowmobile trails groomed and operated (note: this number is reduced in 2022/2023 as some trails will be closed on the Bearlodge Ranger District near Sundance, WY due to an upcoming timber sale this winter) through separate agreements with the WY Division of State Parks and Historic Sites, State of WY, and WY Trails and volunteers from the Sundance Snowmobile Association.

There are a few areas closed to snowmobiling including active logging operations, winter wildlife range, plowed roadways, developed cross-country ski areas and posted private land. Be aware that numerous parcels of private property are interspersed within the Black Hills National Forest. PLEASE respect private property owners. "No Trespassing" means "No Snowmobiling."

The Black Hills Snowmobile Trail System is maintained through a cooperative effort between the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks - Division of Parks and Recreation (follow their snowmobile trail updates at https://gfp.sd.gov/snowmobiling/), the USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Barrick Mining Company, Golden Reward Mining Company and numerous private landowners.

Snowmobile maps are available on the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks website, from one of the local Forest Service offices.

The snowmobiling season for the Black Hills is December 15th through March 31st.

When encountering elk, deer or other wildlife, please stay on your snowmobile and keep moving. Limited contact reduces the impact on wild animals during the critical winter season, when food supplies are at the lowest and animals are most vulnerable to stress.

Please do not drive snowmobiles on plowed roads. Plowed roads are used for full sized vehicles and there is a real possibility that you may encounter a loaded log truck that doesn’t have the ability to stop quickly, especially on icy roads.

More information about snowmobiling  in the Black Hills (trail conditions, trail maps, fees/licenses, snowmobile safety, rules and regulations) is available from the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, at https://gfp.sd.gov/snowmobiling/ and the Wyoming State Trails Program at https://wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/snowmobile.