Black Hills National Forest OHV

Bogus Jim OHV Area is a rough and technically demanding trail system in the northern Black Hills National Forest, enclosed by Bogus Jim Road, Norris Peak Road, US-Highway 44, and US-Highway 385, west of Rapid City in Pennington County. The area is distinct from the more developed southern Black Hills trail systems: Bogus Jim is rawer terrain, with the primary accessible route — Trail 6333 — designed for side-by-sides and wider UTVs, surrounded by multiple technical routes suited to experienced riders on motorcycles and narrow ATVs who are comfortable navigating without well-maintained trail surfaces. The geology is Black Hills granite and schist, producing rocky, loose-surface conditions demanding more technical skill than the compact gravel of the southern plateau trails. A Black Hills Motorized Trail Permit is required for all OHV use and is enforced; violations result in significant fines. Current trail conditions, seasonal closures, and specific trail designations should be verified with the Mystic Ranger District (605-343-8755) before visiting, as the area sees management changes more frequently than the more heavily used southern systems.

Ditch Creek OHV Trail System is a 100-mile designated trail network on the high Limestone Plateau of the Black Hills National Forest in Pennington County, South Dakota, centered approximately 15 miles west of Hill City and accessed via Deerfield Road then Ditch Creek Road from the Deerfield Lake area. The system occupies some of the most scenically distinctive terrain in the Black Hills — high-elevation meadows dotted with granite outcrops, dense aspen groves that turn gold in September, spruce and ponderosa pine forest, and mountain streams cold enough to support trout. Elevations across the system exceed 6,000 feet, producing a cool-season riding climate that extends riding into late October when lower plains parks have already closed for winter. Trail difficulty is varied — some loops are gravel-road rolling terrain, others involve rocky technical single-track through tight aspen stands. A Black Hills Motorized Trail Permit is required for all OHV use; annual and short-term permits are available online and at Black Hills National Forest offices. The permit system funds trail maintenance and enforcement across the entire Black Hills OHV network. Primitive camping is available at Deerfield Lake Campground and dispersed sites in the surrounding national forest.

Martin ATV Trail System offers 52 miles of scenic OHV loops in the southern Black Hills National Forest in Custer County, South Dakota, approximately 20 miles southwest of Custer accessed via the Richardson Trailhead on US-385. The system is built around a 62-inch maximum vehicle width limit — a standard that accommodates ATVs and most single-cab UTVs but excludes full-size side-by-sides and larger builds. The trails wind through the southern Black Hills' mixed character: ponderosa pine-covered ridges, granite rock gardens, meadow clearings, and descent routes into creek drainages. Scenic overlooks on the higher sections offer views toward the surrounding Black Hills and, on clear days, toward the Nebraska Sand Hills to the southeast. The width limit keeps the trail system predominantly smaller-machine focused, separating it from the open-terrain systems to the north. A Black Hills Motorized Trail Permit is required and enforced by patrols during the summer peak season. The system connects informally to the broader Black Hills trail network for riders interested in multi-day exploration with overnight camping at established campgrounds in the surrounding national forest.

Railroad Buttes OHV Area consists of three open-riding sections totaling approximately 1,745 acres within the Buffalo Gap National Grassland, located about 21 miles east of Rapid City on SD-44 near the community of Farmingdale in Pennington County. This is one of the few designated open-riding areas in the northern Great Plains — a format where riders navigate cross-country within the designated boundary rather than following marked trails. The terrain is quintessential badlands grassland: hard-packed clay and caliche flats on the rolling tablelands, eroded butte edges with sharper grades, and dry creek crossings through native mixed-grass prairie. The ``Railroad Buttes' name references the distinctive butte topography that marks this section of the White River Badlands transition zone. All OHV types are welcome in the open-riding areas. No fees or permits are required for the grassland OHV areas. A vault toilet and gravel staging area at the main access point provide basic facilities. Dispersed camping is allowed within the national grassland boundaries but potable water is not available — plan accordingly. Contact the Buffalo Gap National Grassland Supervisor's Office (605-745-4107) for current boundary and access information.