black hills atv trails

flyinghigh · #1 (**permalink**) 04-18-2011, 08:26 AM

In Dec 2010 the forest service closed the black hills to open ATV riding. For many years it had remained one of the few places your could "go anywhere unless otherwise posted". No longer is this the case. You can only ride on the designated trails, and if you are found more than 30 ft away from one, even to park, it is a $5000 fine and up to 6 months in jail.

So, with that depressing bit of news, my wife and I are trying to decide if it is worth the expense to take a trip there this year. With the price of gas and everything else on a rocket ship to the moon, we have limited funds to ride this year. Rather than going 1-2 times per month over the summer, we will only be making 1-2 trips total.

Has anyone been on the "new" trail system? Is it any good or just a few old fire roads?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on the situation.

icefishur96 · #2 (**permalink**) 04-19-2011, 12:42 PM

I also am wondering this. I and a group of others are headed to Piedmont SD in june for 4 days.

buckwild kid · #3 (**permalink**) 05-09-2011, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icefishur96

I also am wondering this. I and a group of others are headed to Piedmont SD in june for 4 days.

I was just up in piedmont this last weekend and I saw a bunch of gated trails, but there are still alot of areas open to keep you interested, I know one of the trails marked as "89" I think is the centennial trail is open and is pretty technical from the little part that I rode with my preddy. I would have rode more of it but I had the wife on the back and one of my sons following on his dirt bike. Other than that like I said there is still plenty of riding here yet.

flyinghigh · #4 (**permalink**) 05-09-2011, 06:37 PM

I contacted the president of one of the clubs there. He said where last season there were "years" of riding available, there is now about 2 days total. The FS is acting like they are being so generous "giving" the people a few hundred miles of trail, many of which are just gravel roads. They never address the thousands of miles of wonderful trails they have closed, neither do they talk about the thousands of acres of open riding so many have enjoyed for decades. All the "cool" places to ride to are now off limits, and you can't even cross a stream with an ATV now.

The hills are essentially closed now, but they left enough "trails" open for PR purposes to pacify those who might come to ride. The thought process being that since these people don't know what was once available, they won't know what they are missing.

buckwild kid · #5 (**permalink**) 05-10-2011, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyinghigh

I contacted the president of one of the clubs there. He said where last season there were "years" of riding available, there is now about 2 days total. The FS is acting like they are being so generous "giving" the people a few hundred miles of trail, many of which are just gravel roads. They never address the thousands of miles of wonderful trails they have closed, neither do they talk about the thousands of acres of open riding so many have enjoyed for decades. All the "cool" places to ride to are now off limits, and you can't even cross a stream with an ATV now.

The hills are essentially closed now, but they left enough "trails" open for PR purposes to pacify those who might come to ride. The thought process being that since these people don't know what was once available, they won't know what they are missing.

but at the same time, I will take what I can get, at least there is still "something" to ride

flyinghigh · #6 (**permalink**) 03-30-2012, 09:01 PM

Anyone from the area or who has ridden the area have any updates on this situation? Are trails marked now or are you "on your own"? Where is the best place to base from for easy access to trails? Have all the good trails been closed?

thanks for the help...with the price of gas here over $4.00 a gallon headed to $5 by May 1, we can't afford to make a mistake this year.

Troyxc7 · #7 (**permalink**) 04-01-2012, 04:04 PM

I was in the Hills snowmobiling a month ago and I asked around about atv trails since it had been awhile since I rode the Hills on atv One issue I heard a few times was that there were many dead end trails and the forest service was looking to loop them better this season. The other main comment I heard was that it's in your best interest to buy the FS permit/sticker and also have a street licensed atv thus allowing you the most access. I also did see more atv signs along the trails encouraging the sharing of the trails with atv's. I know a guy who rents atv's in the Hills so I'll see if I can get his take on things. I'm hoping to go out ASAP as the soon as the trails dry up and are available. I'll post again if I learn more.

flyinghigh · #8 (**permalink**) 04-01-2012, 07:34 PM

sounds good Troy...please pass along any info you come upon.

Clinebo · #9 (**permalink**) 04-01-2012, 07:42 PM

Your tax dollars in action folks. Get used to it. If Obama gets re-elected it will only get worse.

buckwild kid · #10 (**permalink**) 04-03-2012, 07:01 AM

on a side note, please be extremely careful, the fire danger in the hills is extreme right now, and we have already had some fires down as close as Rapid City, so for what its worth some trails may be or soon be closed this year just to prevent forest fires...