2024 / 2025 Black Hills Trail Conditions

[sandktrailers]

Just returned home from riding Jan 1-4. Stayed at Spearfish Canyon Lodge and rode out of there every day. We averaged a little over 100 miles a day. The trails as a whole were good to very good on Wednesday and Thursday as there was no one there, a few rentals and a few other riders. There were a few rocks here and there not bad at all and nice and smooth. Wednesday Trail 1 to Big Lot then down Trail 3 to Buckhorn over to Trail 8 which was all excellent, then around to Black Fox CG and back to Trail 4 north which had a couple of miles of really rocky stretch on the north end. Thursday was also very good. Friday and Saturday was more traffic but still considered very light, a few corners were getting wiped out and a few more rocks were showing. Trails were getting a little bumpy in the higher traffic areas. We covered all the trails on the west side of the trail system, west of the 5 and 2K intersection during our trip and really the only bad spot was on trail 4 at the north end.
On Saturday we met a couple from Wisconsin and it was their first time in the Hills, so they rode with us down to Trail 11 Mallow Camp area, Trail 8 ,Trail 2 (which was all good)around Black Fox ( a few bare spots) then back north.
We almost did not go but I am glad we went, it was a lot better than I ever would have thought. We have rode in a lot worse conditions.
All the food and hospitality was very good at every place we stopped. The Spearfish Canyon Lodge, Latchstring, Buckhorn Bar, Cheyenne Crossing Restaurant, Lewies and Trailshead Lodge.
It was snowing when we left this morning and about 3” had accumulated over night. Hopefully they will keep getting some more!

 

[skidoo56]

Just returned home from riding Jan 1-4. Stayed at Spearfish Canyon Lodge and rode out of there every day. We averaged a little over 100 miles a day. The trails as a whole were good to very good on Wednesday and Thursday as there was no one there, a few rentals and a few other riders. There were a few rocks here and there not bad at all and nice and smooth. Wednesday Trail 1 to Big Lot then down Trail 3 to Buckhorn over to Trail 8 which was all excellent, then around to Black Fox CG and back to Trail 4 north which had a couple of miles of really rocky stretch on the north end. Thursday was also very good. Friday and Saturday was more traffic but still considered very light, a few corners were getting wiped out and a few more rocks were showing. Trails were getting a little bumpy in the higher traffic areas. We covered all the trails on the west side of the trail system, west of the 5 and 2K intersection during our trip and really the only bad spot was on trail 4 at the north end.
On Saturday we met a couple from Wisconsin and it was their first time in the Hills, so they rode with us down to Trail 11 Mallow Camp area, Trail 8 ,Trail 2 (which was all good)around Black Fox ( a few bare spots) then back north.
We almost did not go but I am glad we went, it was a lot better than I ever would have thought. We have rode in a lot worse conditions.
All the food and hospitality was very good at every place we stopped. The Spearfish Canyon Lodge, Latchstring, Buckhorn Bar, Cheyenne Crossing Restaurant, Lewies and Trailshead Lodge.
It was snowing when we left this morning and about 3” had accumulated over night. Hopefully they will keep getting some more!

Thanks for your report.

 

[sdsnocop]

Rode last week Dec 30 Through Jan 1. Found trails mostly ridable. Some areas were ok, some areas thin and rocky. Just got back from riding the last 3 days and conditions have improved from 4 inches additional snow saturday through monday. Some areas were getting rough from traffic. Groomers have been out the last 2 nights touching up areas but have not been at full schedule due to marginal conditions. Some of the rocky areas have taken a toll on some of the drags which now require extensive repair which was the reason for limited grooming. Conditions have improved enough that full grooming schedule will begin Thursday night. West side of the system has the best snow both north and south. East is still spotty and thinner. Rode to Rec Springs and back on Sunday. Trails close to rec springs were not too bad but got worse as you got further west until Long Draw road or Beasant park area. 3-7 inches snow predicted for tomorrow night with more to come over the weekend.

 

[skidoo56]

Rode last week Dec 30 Through Jan 1. Found trails mostly ridable. Some areas were ok, some areas thin and rocky. Just got back from riding the last 3 days and conditions have improved from 4 inches additional snow saturday through monday. Some areas were getting rough from traffic. Groomers have been out the last 2 nights touching up areas but have not been at full schedule due to marginal conditions. Some of the rocky areas have taken a toll on some of the drags which now require extensive repair which was the reason for limited grooming. Conditions have improved enough that full grooming schedule will begin Thursday night. West side of the system has the best snow both north and south. East is still spotty and thinner. Rode to Rec Springs and back on Sunday. Trails close to rec springs were not too bad but got worse as you got further west until Long Draw road or Beasant park area. 3-7 inches snow predicted for tomorrow night with more to come over the weekend.

Great to hear your report Snocop.

 

[jeffxc700]

Look likes its about to get real real good!!

 

[jarrodmaas]

Gunna need feet’s of snow, maybe this is the year to have good off trail riding again!!!

 

[jeffxc700]

Gunna need feet’s of snow, maybe this is the year to have good off trail riding again!!!

take what you get don't complain

 

[SDPowderRider]

Rode outta Trailshead Lodge the 10-11th. Mostly backcountry riding in meadows and such. Friday went north from Trailshead and west down Riflepit Canyon, up to Cement Ridge and back with a stop at Savoy. Was decent, 58 miles with approx 8” of new snow.

Saturday we rode 30 miles, all south/southeast and south/southwest of Trailshead in grass meadows and creeks. 12'-18" of new overnight snow, I would call 30” of snow depth and 40” where drifted in. Was a great day of powder riding and over the hood good most of the day. Visibility was poor because snowing so hard at times.

The new snow should set up the Black Hills for some good riding for rest of January! What trails we did ride were very good, light traffic with quite a few rentals out and about.

 

[Ross Anderson]

Thanks for the update.

 

[jarrodmaas]

Is there any more snow in the forecast out there? I imagine they are going to need some more!

 

[sdsnocop]

Just looked at forecast. For the Oneil pass / trailshead area 2-4 tuesday night and 3-7 wednesday. Less for the Lead area. More chances of snow through most of next weekend.

 

[jarrodmaas]

Any updates would be great! Also curious if anyone has tried off trail yet….

 

[edgey]

Spearfish canyon Lodge said had riders come from trailhead they said about a foot of fresh. Off trail is still dangerous wife caught a stump on Saturday new lower A arm needed

 

[wyobob44]

I am in need of some information, my sleds are permitted in Wyoming and after reading the South Dakota web site I am confused, do i need to buy 5 day non-resident permits or am i good to go? Anyone have accurate information?
Thanks

 

[Super 8]

To my knowledge, any licensed snowmobile is allowed to ride in South Dakota. No permit needed beyond your in state licensed snowmobile.

 

[jeffxc700]

up to date in your state.. you are g2go.

 

[skidoo56]

Just got back from the hills. Rode Feb 2 - 5. The groomer guys are the best, smooth trails every morning. I stayed at the Deadwood Gulch in Deadwood and all trails were snow / ice covered. The meadows along 2K were pretty much tracked up but had around 2 foot of snow in them. The groomers also put out very accurate trail assessments on their web page with some trail photos. My Skidoo broke 1 snow scratcher and required stopping because it was hot on trail 7 into Deadwood. My summit should not have gotten hot as I was darting off trail when possible. It looks like the snow promised on Friday did not happen. I rode Trail 7, 7a, 5, 2k, 6, 4, 1, 2, 3, and 8. Did not go south of trail 8. The entire area really needs a good snow to freshen up the system. Most of the trails were hard packed with a small layer of snow (thanks to the groomers) on top. Only a couple bare spots that you could easily drive around and where the sun shone some snirt was starting. Thanks to the snow cops for maintaining the warming shelters as they were always clean and well stocked. Trails head was busy but Todd and Julie are always nice and helpful.

 

[JoeFischer]

heading out there Feb. 18th-23rd looking forward to it. hopefully I can keep keep sled cool