Black Hills Snowmobile Trail System

About the Black Hills Snowmobile Trail System

The Black Hills Snowmobile Trail System covers 350 miles of groomed trail across the 1.2 million acre Black Hills National Forest in western South Dakota. It is the largest and best known snowmobile destination in the region, regularly ranked among the top ten places to ride in the country. The season runs December 15 through March 31, and beyond the groomed system the forest offers vast off trail riding.

Three Hundred and Fifty Groomed Miles

The system is maintained by the South Dakota Snowmobile Program at Black Hills Snowmobile Trail System, with Game, Fish and Parks staff based out of Hardy Camp doing the grooming. Forty miles of the network sit across the line in Wyoming through a cooperative agreement with the Wyoming Division of State Parks and Historic Sites, so a rider can cross state lines without leaving the trail.

Keeping a system this size open takes a genuine partnership. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, the USDA Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Barrick Mining, Wharf Resources and a long list of private landowners all contribute land or access to make the network work.

That last point matters on the ground. On the official trail map, everything colored white is private leased land designated for snowmobile use only. Ride off those corridors and you are trespassing, which is why the trails manager asks every rider to carry a current map.

Terrain You Do Not Expect in the Plains

This is the part that surprises people who know the Dakotas as flat country. The Black Hills run from deep canyons to open powder meadows to summit views, with terrain that rides more like the Rockies than the prairie.

Terry Peak reaches 7,052 feet and has the highest vertical drop between the Rockies and the Alps. Average winter temperature across the Hills sits around 30 degrees, which is considerably kinder than a January day in the Red River Valley.

The forest also permits unlimited off trail riding outside the groomed system, which is rare. Most of the region’s snowmobile trails run through farm country on easements with no room to leave the corridor. Here, the groomed miles are a starting point rather than a boundary.

Licenses, Permits and Insurance

Every snowmobile operated on public or private land in South Dakota must be properly licensed, except on private land the operator owns. Resident licenses must be permanently affixed to both sides of the machine, below the windshield and on the hood cowling.

Trail permits are sold as a resident permit or a nonresident five day temporary permit, both available from trailside vendors or online from Game, Fish and Parks. Snowmobiles licensed in another state can legally be operated in South Dakota.

Anyone riding in road rights of way or on public snowmobile trails must show proof of financial responsibility, meaning liability insurance.

State law also defines what counts as a snowmobile here: curb weight under 1,400 pounds, ski or runner front end with an endless belt track, and no more than 48 inches wide. Riders who have converted a motorcycle to run on snow can buy a dedicated motorcycle snowmobile trail pass, available at the Black Hills trails office in Lead.

Conditions and Grooming

The official season is December 15 to March 31, but trails being open is not the same as trails being groomed. Grooming depends on snow depth, and in a slow year the northern Hills are often in good shape while the southern Hills wait for more snow.

Check conditions before loading. Game, Fish and Parks posts Black Hills trail updates to a dedicated social account, and cameras placed along the trails show current snow conditions on the department’s snowmobiling page.

Pick up a current season trail map as well. The system takes several reroutes each year, and last season’s map can put a rider on ground that is no longer open.

Warming Shelters, Fuel and Lodging

The network is set up for long days out, with parking areas, pit stops and warming shelters spread along the trails.

The western side of the Black Hills National Forest is a popular base, with campgrounds close to the trails, and several lodges and resorts around Lead, Deadwood and Hill City sit directly on the network. A number of them rent sleds and gear and run guided tours, so a first time visitor can ride here without hauling a machine across the country.

Trail maps are also available from businesses along the trails.

Getting There

The trail system spreads across the Black Hills in western South Dakota, reached most easily from Rapid City, Spearfish, Lead, Deadwood or Hill City. Rapid City has the regional airport and the most lodging.

For trail maps and questions, the Black Hills trails office in Lead can be reached at 605-584-3896.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many miles of trail are there?

At Black Hills Snowmobile Trail System, 350 miles of groomed trail, including 40 miles in Wyoming under a cooperative agreement, spread across 1.2 million acres of national forest.

When is the season?

December 15 through March 31. Grooming depends on snow depth and often starts in the northern Hills before the southern Hills.

Can I ride off the groomed trails?

Yes. The Black Hills National Forest offers unlimited off trail riding in addition to the groomed system, which is unusual among the region’s trail networks.

What permits do I need?

Your snowmobile must be licensed, and you need a trail permit, sold as a resident permit or a nonresident five day temporary permit. Liability insurance is also required for riding public trails and road rights of way.

Can I ride a machine licensed in another state?

Yes. Snowmobiles licensed in another state can legally be operated in South Dakota with the appropriate trail permit.

Why do I need a current trail map?

The system is rerouted every year, and private leased corridors marked on the map are open to snowmobiles only. An outdated map can put you on closed or private ground.

Where do I check conditions?

On the Game, Fish and Parks snowmobiling page, which carries trail cameras, and through the department’s Black Hills trail updates account.

Are there warming shelters?

Yes. The network includes parking areas, pit stops and warming shelters along the trails.

Can I rent a snowmobile?

Yes. Several lodges, resorts and retailers around Lead, Deadwood and Hill City rent sleds, gear and clothing, and some offer half day and full day guided tours.

Who maintains the trails?

The Black Hills Snowmobile Trail System, with Game, Fish and Parks staff based at Hardy Camp, working with the Forest Service, the BLM, two mining companies and private landowners.

More information on the Black Hills Snowmobile Trail System; Click here https://gfp.sd.gov/snowmobiling/

For snowmobile venues click here: https://www.plainspowersports.com/category/snowmobile/