Black Hills Trails

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

We are staying in Custer, SD for a few days and would like to run a few scenic trails that are not damaging to the Jeep while we are here. I see that there are a lot of gravel roads through the area. Any suggestions?

KJWildman · **Posted:** Tue Jun 22, 2010 10:34 pm

sure! take one and just see where it goes!! :seuss:

jeepfrog · **Posted:** Tue Jun 22, 2010 10:48 pm

Your best bet is to check with the local ranger station. They usually have topo maps available and can tell where some nice trails are. We did that when we were in Rapid City, SD last year.

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

KJWildman wrote:

sure! take one and just see where it goes!! :seuss:

Well, that's what we usually do, but there are so many trails and we only have a few days to run them.

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

jeepfrog wrote:

Your best bet is to check with the local ranger station. They usually have topo maps available and can tell where some nice trails are. We did that when we were in Rapid City, SD last year.

Duh

That was just too simple for me to figure out. :roll:

Great idea. The rangers should know the difficulty of the trails and which ones will give us the best scenery. Although when we were in Moab last summer the Ranger on duty gave us some bum info and almost got us in trouble. He told us that a trail that we had previously done in a Honda CRV was more difficult than another trail. We took his advice in a Grand Cherokee and found the trail to be a real challenge for that vehicle. Oh well... still a good idea. I questioned the validity of the advice we got in Moab. Should have just gone with my gut feeling.

Thanks

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

Well... went by the Ranger's Station. They gave us a map of all the roads in the forest and told us the areas where we could go offroad if we wanted. Other than that, they had no idea of where to go or what to see. We did to many miles of trails in the area where there was supposed to be elk but didn't see hide nor hair of one. Did some of the smaller, less distinct trails. That was a challenge. It has been raining quite a bit out here and the clayey mud is a real trip. Just step on it and you end up with a half inch or more of slippery mud. As soon as my AT tires hit it they were completely coated and it was like we were riding on ice. Slipping and sliding down the trail. Several times the Jeep actually turned sideways and thats how we went for a ways. Steerage... what was that. It seemed like the Jeep had a mind of it's own. I would steer left and the Jeep would go right. It was kind of fun, but a little scary. We were miles in the woods. Fortunately there were rocks at the bottom of most of the mud so we managed to make our way out to the gravel road.

Later we went to Custer State Park. What a wonderful place. Saw lots of bison, pronghorn antelope, deer, turkey and rabbits. Took the Jeep to a quarter car wash and spent $8 getting all the mud off. That stuff almost turns to concrete when it dries.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Thu Jun 24, 2010 12:59 pm

Maybe tjkj2002 can help, he's a native.

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

JL Rockies wrote:

Maybe tjkj2002 can help, he's a native.

Thanks.

We saw about all we wanted to see in the Custer area and have moved on to Belle Fourche. Guess we will make a trip to Deadwood and Sturgis just to see what's cooking in those areas. Then maybe a trip to Devil's Tower to check it out before we head on up to Glacier National Park.

jeepfrog · **Posted:** Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:04 pm

When/how long do you plan to be at Glacier? We're heading that way starting tomorrow. We're going to be there Monday/Tuesday, maybe Wednesday next week.

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

jeepfrog wrote:

When/how long do you plan to be at Glacier? We're heading that way starting tomorrow. We're going to be there Monday/Tuesday, maybe Wednesday next week.

We won't be in Glacier until Wednesday the 30th. We will be staying at East Glacier Park. We are meeting friends there and will be scoping the Park out for a week before we cross the border and head on up to Alaska. It's a shame, but it looks like we will just miss each other.

jeepfrog · **Posted:** Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:52 pm

jimymc wrote:

jeepfrog wrote:

When/how long do you plan to be at Glacier? We're heading that way starting tomorrow. We're going to be there Monday/Tuesday, maybe Wednesday next week.

We won't be in Glacier until Wednesday the 30th. We will be staying at East Glacier Park. We are meeting friends there and will be scoping the Park out for a week before we cross the border and head on up to Alaska. It's a shame, but it looks like we will just miss each other.

Yea, it seems like we will just miss crossing paths. You never know though, we'll be in the Rapid City area on Saturday & Sunday - I'll keep my eyes peeled for '03 KJ Renegade :JEEPIN:

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

We will be leaving Belle Fourche either Saturday or Sunday and heading on West and Northward. Not sure where we will stay on the way up. We may drive until we get tired and look for a campground in the vicinity or we may stop and visit Bighorn Canyon for a day. BTW our Jeep is Silver. Looks like yours in your avatar.

jeepfrog · **Posted:** Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:46 am

Sounds like you have a great trip planned! Enjoy and safe travels!

olivier_f · **Posted:** Fri Jun 25, 2010 9:42 am

Enjoy your trip. We are tentatively planning for Alaska next year. Would love to hear some of your experiences! Do you have a blog?

fisher205 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:23 pm

While in Deadwood, the Galena road over to Vanocker Canyon is a good drive. Probably won't need 4X4. Down Boulder Canyon towardss Sturgis there is some mild to tough trails. Sorry just noticed this thread.

http://www.bh4wheelers.com/
http://blackhillsjeeps.com/

In the Big Horns there is some good trails towards Freeze out Point, Have a good trip.

Brad

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

fisher205 wrote:

While in Deadwood, the Galena road over to Vanocker Canyon is a good drive. Probably won't need 4X4. Down Boulder Canyon towardss Sturgis there is some mild to tough trails. Sorry just noticed this thread.

http://www.bh4wheelers.com/
http://blackhillsjeeps.com/

In the Big Horns there is some good trails towards Freeze out Point, Have a good trip.

Brad

Thanks Brad. Sorry you missed my post. Looks like you guys have some great clubs out here. We would have loved to have tried some of the trails that are listed. Maybe next time on on our way back. I'll check out the trails out towards Freeze Out Point that you suggested in the Bid Horns. We are on our way that way tomorrow. Just checked out Devil's Tower today. That is one awesome rock! :dizzy:

Being from Florida we don't see much rock. Just lots of sand.

mag03kj · **Posted:** Fri Jun 25, 2010 7:58 pm

Man South D. is amazing!!! I loved it up there!
:twisted:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:15 pm

jimymc wrote:

JL Rockies wrote:

Maybe tjkj2002 can help, he's a native.

Thanks.

We saw about all we wanted to see in the Custer area and have moved on to Belle Fourche. Guess we will make a trip to Deadwood and Sturgis just to see what's cooking in those areas. Then maybe a trip to Devil's Tower to check it out before we head on up to Glacier National Park.

Sorry about the only trails I know in the Black Hill region are not for the weak hearted and will eat mildly built Jeeps for lunch.

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