Hey guys, got an e-mail from a certain off road expert and she gave me a link to the national forest trails in the black hills. I didn't even know some of these trails were there. She said most guys like to run from the hot springs area all the way up into spearfish canyon and from the looks of the map it will take us right by Mt Rushmore. So if we are planning a trip up that way for next year it might be something interesting to look at.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills/r...rails_bhnf.pdf

 

I really told myself I would do it once, but silverton was almost outside my comfort zone as far as distance away from home with gas prices being what they are, and having a vehicle with that many miles on it...

But Hot Springs is closer than that, at least to me.

What kind of trails are these? Are they like the ones we do in Colorado? or are they more like 150 miles of Tuttle's Rock Garden?

 

Delorme says 675 miles to Hot Springs for me. I'm not sure what my plans are for next year. If things go well I'd like to get to Utah next spring or get back with Larry for some adventures. Larry bought a Red 98 Trooper and has been in southern Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado doing the Morman, and Pony Express trails for Mag. stories this winter. So folks can look for them in up comming issues. I would like to get back to Lonesome Beaver CG and on up to and over The Devils Race Track. And I'd really like to take a look at the old test site at Green River.

I did look at that map. I couldn't see anything about motorized trails. All of the information seemed to be for folks on horse back or foot. I may be wrong but my dealings with this in the past has not been good for 4x4 trucks. I could be wrong and would be very happy if'n I was.

I had thought that the area for this trip was gonna be just north/northwest of Scotts Bluff in Nebraska and Wyoming. Not much farther up into South Dakota and it would be fun to get back to Deadwood again.

I had talked with folks about a Colorado trip closer to Denver. Not sure I can do a Colorado trip next year. But I could set folks up with gps for trails and campsites in that area. There is a FS campground on the Northwest side of Kenosha Pass(590 miles if'n I go through Denver, 555 miles if'n I don't) and public(free) campin on the Southeast side. Trails in the area would be Red Cone, Webster, Radical Hill, North and Middle fork of the Swan, Georgia Pass, Glacier, and Mosquito is only 25 miles away. I might be talked into a nomadic(different campsite most nights) trip. That's really my thing. As the weather and trail contitions can change plans.

But everything really depends on how things go over the winter.

 

I found an index for that map at: Black Hills National Forest - Recreational Activities

Looks like those trails are all for hikers, horsemen, bycyclest, and skiers. I did find this on a proposed management plan: Black Hills Travel Mgmt Maps And I found a place to buy/order maps.

 

They are all listed as hiking trails trail or what not but the BHNF (black hills national forest) numbers all thier trails and during most times of the year 90% of them are open to "ATV and high clearance motor vehicles" There are some places like wildlife preserves are strictly off limits but the rest are open. However most of that might change in 09'. They are trying hard to restrict off road travel by ATV's and off road trucks. Unless your a logger then you can take any piece of heavy equipment and tear the crap out of the trails at your liesure lol.

 

Here is a link to the Black hills 4wheelers, a club that hosts the annual Dakota Territory Challenge.
Black Hills 4-Wheelers

 

MMMMM The challenge looks cool? and they all had on long sleves... so it wasn't very warm :-)

 

I emailed the head honcho guy that is putting on the challenge asking for advice and more info. Just because. Never hurts to research stuff. Next Aug is a long way off. Lucas voleteered his place as a place to stay on the way up, should be around 8 1/2 to 9 hours from ICT. Then only a few hours the rest of the way.

 

My sister offered up her place too, her house and her camper at the ranch in boxelder (rapid city area) and I got family in almost every town up there but I don't know exactly where they set up camp for the Challenge. From Lucas's place it is a straight shot up 385 into the black hills.

 

still ponderin this, as a possibility, I am exchanging IM's with an individual that has connections, and may be working out some kind of plan here. Well, at least getting as much info as I can on it. I would like to do it at some point.

 

THey have an annual trial run in august that is rated as one of the top 20 events in the country by Petersons. That might be the best time to check it out?

 

We need to decide which weeks we are going soon, because you and I need to put in our vacations soon.

I guess we don't have to decide where we are going, just agree what weeks we are going to do it.

Lets see We got Wyoming, South Dakota, Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma or Kansas.

Chad and I really enjoyed the bottom of Imogene, and Hancock Pass, if only there were more of that kind of stuff in one place.. Jack any idears?

 

This sounds more like a guy thing, than a girl thing.

 

Yep, 100% testosterone here.

Here is some of the reply I got back.
Wow, that's awesome. A Ford group! To bad your so far away, sounds like it would be fun hanging out with you guys. Would you mind posting some information about your club at WheelinEvents.com? A discription like the one you just gave me would be cool and I would greatly appreciate some more activity in the Kansas section of the forums.

Do you guys ever travel up to Iowa to wheel? I would love to have you guys come up and wheel our MIOBI grounds. There isn't much for rocks, but lots of trails thru the timber and an old strip mine with some pretty challenging terrain. Its located just south of Knoxville Iowa. We are done with public events for this year, but things will be going on again next spring. We have a large Memorial Day and Labor Day events along with some other smaller events thru out the year. We have campground facilities and showers at the grounds. Just an idea! You can find more info at MIOBI.org - The Make It Or Break It 4-Wheelers

I am still working on the South Dakota deal for yah. Hopefully I will have some information and contact info by the end of the week.

Thanks
Shawn

 

Need more input! Which side? Did you like the Teluride/Cumberland side sides with the Tomboy mine and Alpine Tunnel or did ya like Ouray/St. Elmo side? You want old mines and ghost towns or tight trails throught the trees. or did I miss it again.

I'm not sure when or if I'll go again. I like nomadic travel. That is sleep in a different place most every night. I like the flexability it gives me to change my plans minute to minute. So most likely if I am able to make a trip I will try to hook up with Larry.

I can set you guys up with info about Colorado and Utah though. I'd still like to get back up Mt. Antero/Baldwin Lake (that's my favorite Colorado trail). And I really wanted you guys to drive that section of Engineer Pass from 550 to where we went up to that pull out and tried to get cell service.

And there is lots to do just west of Denver. But Utah is where I like to go the most.

Keep checking on stuff because under Babbit in the Clinton years it was the dark time. Many trails were illegally closed and there are many more they want to. Mt. Antero is one they are trying to get closed. And if you look at the maps I posted it seems there is a big push on to close a lot of those trails up in the Dakota's. Seems BO is assembling a lot of the old Clinton group so I think we are in for more trouble.