Bad Lands/Black Hills

Planning a trip with friends to take the Side by sides for a week of riding. Any tips and advice as far as lodging or any highlights you’d recommend would be greatly appreciated!

Just got back from there with the family. I do not have a SxS so no help there but they were everywhere. We stayed at a nice 2 bedroom Airbnb by Hermosa. I can get the details from the lady if you want. It seemed to be centrally located for a lot of the sights. Rush Mountain adventure park has a great alpine slide if you like those. We also hiked Black Elk Peak. It’s the highest point in the US east of the Rockies.
DT

Here is a pic of Black Elk Peak. You have to look very close but there is a little building at the peak.
DT

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Tons of vrbo/airbnb/private cabin rentals available. peak prices are the 3 weeks before during and after the Sturgis rally. we just booked a 4 bedroom cabin with garage and hottub for $250/night for the week of thanksgiving. We’ll be out there chasing deer.

deertracker wrote:

Just got back from there with the family. I do not have a SxS so no help there but they were everywhere. We stayed at a nice 2 bedroom Airbnb by Hermosa. I can get the details from the lady if you want. It seemed to be centrally located for a lot of the sights. Rush Mountain adventure park has a great alpine slide if you like those. We also hiked Black Elk Peak. It’s the highest point in the US east of the Rockies.
DT

If you don’t mind, James I’d like her contact info.
Black Elk Peak looks beautiful! Did you go to Deadwood by any chance?

Soooooooooo much to do out there.
Mt Rushmore, needles hiway, dead wood, Custer st. Park.
The list goes on and on

We did not go to Deadwood this time. To us it’s kind of played out. Not what it used to be. All about the casinos now.
DT

I guess it was on VRBO. Search “Ghost Canyon Getaway” and you should be able to find it. The address was 13577 Ghost Canyon Rd, Hermosa, SD. There is a single cabin and the one we stayed in has 3 different places in it. Like a mini motel.
DT

deertracker wrote:

I guess it was on VRBO. Search “Ghost Canyon Getaway” and you should be able to find it. The address was 13577 Ghost Canyon Rd, Hermosa, SD. There is a single cabin and the one we stayed in has 3 different places in it. Like a mini motel.
DT

Thank you!

This place was reasonably priced and very nice when we went a few years ago. The best breakfast I’ve ever had as well. https://www.normarkefarmbnb.com/
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We rode around Nemo and Hill City. It was fun searching for caves in the area while out riding. I highly recommend a good GPS with the trails loaded.

Forgot Spearfish Canyon

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Forgot Spearfish Canyon

My favorite place! When I’m out for the Sturgis rally we stay at the little log cabin next to Spearfish Canyon Lodge. My friend has been renting it for like the last 30 years. When you are looking st the main lodge it’s on the left side.
DT

We took a family vacation out there when I was in high school in 75 and we took the kids to Mount Rushmore in the 90’s. I’m really looking forward to spending a week out there tooling around.
Thanks for all the input guys!

I was out there bout 10 years ago on the 4th of July weekend. Mt Rushmore was decked out for the occasion. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a little misty eyed when I walked thru the gates and saw all the states flags with mountain on the background.

You need to have certain non resident permits to operate UTV’s on specific forest roads. I would get ahold of the resort/campground you pick and ask what is needed ahead of time.

I was out there last year with a group of atvs. It is such a large area it can get intimadating. You’ll need a non resident permit and maps! We found most of the trails weren’t marked very well but are shown on the Avenza app which works pretty well when you can get cell service. My Verizon always worked but everyone else’s companies were very spotty. We spent most of our time north of deadwood or around Nemo. We plan on returning to see more of the southern trails.

404 ERROR wrote:

You need to have certain non resident permits to operate UTV’s on specific forest roads. I would get ahold of the resort/campground you pick and ask what is needed ahead of time.

Merican eagle with the insight!

You been laying low, lately, huh? I can dig it.

We stay in Custer at VRBO, so much nicer of a town and not that busy. You can drive around for hours out in the Custer park. “Car I am talking about”

I was out there at the end of June and saw the SxS everywhere. We stayed in Custer and that seems like a good area to base out of. I did inquire at one of the SxS rental places and they come with a “pad” with all the maps loaded so you know where you are. They told me there were over 400 trails within 20 miles of Custer. When we were driving around the area you can see the multiple trials and roads just head heading off. Looks like fun, but you will need some maps of the “pad” for sure. Cell service is very spotting depending on where you are. Have fun.

LabDaddy1 wrote:

Merican eagle with the insight!

You been laying low, lately, huh? I can dig it.

Yeah, busy at work and spending every weekend I can out on the trails…My addiction to speed and trails has overtaken my addiction for summer fishing. Don’t worry, duck season is coming and I may be posting again soon.

Thanks everyone! Mrs. Belletaine reserved a cabin on Spearfish Creek. Just got home from Burntside Lake in Ely so haven’t even seen pics yet.
My Ranger has ride command (GPS and trails). So far everywhere I’ve gone has had the trails come up. Hopefully it’ll work out there. If not I’m sure there’s some way to get it through an app or something.

I’m pretty fired up to log some miles out there!

belletaine wrote:

Thanks everyone! Mrs. Belletaine reserved a cabin on Spearfish Creek. Just got home from Burntside Lake in Ely so haven’t even seen pics yet.
My Ranger has ride command (GPS and trails). So far everywhere I’ve gone has had the trails come up. Hopefully it’ll work out there. If not I’m sure there’s some way to get it through an app or something.

I’m pretty fired up to log some miles out there!

you can get the ride command on your phone also with the ride command app. i like to check out all the trails on my phone and take screen shots before we go incase i dont get service and the maps dont update as we ride then at least i can see the pictures i saved.

Coletrain27 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>belletaine wrote:</div>
Thanks everyone! Mrs. Belletaine reserved a cabin on Spearfish Creek. Just got home from Burntside Lake in Ely so haven’t even seen pics yet.
My Ranger has ride command (GPS and trails). So far everywhere I’ve gone has had the trails come up. Hopefully it’ll work out there. If not I’m sure there’s some way to get it through an app or something.

I’m pretty fired up to log some miles out there!

you can get the ride command on your phone also with the ride command app. i like to check out all the trails on my phone and take screen shots before we go incase i dont get service and the maps dont update as we ride then at least i can see the pictures i saved.

Good idea! I have the phone app as well, pretty slick. I like being able to see where other riders in our group are on the trails as well, for lots of reasons, emergencies, turning around to check on someone, etc…

Had a absolute blast out there! Put 435 miles on the machine. Navigation was pretty easy between the avenza app and the ride command. Had nice cool weather and virtually zero bugs.
Awesome way to see the Black Hills!

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