Black Hills?

[match8]

While most probably don't consider the Black Hill of South Dakota "riding out West", I was wondering if anyone has info on this area? I would like to experience riding out West as opposed to riding all the time here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin where I live. I have read, even experienced riders should start out taking baby steps when heading out to the mountain. I thought SD could give me a taste, without jetting and clutching.

Any info on lodging, areas to ride, etc. would be much appreciated!

 

[tedwardo123]

Black Hills Riding versus keep driving to WY

We just got back from the Big Horns in WY. I90 to Exit 9, Hwy 14 thru Dayton, WY to Burgess Junction. (30 miles off I90)

If you drive 3.5 hours beyond the Black Hills you'll be in the Big Horns.... just an idea. For a little more driving you get some pretty nice hills to play on. As of Saturday the snow was getting pretty sparse though, you can find deep powder on the south /tree'd sides of the mountains. The top of the mtns have maybe 6" of snow with rocks though but it's a great time once you find the powder. Resort elevation is 8400ft, mts topped out at 9700ft according to the readout on my skidoo summit's read-out. So, clutching does need to match altitude.

We saw maybe 10 sleds being towed back to the resort... I don't know if everyone runs out of gas or the motors burn-down from not being setup correctly?


The black hills are 3200 to 7000ft, so you don't have to mess around with clutching as much. But, for a couple hundred you could get a clutch kit and head to WY.

 

[renegade]

Riding in Black Hills is more like Northwoods than out west. And they don't have much for snow from what I've heard. If you have never been out west, go for the gold and stay at togwotee, and go with a guide.

 

[joey_t]

The Black Hills are an excellent place for scenic trail riding. Lots of canyons, rock outcroppings, and streams. There are some play areas and hills that a beginner would enjoy. You do need to re-jet if your not EFI. I road there with a Polaris who tried stock jetting and it would barely run. He had to have it re-jetted. Spearfish Canyon Lodge is the best place to stay. The trail in and out of the Deadwood area can get pretty beat up at times. The snow melts pretty fast there so if you need to scedule a date and take a chance on enough snow (especially late season), I would recomend driving the extra 4 hours to the Big Horns. A beginner would be just fine there too.

 

[kwarp]

Been out riding the black hills the last four days and they have snow. Most of the woods its 5 feet deep, and if your trying to climb, you better have a longer sled. We have 2 XF 800's and a stretched F7. I wont say we didnt get stuck, because we did, but it was still alot of fun. Snowed here 3 of the 4 days we were here and it was coming down hard. They really dont groom except once a day and they should be grooming more, hard to get to the deep when you have to ride a trail that is really bad. I lost my tunnel bag and someone picked it up and turned it in at one of the gas stops...a HUGE thank you to the honest person that did that, had alot of stuff in it. We talked to one of the locals here and he cancelled his trip to the big horns because there is so much snow here.