It’s the middle of May and the Black Hills National Forest trail gates are finally reopening for hikers and motor vehicles.
While some are still too wet for an ATV, most are ready for you to explore right now.
Bradley Block is the recreation program manager with the Black Hills National Forest. He said this marks the start of their summer season.
“Riding on the trails is just a wonderful adventure, I mean even if you’re new it’s not like you’re going to get lost," Block said. "You can get into some very good locations that are far removed from roadways or communities. At the same time, as long as you’re on the trail and you follow the motorized vehicle use map, you can find your way back to the trailhead and probably explore some other areas too.”
Another recommendation from the foresters, an app called Avenza which uses your phone location services to keep you safe and on opened trails.
And according to Kyler Cody, a motorized trail ranger for the forest, there’s something for everyone along hundreds of miles of trails.
“I think that’s what’s special about the Black Hills – there’s so many different trails and conditions of the trails you’re able to ride," Cody said. "We’ll meet people who love the real rocky trails and the rock crawls, and we’ll meet people who love the smooth riding, and the Black Hills enables everyone to get what they like. It’s why I love the job and why people come out here by the thousands to ride the trails.”
Forest officials remind the public to practice "tread lightly" principles while using trails – including minimizing your impact on the forest, educating yourself on conditions before leaving and making sure you have the proper permits before using motor vehicles on trails.
Black Hills National Forest maps can be found at the following link.