South Dakota Snowmobile Trails
South Dakota Snowmobile Trails
The Best South Dakota Snowmobile Trails
When you’re looking for the best snowmobiling South Dakota has to offer, there are really two ways to go about identifying the area of the state where you want your snowmobile adventures to take place. You can go with East vs. West – the eastern half of the state, or the western half of the state. Or you can start by researching South Dakota’s state parks. There are some wonderful snowmobiling trails in the eastern half of the state, and of course in the west is the state’s only national forest, also known as the Black Hills National Forest, with its one million acres of ponderosa pine, where snowmobiling is allowed almost everywhere, and you’ll find some of the best snowmobile trails anywhere. In a nutshell, though the state doesn’t get the accolades some states do for winter sports, anyone who is seeking the best snowmobiling in South Dakota will find over 1,500 miles of snowmobile trails. Where can I find the best South Dakota snowmobile trails? How can I find snowmobiling near me when I’m in South Dakota? When I want to snowmobile South Dakota trails where will I find the best snowmobiling adventures? Below is a list of several of the best places to go snowmobiling in South Dakota, in the eastern part of the state, in the western part of the state and in the state parks, compiled by the experts at Treadworld. The list includes locations and websites, where available. It’s always a good idea to check South Dakota snowmobile trail conditions before you head out for your wintry joy ride.
Eastern South Dakota
Though it’s not as flashy as the well-known Black Hills, snowmobiling eastern South Dakota gives you plenty to work with when it comes to exciting cold weather jaunts. Overall, you can choose from over one thousand miles of snowmobiling fun in the eastern part of the state. The Siouxland Trail offers 78 miles of snowmobile trails between the towns of Garretson, Dell Rapids and Madison. The Trailbusters Trail spans 73 miles in the Parker, Viborg and Centerville area. The Heartland Trail consists of 87 miles of trails between the cities of Mitchell and Huron. The Four Lakes Trail features picturesque farms, prairies and charming communities in the DeSmet area, and the Coteau Des Prairie System includes the Brookings area, while giving you the option for riding over 340 miles of trails through woods past lakes, and in and out of other South Dakota cities like Watertown, Clear Lake, Badger, Altamont and more.
Western South Dakota
The Black Hills National Forest is no joke when it comes to the best places to snowmobile thanks to the area’s nearly 420 miles of marked, mapped and groomed trails weaving through 1.2 million acres of forested hills, deep canyons and snowy mountains. And don’t forget about the 6,000-foot elevations, and an annual snowfall that often tops 200 inches. The Trailshead Snowmobile Trailhead could be called the snowmobiling hub of the Black Hills with ten trails to choose from all within a few miles, taking you west into Wyoming, north to Deadwood, SD, or south to Bear Mountain, all providing a variety of rugged, beautiful terrain. The Big Hill Ski Trail system consists of five loop trails and one spur trail for a total distance of around 14 miles. The Custer Peak Snowmobile Trailhead provides 11 miles of snowmobiling trail south of Deadwood, SD, off of U.S. Highway 385, and is a gateway to another 350 miles of snowmobile trails in the Black Hills. The Dumont Snowmobile Trailhead gives you easy access to snowmobile trails crisscrossing the northern and central Black Hills entending into eastern Wyoming.
South Dakota State Parks – there are 63 state parks in South Dakota, most of which allow some snowmobiling. Following are just a few of the state parks for you to ride snowmobile.
Big Sioux Recreation Area
Location: 410 W Park St, Brandon, SD
Website: https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/big-sioux-recreation-area/
Located on the banks of the Big Sioux River, close to the cities of Sioux Falls and Brandon, this area offers a 2.8-mile snowmobiling trail with a warming house among the 49 campsites and three cabins.
Fisher Grove State Park
Location: 17290 Fishers Lane, Frankfort, SD
Website: https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/fisher-grove-state-park/
Fisher Grove State Park is named for Frank I. Fisher, the first permanent European settler in Spink County.
George S. Mickelson Trail
Location: Starts at the Deadwood Trailhead in Deadwood, SD, near the old railroad depot on Sherman St.
Website: https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/george-s–mickelson-trail/
109-mile trail in the heart of the beautiful Black Hills connects Edgemont to Deadwood, following an abandoned railroad bed. It encompasses more than 100 converted railroad bridges and 4 rock tunnels. Most of the trail does not exceed a 4% grade, but some segments are considered strenuous.
Indian Creek Recreation Area
Location: 12905 288th Ave, Glenham, SD
Website: https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/indian-creek-recreation-area/
Part of the land area explored by Lewis and Clark, this area offers snowmobilers rolling hills and beautiful river views.
Lake Poinsett Recreation Area
Location: 45617 S Poinsett Dr, Arlington, SD
Website: https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/lake-poinsett-recreation-area/
One of the largest lakes in the state provides beautiful views for snowmobilers as they ride around the perimeter of the lake.
Pelican Lake Recreation Area
Location: 7 miles southwest of Watertown, SD, off Highway 212
Website: https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/pelican-lake-recreation-area/
A regular stopping point for migrating birds, this area provides a multitude a snowmobile trails fit for all levels of riding experience.
Spearfish Canyon State Nature Area
Location: Begins at exits 10 or 14 outside Spearfish, SD
Website: https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/spearfish-canyon-nature-area
This area includes the Roughlock Falls, Spearfish Falls and the Savoy Pond areas south of Spearfish and west of Lead, with a 22-mile trail system that connects them, offering spectacular views of the waterfalls, thousand-foot limestone palisades and the South Dakota wilderness. Savoy is home to a popular snowmobile trailhead that provides access to the hundreds of miles in the Black Hills trail system.
Walker’s Point
Location: 6431 Walker’s Point Drive Madison, SD
Website: https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/walker’s-point-recreation-area/
On the shores of 2,800-acre Lake Madison, the area is known for its picturesque views among the 43 campsites and two cabins.
That’s Not All of the South Dakota Snowmobile Trails…
South Dakota winters mean plentiful snow, hundreds of miles of groomed trails, impressive scenery and welcoming midwestern South Dakota hospitality. We’ve highlighted a few of the places to ride your snowmobile in the state, but there are many other areas within South Dakota’s borders to get the most out of the winter outdoors.
We’re Treadworld, Home of the Best Specialty Tires Anywhere
Whether you live in South Dakota or are just visiting, when you do decide to snowmobile outside your own backyard, one of the safest ways to transport your snowmobiles is with a snowmobile trailer. And you can count on us to provide you with the high performance tires for snowmobile trailer that will get you safely where you want to go. Even the best snowmobile trailer is worthless if it’s not equipped with dependable tires. Here at Treadworld, we have the right trailer tires for every occasion. You can count on Rubbermaster brand trailer tires to provide the best in top quality, long-lasting, never-let-you-down reliability, manufactured with strict tolerances from top rubber compounds, triple-tested for quality before being X-rayed to be sure they’re perfect, then covered by our Ultimate Advantage Lifetime Warranty. Don’t hesitate to contact our Treadworld tire experts via live chat or email with any questions you may have.
