Johnson Gulch

Johnson Gulch (FS 674) is a rough, graded dirt route between Beretta Road and Boulder Hill off of Highway 16 in the Black Hills. It is also marked as Boulder Hill Branch 1E on the eastern half of the road.

Johnson Gulch branches off Beretta Road at a shallow water crossing, which may be dry in the late summer months. While the road used to contain numerous large, deep mud bogs, it was recently graded and is now accessible by any 4x4 or moderate clearance AWD SUV. Embedded and loose rock no larger than six inches can be found, as well as small dips and potholes. Midway through Johnson Gulch is a large metal gate, which should be left as it is found after passing it.

Johnson Gulch's southern end features several large clearings near Beretta Road. However, it is not recommended to camp in these as Beretta Road is a popular open shooting area. There is a clearing about .75 miles from Beretta Road that would be suitable for vehicle or tent camping and could accommodate several people. Local ranchers use this area for cattle, so be cautious of livestock on the roads.