South Dakota Off-Road Trails

Runkle Road, also known as Crystal Cave Road near its intersection with Bethlehem Road, is a rough dirt-and-gravel forest road connecting Nemo Road to Bethlehem Road. This road is traversable by vehicles with moderate ground clearance. Users can expect to face small potholes and some embedded rock 3-6 inches tall, although these are avoidable with good driving lines.

Spur 168.3A provides access to a short hike down to the "Grand Canyon of the Black Hills", while spur 168.3B ends in a small turnaround where two or three vehicles could park and camp for the night. The other spurs along the road may also be suitable camping spots for one or two vehicles.

Runkle Road also provides access to the Elk Creek hiking trail.

Ruby Gulch is a rocky, rough dirt forest road connecting Highway 16 near Three Forks to Highway 385 near Sheridan Lake Road. Ruby Gulch is suitable for vehicles with moderate and high clearance. Ruby Gulch has some small pull-offs large enough for one to two vehicles to camp. Campfires are not allowed in the Black Hills National Forest.

The northeastern end of Ruby Gulch is accessed through private property. Please close the gate behind you.

Victoria Rim is a rough dirt out-and-back trail off Sheridan Lake Road near Victoria Lake Road, just outside of Rapid City. There are several side branches off the main Victoria Rim artery. 150.1C offers a stunning overlook of the Black Hills, while the other branches offer several camping spots. The road surface is primarily hard-packed dirt with small loose rocks, but rougher, embedded rock can be found at the very end of the route.

Victoria Rim is open seasonally and is suitable for any vehicle with moderate clearance.

Redcross Road is a 5-mile out-and-back trail in the Slim Buttes area of the Custer-Gallatin National Forest. The buttes are essentially a long, elevated landform rising roughly 600 feet above the surrounding prairie. It's known for its rugged badlands scenery, unusual geological formations, and wide-open prairie landscapes.

The trail is mostly gravel and dirt, with a few sections that can get muddy and slick in wet weather. There aren’t any notable obstacles besides the occasional rut from previous travelers and a few elevation changes. From State Highway 20, the trail cuts through a Ponderosa Pine forest and leads up to a flat prairie before ending at a private property boundary marker. At the top, panoramic views showcase the surrounding area, including the unique light colored sandstone cliffs and rock formations.

A few large campsites that can accommodate multiple rigs line the trail, along with several spur roads that offer more camping. Across Hwy 20 to the west, Reva Gap Campground has eight free sites and vault toilets. It's first-come, first-served, with a 14-day stay limit.