Camp 5

The Camp 5 trail system near Sturgis, South Dakota, contains several technical rock crawling trails, many of which branch off the main Camp 5 Road, FR 8049. Several of these trails are maintained and marked by the Black Hills 4 Wheeler group. These include Hal Johns (8042), Fullsize (8042), Kong (8046), and Calamity Canyon (8043). These named trails are marked with large brown signs describing the trail and its requirements. If you are not quite ready for that experience, Camp 5 Road offers technical terrain, rocks, and great views as it follows the creek.

To access Camp 5 Road., go west from Sturgis into Boulder Canyon or east from Deadwood. Turn south onto Camp 5 Road to a large gravel parking area. A few hundred yards down Camp 5 Road are several areas to park campers or pitch tents if you plan to camp out on Camp 5.

Continue south on Forestry Road 306.1 to start the trail. Stay left at the fork and avoid the road marked Creek Bottom Ln. This is the start of Hal Johns, which parallels Camp 5 Road but stays mainly in the creek bed and involves numerous large boulders suited for dedicated rock crawling rigs. Camp 5 and Hal Johns converge at several points, but Hal Johns will drop back down into the creek bed, while Camp 5 Road will typically stay on top.

Camp 5 Road contains several creek crossings with ledges and large rocks, passable with high-clearance 4x4s and good tire placement. Lockers are helpful in spots but not necessary with a good driver. Skid plates are recommended. There are a couple of spots where a full-size Jeep (or Bronco, in my case) needs to carefully go around large rocks or be prepared to scrape rock sliders and wheels.

Camp 5 Road ends at the entry to Calamity Canyon and trail 8045. This area is not well marked at points, and the MVUMs may be difficult to read as the trails are very close together and cross each other. To exit the trail, either backtrack the way you came or exit through 8045, also marked as 8042.