Black Hills Forest Service Motorized Trail Permits | Black Hills & Badlands (2024)

Orders will be processed and mailed via USPS. Please allow 8-10 days for your permit(s) to arrive as shipping times may vary.

• Watch your mail! Your order will arrive in a white envelope from the Black Hills & Badlands Tourism Association.
• The Black Hills National Forest no longer requires the license number or color of vehicle to purchase a permit.
• Permit orders are non-refundable and lost permits will not be replaced.

If you have further questions email, info@blackhillsbadlands.com or call 605-355-3600 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All motor vehicles traveling on motorized trails in the South Dakota portion of the Black Hills National Forest are required to have a Black Hills Motorized Trail Permit (sticker).

The permit must be attached to the vehicle on the left front or left front side before riding on the trails.

Permits are for private use vehicles only. Commercial (rental) vehicles are required to have a commercial use permit, which is available at any Black Hills National Forest office.

Permits are valid throughDecember 31, 2024.

The South Dakota portion of the Black Hills National Forest boasts one of the largest motorized trail systems in a National Forest that is open to vehicles 62 inches or less in width. It currently consists of more than 3,600 miles of open roads—over 680 miles are designated trails for Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV)—and has 21 designated motorized trailheads.

Cross-country travel is prohibited in the forest, except for the open roads and motorized trails as shown on the free Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) provided with trail permits and available online or at forest service offices. Visitors are responsible for using the information on these maps, and knowing which roads and trails are open for various types of motorized use.

For specific OHV information on Black Hills National Forest trail use, trailheads, common questions and answers, visitBlack Hills National Forest - Maps & Publications (usda.gov).

For current trail conditions and closures, visitBlack Hills National Forest Current Conditions page.

Motor Vehicle Use Maps are available for the 1.2 million-acre Black Hills National Forest and are the official map for designating all roads, trails and areas available for public motorized travel on the National Forest.

The MVUM can be downloaded and viewed on GPS units as well as your mobile device using GPS apps, such as Avenza Maps. Instructions for downloading map HERE.Using GPS navigation does not require cellular service if the map is downloaded on the device.

For more information on downloading the MVUM for free, visit Black Hills National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Maps page.

Permits purchased online will not include an MVUM with the mailed permit, however, operators are responsible for obtaining an MVUM.

Licensed OHVs are permitted to operate on all South Dakota highways and roadways. South Dakota law strictly prohibits OHV use on the interstate highway system at all times. For information on licensing or to determine if you are considered licensed, visit https://dor.sd.gov/individuals/motor-vehicle/off-road-vehicles. You can also call the South Dakota Department Revenueat 605-773-3541 or any of the SD Treasurer offices listed below.

Local CountyTreasure's Offices in the Black Hills, SD

• Lawrence-Deadwood, SD (605-578-1862) (Open Monday-Friday)
• Meade-Sturgis, SD (605-347-5871) (Open Monday-Friday)
• Pennington –Rapid City, SD (605-394-2163) (Open Monday-Thursday, closed on Friday)
• Custer-Custer, SD (605-673-8172) (Open Monday-Friday)

For a listing of all South Dakota Treasurers Offices visit: https://dor.sd.gov/government/county-treasurers/contact-county-treasurers/

Non-Resident ATV/UTV Road Use

Effective July 1st, 2023, instead of purchasing a temporary permit for 5-15 days, an out-of-state resident will purchase an off-road decal which is valid for a (1) year. Permits can be purchased through the county office or online through the State of South Dakota Motor Vehicle Division. Please allow 7-10 days for mail time. Mail is processed in the order it is received. As these are now actual decals, they cannot be emailed. These are not available for South Dakota residents-they must license the units.

The decal must be placed on the rear of the off-road vehicle, in a location easily visible for inspection by any peace officer.

Applications for the annual permit can be purchased through any South Dakota County Treasurer's Office or online using the updated Non-Resident Off-Road Vehicle Permit Application Form #1030. Decals mailed to the applicant will be subject to an additional $1.50 mailing fee.

Online applications should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the planned trip to allow for processing and mail time.

Please note that the State of Wyoming requires a separate permit when operating an OHV in Wyoming. There is no reciprocity for out-of-state registrations. The Wyoming portion of the Black Hills National Forest is subject to different regulations. The motorized trails in the Wyoming portion of the Black Hills National Forest are open to vehicles 50 inches or less in width.

For information on OHV Rules and Regulations in Wyoming, visit Wyoming State Parks Parks.

Motorized vehicle operators are responsible for knowing and abiding by OHV travel regulations. Minimize your impact on the environment when you ride by traveling responsibly, respecting the rights of others, educating yourself and avoiding sensitive areas.

For tips on riding ethically and responsibly, visit Tread Lightly!