Black Hills Snowmobile Trails to Open Monday

PIERRE, S.D. – Recent snow in the Black Hills have created excellent snowmobile conditions in the area, and starting Monday, riders can hit the trails. The trails are open Dec. 15 through March 31.

Trails opened Dec. 1 in eastern South Dakota, but lack of sufficient snowfall has put grooming operations on hold. “It's hard when we get 3 to 4 inches of snow and see it melt away the next day,” said Ryan Raynor, Trail Program Specialist for the State Division of Parks and Recreation. “So until grooming begins I'd like to remind everyone be patient and wait for better conditions,” he advised. “For those of you heading to the Black Hills on Monday, recent snowfall throughout the week should make for excellent riding conditions."

Raynor also reminds snowmobilers to make sure that their snowmobiles are properly maintained, licensed and insured. “Snowmobiles, like motorized vehicles, must be insured.”

Snowmobile trail maps for the entire state can be obtained from most Game, Fish and Parks offices or by calling 605-773-3391. The maps outline the nationally-recognized Black Hill trails (350 miles) and 13 trails in eastern South Dakota (1,255 miles). The maps also include locations for food and fuel as well as additional information about snowmobiling in SD.

To check conditions of both Eastern and Black Hills trails visit http://www.sdgfp.info or call the tourism hotline at 1-800-445-3474.

-GFP-