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Black Hills Mountain Bike Trail Conditions

The Black Hills are the real mountain riding of the northern plains, rising to Black Elk Peak at over 2,200 m — the highest ground between the Rockies and the Pyrenees. The Centennial Trail runs more than a hundred miles north to south through granite spires and ponderosa, with Rapid City's Skyline and Hanson-Larsen on one flank and Spearfish Canyon on the other. Elevation drives the season here: the high country holds snow well after the Rapid City trails are dry.

213 featured mountain bike trails elevation 3,169–6,545 ft

Is it muddy in Black Hills right now?

Right now about 10 of 213 featured Black Hills trails are riding well. Conditions change daily with rain and snowmelt, so the list below shows the live read for each trail, and the chart shows which day ahead is your best bet.

Black Hills conditions at a glancesnapshot · Oct 15

Live conditions map

Open the live map →

Riding right now

10 of 213 trails riding well

Tacky / good 9Dry 1Soft — ride gently 189Muddy — stay off 14

Air quality

AQI 40 · Good

EPA AirNow (observed) + CAMS forecast. Informational.

Next 10 days

Trails riding well each day · blue dot = rain

Most trails are wet right now. They bounce back Sunday, with about 153 of 213 riding well.

Temperature this week

Lower trails3,248–4,783 ft

26°typical 42°–64°F79°

High country4,820–6,391 ft

22°typical 39°–62°F78°

10°30°50°70°90°

5-day forecast

Today54°

Fri60°

Sat79°

Sun65°

Mon70°

Daytime high across Black Hills, rain marked. Real forecast, refreshed every morning (elevation detail above).

Trail soil & drainage

Mixed 61%Loam 36%Clay 3%

Mostly mixed, which varies from trail to trail.

See the live map & forecastEvery featured trail · best bets today · 10-day outlook→

Best time of year to ride Black Hills

Typical riding conditions by month, blending heat and trail conditions from 10 years of local climate data — so you can plan a trip for the right window.

The best time to ride Black Hills is June through October, when daytime highs sit in the 55–78°F range and the dirt is typically dry. The high country is usually snowbound January through April and December. Planning a trip? Those are your safest bets — and for this week, the live forecast below shows exactly which days are riding well (right now 10 of 213 featured trails are good to go).

PrimeMud seasonColdSnowbound

Bar height = our ride-friendliness score for a typical year; colour = the main limiting factor; the number under each month is the average daytime high. Based on 1991–2020 climate normals (NOAA). This year's live conditions are below.

Best Black Hills mountain bike trails to ride right now

Every featured singletrack trail, sorted by today's real conditions, best first. Refreshed every morning.

Black Hills mountain biking FAQ

What are the best mountain bike trails to ride near Black Hills right now?

Today the trails riding best near Black Hills are D Loop, Spearfish Peak Trail and A Loop. The full list below is sorted by today's real conditions, best first, and refreshes every morning, so the top of the list is always your best bet right now. See live conditions →

When will the mountain bike trails in Black Hills dry out?

It depends on recent rain and each trail's soil. The 10-day outlook on this page shows how many Black Hills trails are expected to be riding well each day, with rain markers, so you can pick the right day instead of guessing. See the 10-day outlook →

Is it too muddy to ride in Black Hills after rain?

Right now 203 of 213 featured Black Hills trails are reading soft or too muddy to ride. Black Hills is mostly mixed soil, which varies from trail to trail, so after a storm some trails firm up within a day while others stay greasy. Riding wet, soft dirt damages trails and leaves ruts, so check the live mud reading on each trail before you head out. Check the live mud reading →

How many mountain bike trails are in Black Hills?

Black Hills has 213 featured mountain bike trails tracked here for conditions, with more searchable on the live map.

How high are the Black Hills trails?

Black Hills trails run from about 3,169–6,545 ft. Higher trails hold snow later into spring and dry out later than the lower ones, so conditions can vary a lot across the same area on the same day.

When is the best time to ride mountain bikes in Black Hills?

The best time to ride Black Hills is June through October, when daytime highs are in the 55–78°F range and the trails are typically dry. The high country is usually snowbound January through April and December. This is based on 10 years of local climate data; check the live conditions on this page for how the trails are actually riding today.

What months can you mountain bike in Black Hills?

The main riding season in Black Hills is roughly May through November; the high trails are usually snowbound January through April and December and melt out through spring. This page tracks snow coverage and melt-out daily so you can time the high country.

More South Dakota mountain bike regions

South Dakota Backcountry1/9 riding well

See all South Dakota trail conditions →

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