Please observe the following suggestions when riding in the Black Hills to keep trails in good condition and promote goodwill among all who use them.
- Be aware of current conditions in every season and ride with care.
- Excessive speed, skidding and hard braking cause erosion, so be in control of your speed and your bike.
- AVOID wet trails in the spring melting season. Make sure Single Track stays single.
- Vegetation around trails is sensitive and easy to damage or destroy.
- Avoid widening the trail by taking care when passing others.
- Stop your bike and “put a foot down” rather than zipping around, or use passing lanes if they are available.
- If you take a break, park your bike off the trail so others can pass without leaving the trail.
- Be courteous. Trails are used by a variety of people, can sometimes get crowded, and we all have to share them. You might encounter hikers, families, dog-walkers, horseback riders, tour groups, racers or recreational cyclists. You do not have a greater claim to the trail than they do, even if you ride it often.
- Please set a good example as a mountain biker: be friendly and accommodating, and realize that they are trying to enjoy themselves just as you are.
- When in doubt, leave it be.
- You’ll encounter all kinds of trails in the Black Hills. If you come upon a problem or area that you are unable to clean, then leave it alone. What you think may be an impediment could be a technical obstacle that was intentionally constructed. If you’d like to help maintain a trail, we’d love to have you join our trail maintenance efforts.
