Black Hills Backcountry Road 16A – Hill City Extension
Technical granite challenge in the Black Hills
This lesser-known extension of Highway 16A pushes past Hill City into genuine backcountry, following old mining roads that served the Harney Peak district through the 1940s. The maintained pavement gives way to loose granite and technical ledges near Crazy Horse Gulch, where you’ll encounter the kind of rock steps that separate mall crawlers from actual trail rigs.
Rated difficult for the final five miles, this route demands high-clearance 4WD with skid plates and recovery points. The granite can be razor-sharp on sidewalls, and the narrow shelf road sections have zero margin for error. Best tackled April through October when snow isn’t a factor. What you get is access to abandoned mining claims, killer views of Mount Rushmore from the backside, and the satisfaction of running a trail most Black Hills tourists never know exists. Fill up in Hill City — it’s 40 miles to the next gas.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry |
| Surface | Rock |
| Features | Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 28 mi / 45.1 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 6200 ft |
| Best season | April-October |
| Minimum vehicle | 4WD high-clearance skid plates |
| Nearest town | Hill City, South Dakota |
| Land manager | Black Hills National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | fs.usda.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Jeep Wrangler or 4Runner handle 16A, or do I need a built rig?
A stock Wrangler Rubicon or well-equipped 4Runner with skid plates can manage it, but you'll be working hard on the granite sections. Lifted rigs with lockers have a significant advantage — this is rated Difficult for a reason, not trail-rating inflation.
When does 16A typically open in spring, and can snow close it in fall?
The April–October window is realistic but not guaranteed — spring snowmelt on granite slabs can make conditions sketchy well into May. Early October snowstorms in the Black Hills are common, so check conditions before you commit to a late-season run.
Do I need a permit or pass to run 16A through Black Hills National Forest?
No permit is required to drive the trail itself. If you're camping in Black Hills National Forest dispersed sites along the route, no permit is needed either, but follow the 14-day stay limit and Leave No Trace rules — the Forest Service does patrol this area.
What's the hardest section on 16A and what makes it technical?
The exposed granite slab climbs are where most rigs get humbled — loose surface rock over solid granite combines with off-camber angles that punish anything without decent skid plate coverage and traction control or lockers. One wrong line and you're high-centered on a rock shelf with no easy recovery anchor nearby.
Is there any cell service on 16A, and how far is the nearest gas from the trailhead?
Cell service is nonexistent on this trail — download your maps offline before you leave. Hill City is your closest fuel stop, sitting right at the trailhead end, so top off there; the nearest backup option is Custer or Rapid City, both roughly 20–30 miles out.
Trail track
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