Crazy Horse Memorial to Iron Mountain Technical Route

This unmarked route connects Crazy Horse Memorial to Iron Mountain Road through some of the Black Hills’ most technical terrain, following old mining roads that wind between massive granite formations and tight canyon passages. The trail branches off from the memorial’s maintenance road, climbing through Thunderhead Mountain’s boulder fields before dropping into the notorious ‘Needle’s Eye’—a slot canyon barely wide enough for a full-size truck. Local rock hounds know this route for the abandoned feldspar quarries near mile 8, where you can still find rose quartz and mica schist specimens.

Expert-level difficulty with several sections requiring spotters and precise wheel placement. Body damage is almost guaranteed without proper rock sliders and skid plates. The granite can be slick when wet, and the narrow passages leave zero room for error. Dry conditions from July through September offer the best chance of success. No camping along the route due to private land, but Iron Mountain Road provides numerous pullouts. This is a bucket-list challenge for serious Black Hills wheelers—expect to spend a full day covering just 12 miles.