South Dakota Tacomas

I could definitely do both in the same trip. Do a night or two in Badlands, then head over to the Hills for another night or two.

Yeah, I'm not looking tear shit up or anything.... just drive on some trails and camp. The Tacoma is new to me though, and I've never truck-camped before though. I've always been a hike-camper. Just just trying to figure out the protocols. I'll definitely ask around on that site. Thanks.

 

That area looks pretty great. Are you able to camp right along the camp 5 road?

I need to order some MVUM's for that area....

 

Camp 5 is easily accessible and you can throw a tent out anywhere. Like The Rapid Taco said, just get a trail pass to be safe. I'm from Sturgis and used to mess around in Camp 5 quite a bit growing up.

Might as well try Lost Gulch if you are up in that area: http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1226357

 

Yeah, I saw the Lost Gulch too on Maps. I'll definitely check those out, thanks. Let me know if you have any other ideas. I'm bookmarking all of these...

 

There's quite a few trails by Rochford, SD too. Used to ride them on the dirtbikes quite a bit growing up, but never went out there w/ a full sized vehicle. There's plenty of trails in that area. The problem is they get very little traffic and intertwine with on another, which makes it a bitch to navigate through unless you are familiar with the area.

 

Yeah if it's cloudy you gotta be careful on some of those badlands trails. I spent a lot of time out there in college on geological field trips and a guy can get lost real quick. If you're getting very far off a main road you want to have maps and a compass. Use the map on your way in and you generally won't need it on your way out. Not to scare you, it's awesome out there. Hope you do it. Just go prepared. 1:24K Topo maps (as well as larger) can be ordered from the SD Geological Survey in Vermillion, SD. Reasonably priced. They're not trying to make a profit. They'll get them right out to you. Just give them a ring. Try searching for maps using their online database first and give them the name of the quads you want. That makes it easier for them. If not, someone will help you out. http://www.sdgs.usd.edu

 

I'm glad I work for a firm with an arcGIS license . Makes navigating and map generating a walk in the park.

 

The Baja area has always been pretty quiet when I've been there, it's not really very big. (don't think I've ever been on a summer weekend though, so ymmv) I think the busiest I've seen it was last year during opening week of pronghorn season. Hit the Nat'l Grasslands office in Wall and get the motor vehicle map (free!) -- that'll give you all the Grassland roads you can be on outside of the Baja area. You can camp anywhere on the Grassland, 300' from road I think is the only restriction.

Frankly, I enjoy tooling around on the Grassland roads & have camped out there some, but I almost always plan on camping at the primitive campground in the NP (Sage Creek). I've never been shut-out on getting a site, it's free ('cept for NP entrance fee, I have annual pass), and the no water/electricity & pit toilets keeps it pretty quiet. The road out there is well maintained, but still manages to keep the RVs and such to a minimum.

And... even if it's been a while since a rain, some of those roads out on the Grassland can be unexpectedly very soft. Prairie muck is not your friend. Just sayin'.

 

New guy from Sioux Falls, if anyone wants to meet up let me know. I also spent a lot of time in the Rapid City area.

 

May be selling my truck in SD if anyone is interested in quite a gem of a 93 Pickup.

 

Miles and$$$$?

 

Let's see some pics

 

My whole build thread will be of use to anyone interested and it currently has 104,000 miles.

 

Hi guys! I've been living in the black hills for about 16 years now..haha I know a few trails if anyone wants to meet up sometime. I have a bunch of friends with tacomas both new and old and we are always out for a good time in the hills.

 

This sounds like just the sort of thing we need to get the SD scene going on here!

 

Hell yeah brother! Haha I was referred to this thread because I've searched for it more than once and never found anything in south dakota and I don't know why. Probably user error. But yes we need to get somethin going in the black hills, no doubt. They are such an awesome place to wheel and explore!

 

Whenever I get back to SD (could be in a couple months or years ha idk) id be down for some camping and wheeling.

 

"slim to none" ain't that the truth. I'm in ND and pretty sure Tacomas are an endangered species.

 

We are a well kept secret! 9 pages! Go away!!

Just kidding! There are some really great wheeling trails in SD. I am deployed again but I will post a date for my north to south off road trip through the hills, hopefully we can do it over a weekend. Input?

 

I'm headed to Rapid City next weekend. Any where I should hit up for some good food? Never been to SD before.