50 FALL 2021 ISSUE 01 / VOL . 03 SNOWGOER . COM 51

You may think you ’ ve seen the best that snowmobiling has to offer – whether on the big trails of Quebec , the big expanses of Michigan ’ s Upper Peninsula or the great scenery of West Yellowstone , to list three famous examples .

Those are all great locations , but we would dare say that South Dakota ’ s Black Hills truly rivals the best of the best , with fascinating , exposed-granite topography and wide , expertly maintained and wellmarked trails that weave in and out of pine forests , across meadows , along rivers and in the shadows of towering rock faces . Mix in the awesome adult playground that is the historic , raucous town of Deadwood and you ’ ve got a snowmobiler ’ s nirvana .

Those looking for extremes may note the area ’ s limitations : There are 350 miles of trails in the Black Hills system , which may not sound like enough to some high-mile cruisers ; the highest peak in the region sits at 7,250 feet , which may sound shallow to some mountain riders . But for a trail rider looking to experience a high-altitude feel without high-altitude downfalls and also the thrills of off-trail exploration in an unpopulated national forest , this is a great place to be .

All totaled , the Black Hills National Forest is 1.2 million acres large , with seven peaks above 7,000 feet . Most snowmobiling is done between 4,000 and 6,500 feet , so modern , fuel-injected snowmobiles won ’ t need any adjustments for a decent trail riding experience – just throw them in the trailer and go ! Those seeking ultimate performance off-trail , however , may want to adjust their clutching , while carbureted sleds will likely need to go a bit leaner on jetting to adjust for the decrease of oxygen that comes with altitude .

After confirming snow , we packed and loaded the next morning before pointing our truck west out of Minneapolis . Though windy , the first 7 hours went by quickly – thanks to the 80 mph speed limit and good driving music . When we reached the western third of South Dakota , however , things got dicey – first with mixed patches of incredibly icy roads caused by windblown snow , and later by heavy-falling snow that made visibility beyond the hood ornament ( you know , if modern truck ’ s had hood ornaments !) next to nothing .

We came across tipped over semis , various automobiles in the ditch and , once we were within 80 miles of our destination , flashing roadside signs advising no travel . Perhaps stupidly , we soldiered on – rolling past Rapid City ( with its full-service airport