Group Rides in South Dakota
A group ride in South Dakota takes more than picking a trailhead and setting a time. Permit rules can depend on where you ride, while route closures, machine width and group size affect whether everyone can follow the same plan. Here’s how to sort out permits, event requirements and practical details before your group heads out.
Start by defining the ride
“Group ride” can mean anything from a few friends riding together to a guided outing, fundraiser or organized event. That difference matters. A casual ride is not automatically the same as a commercial tour or a formally organized event on public land, and the permit rules may differ by location and activity.
First, decide where the group will ride. South Dakota does not have one permit that covers every road, trail and riding area. A Black Hills National Forest trail, a public road and a designated riding area can each have different access rules. A route that crosses between them may involve more than one set of requirements.
If the group plans to use Black Hills National Forest motorized trails, check the trail permit requirements for each machine. A permit generally applies to the vehicle, not to each person in a group. A passenger riding in a permitted UTV does not need a separate machine permit, but a second ATV or UTV does. The details are explained in South Dakota Trail Permits Explained and One Permit Per Machine, Not Per Rider.
Do not assume a plate from another state replaces a Black Hills trail permit. A road-use plate and a trail permit serve different purposes, and trail access can require a permit even when a machine is street legal. Check Does South Dakota Honor Out-of-State Registration? and Why a Plate Does Not Replace a Trail Permit before the ride, especially if visitors are bringing plated machines from home.
| Ride plan | What to check before the group goes |
|---|---|
| Informal ride on Black Hills motorized trails | Permit for each machine, trail openings, route width and current closures |
| Ride using roads as well as trails | Road-use requirements as well as the trail permit; a plate may not replace the trail permit |
| Ride on a designated state riding area | The area’s specific rules and access requirements; do not assume the Black Hills trail permit applies |
| Ride on private land | Permission from the landowner and any conditions they set |
| Guided, commercial or formally organized event | Ask the land manager whether a special permit or additional approval is required |
| Group with out-of-state machines | Whether each machine’s plate meets road rules and whether a separate trail permit is still needed |
Use the route map and land manager information to identify the land type before making a permit decision. A road shown on a map is not necessarily an open motorized trail, and an open trail does not grant permission to ride beyond its marked route. South Dakota Trail Maps and MVUMs can help with route planning, but confirm that the information is current and check for closure notices before departure.
Work out permits and event approval
For an informal ride with friends, the key question is usually whether each machine needs a permit for the area and route you chose. For a Black Hills motorized trail, plan for a permit for each ATV or UTV that will use the trail. Do not count permits by rider, and do not assume one permit attached to a group leader’s machine covers everyone.
Out-of-state riders should check the requirement even if their machines have home-state plates or registration. Reciprocity for road use does not necessarily mean that a machine is excused from a local trail permit. A trail permit is tied to the riding area, not simply to the state where the machine is registered. See Riding South Dakota With an Out-of-State Plate for the distinction.
The permit format matters when your group is traveling. South Dakota trail permits may be issued as decals rather than documents that can simply be printed at home. If you plan to buy permits shortly before the ride, confirm where they are sold, whether they can be purchased in time and how they must be displayed. Why You Cannot Print One at Home and How Long a Black Hills Permit Takes to Arrive cover practical details that can affect a trip with several machines.
A casual group outing is different from an event that is promoted, guided, competitive, open to participants beyond a private group or run for commercial purposes. Those activities can raise questions about special-use approval, public safety, resource impacts, insurance or conflicts with other users. The rules depend on the land manager and the proposed activity, so do not assume that buying individual trail permits is enough for an organized event.
Before advertising a ride, collecting money, leading customers or planning a large gathering on public land, contact the relevant land manager. Explain what the group intends to do, where it will go, how many machines are expected and whether the ride is commercial, competitive or open to the public. Ask whether a special recreation permit or other authorization is required, and how far ahead an application must be submitted. When a Special Recreation Permit Is Needed and Lead Time on a Black Hills Event Permit are useful starting points, but confirm the current process directly with the appropriate office.
The same caution applies to guided rides. A person leading friends on a private outing is not necessarily operating a commercial tour. If participants pay for guiding, equipment or access, the activity may be treated differently. Ask the land manager and any outfitter involved to clarify who is responsible for permits and approvals. Do not rely on a verbal assumption that a permit is “included” unless the provider confirms what it covers and which machines it applies to.
Plan one route everyone can legally ride
A group route should be built around the most restricted machine in the group, not the widest, fastest or most capable one. Trail systems can have width limits, seasonal openings and other restrictions. If a UTV is too wide for a trail segment, that machine cannot simply follow the rest of the group off-route or onto a closed trail. Check the route against the machine specifications and the latest travel information.
Before inviting riders, gather the basics for every vehicle:
- Confirm the machine type and its overall width, measured as the land manager specifies.
- Identify whether the planned route uses motorized trails, roads, designated riding areas or private land.
- Check what permit or road-use requirements apply to each segment.
- Verify that the route is open for the planned date and allows each machine’s width and type.
- Identify fuel stops, staging areas and places where the group can safely regroup.
- Share the route and meeting plan with every rider before the day of the ride.
A route that crosses between forest roads and motorized trails deserves particular attention. A machine may be allowed on one segment but not another, and a road-use plate does not necessarily satisfy a trail permit rule. For a machine that is not plated, do not assume it can use a road as a connector just because the road appears on a recreational map. Check the rule for that road and the route’s land manager. Why a Road Needs a Plate or a Permit explains why road and trail access should be checked separately.
Closures can change the plan even after permits are purchased. Weather, fire conditions, maintenance or resource concerns may close a road or trail. Check current notices shortly before travel, then have an alternate route that stays within open, authorized routes. A GPS track from a past trip or a route shared online is not proof that the route remains open. South Dakota Trail Closures to Check First offers a useful reminder to verify conditions rather than relying on old directions.
If the outing includes private land, get the landowner’s permission before the group enters. Permission from one landowner does not automatically authorize travel across neighboring property, a grazing lease or a connecting road. Keep the agreed route and any limits clear to the entire group. Written Permission From a South Dakota Ranch Owner and Who You Ask Before Riding a Grazing Lease address situations where access can be less obvious than a marked public trail.
Keep the group organized on ride day
A well-planned route can still become difficult if riders arrive with different permits, machine capabilities or expectations. Set a clear meeting time and location, and ask riders to arrive with their machines ready to go. Before leaving, confirm that each vehicle has the permit it needs, the decal is displayed as required and the group understands the route.
Choose a lead rider and a sweep rider, especially if the group is large or includes less experienced riders. The lead should know the route and watch for signs, gates and closures. The sweep rider helps make sure nobody is left behind. Agree on a regrouping plan for junctions and unexpected stops; do not assume that everyone will have reliable cell coverage.
Set expectations before the ride about pace, passing, spacing and what to do if a machine breaks down. Riders should leave enough room to react to dust, loose rock, sudden stops and limited visibility. On narrower routes, keep the group compact enough to stay together without pressuring riders to travel faster than they can safely manage.
Bring a map or route information that can be used without a phone signal. Share the planned route with someone who is not riding, along with the expected return time. Make sure riders know which trailhead or staging area the group will use and where to regroup if separated. These steps do not replace permit or land-use rules, but they make it easier to respond when the plan changes.
If a rider arrives without the required permit, the group should not treat that as a minor paperwork issue to sort out on the trail. Confirm whether the permit can be obtained before entering the permitted area. If not, revise the route so that the unpermitted machine does not enter a place where a permit is required. Similarly, if a machine does not fit a trail’s width restriction, keep it off that trail rather than asking the group to improvise a detour.
For a larger ride or an event, designate one person to handle land-manager communication and keep written confirmation of any required approvals. Make sure that person understands what the approval covers: the route, dates, number of participants, commercial activity and any conditions. Participants should still be told that they are responsible for their own machines and any individual permits required for riding.
A simple pre-ride check can prevent the most common group problems:
- Each machine has the correct permit for the planned riding area.
- Every rider knows the route and any limits on machine width or type.
- The route has been checked for current closures.
- Event or commercial approval has been confirmed if it may apply.
- Private-land permission is clear for every property involved.
- Riders know the meeting point, regrouping plan and expected return time.
The main takeaway is straightforward: determine where the group will ride, then match permits and approvals to each machine and each part of the route. For a casual ride, that usually means checking the area’s access rules and ensuring every machine has its own required permit. For an organized or commercial event, ask the land manager before promoting or conducting the ride.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
