South Dakota Rules for a Machine Over 62 Inches
A side-by-side can be properly permitted and still be too wide for the trail you want to ride. In South Dakota, trail-width limits and permit or registration rules are separate questions. The key is to measure the machine, check the route’s current designation, and confirm what paperwork applies before you haul it to the Black Hills.
What the 62-inch limit means
A 62-inch trail limit is an access restriction, not a permit category. It describes the maximum machine width allowed on a route marked with that limit. A permit, plate or out-of-state registration does not make a wider machine eligible to ride there.
Some Black Hills routes have width restrictions, while others are open to machines of all widths. That means a machine over 62 inches may have places to ride, but your route options are narrower. Check each route rather than assuming the whole area has one rule. The overview in South Dakota Trail Width Limits can help explain how those route categories differ.
Measure before you choose a route
Start with the machine’s actual width, not just its model name or the number in a brochure. A vehicle may have been modified with wider tires, wheel spacers or other parts that change its dimensions. Measure the machine as it will be ridden, from the outside of one tire to the outside of the other. For the measurement method and common points of confusion, see How South Dakota Measures Trail Width.
A basic tape measure is enough for a first check. If you need one, a hardware store or Amazon can be a convenient place to find it. Measure on level ground, with the tires set up as they will be on the trip. If the machine is close to the route’s stated limit, recheck the measurement and ask the land manager how that route’s limit is applied. Do not assume a small difference will be overlooked.
Pay attention to the exact wording on the current map or route notice. A route may be identified as restricted to machines at or below a stated width, or described with a different limit. If your machine measures exactly at the limit, verify that the route language includes it. A machine that is even slightly wider than the allowed maximum should be kept off that route.
| Machine and route | Practical result |
|---|---|
| Machine is within the route’s stated width limit | Width alone does not rule out the route; check permits, closures and other restrictions |
| Machine exceeds the route’s width limit | Do not ride that route, even if the machine has a permit or plate |
| Route is marked open to all widths | Width restriction is not the barrier, but other access rules still apply |
| Machine is close to the stated limit | Measure carefully and confirm the rule with the land manager before riding |
The table is only a quick screening tool. Route signs, current maps and applicable land-manager rules take priority over a general summary.
Width can narrow your route choices
A machine over 62 inches should not be treated as automatically barred from every Black Hills route. Instead, identify the roads and trails specifically open to its width. The route network includes different width categories, so planning around a wider machine takes more attention than planning for one that fits the narrower routes.
This is especially important for side-by-sides. A model that appears compact in a listing may exceed a route limit once equipped with its actual tires or accessories. And a machine that fits one route may not fit another, even when both are in the same general riding area. Use the width shown for the route you intend to travel, not a nearby route’s designation.
Permits, plates and out-of-state machines
Width and paperwork answer different questions. Width tells you whether the machine can use a particular route. A permit or valid registration addresses whether it has the required authorization for the kind of public riding you plan to do. You need to check both.
South Dakota’s motorized trail permit is relevant to riding on designated motorized trails. Review South Dakota’s Motorized Trail Permit and Do You Need a Permit on a Black Hills Trail? before setting out. Permit requirements can depend on where you ride and the machine’s registration or licensing status, so do not rely on a rule intended for roads when you are planning to use a trail.
An out-of-state plate is not a width waiver
Visitors often ask whether a plate from their home state is enough. The useful approach is to separate road use from trail use. A vehicle’s out-of-state registration may matter for lawful travel on roads, but it does not change a route’s width limit. Nor should you assume that registration automatically replaces a South Dakota trail permit for every route. Check Does South Dakota Honor Out-of-State Registration? and Why a Plate Does Not Replace a Trail Permit for the distinction.
If your machine is not plated, do not assume that a permit for trail riding also makes it legal on public roads. The rules for roads and designated trails are not interchangeable. Review South Dakota Rules for Riding Federal Land for the land-use context, then confirm the requirements for your particular route and vehicle.
A practical pre-trip check is to write down three details: the machine’s measured width, whether it has valid registration or a plate, and the route type you plan to ride. Then confirm the permit requirement for that combination. This avoids the common mistake of treating “I have a permit” or “I have a plate” as a complete answer.
Permits do not grant access to every route
A permit is not a general pass to ride wherever a machine can physically fit. It does not authorize travel on a route closed to motorized use, outside a designated route, or on a route whose width limit your machine exceeds. Route designation, width, seasonal restrictions and closures still matter.
The same principle applies if you buy a permit before traveling. The permit may satisfy one requirement, but it does not make a narrow trail suitable for a wide side-by-side. Before departure, compare the machine’s dimensions with the routes you plan to use and confirm that the permit or registration requirements are met for those routes.
How to plan a ride with a machine over 62 inches
A wider machine is easiest to plan for when you choose routes first and treat the permit as a separate checklist item. Do not start with a favorite trail and hope the vehicle fits. Confirm the width category before building your day around a route.
- Measure the machine in its riding configuration. Use the outside tire edges and include changes that affect its width. If the result is close to a posted limit, measure again.
- Get the current route map. Check the Motor Vehicle Use Map, local notices and route signs for width restrictions, closures and seasonal limits. South Dakota Trail Maps and MVUMs covers why those maps matter.
- Mark only routes that fit the machine. Separate all-width routes from those with a maximum width. Do not use a road or trail as a connector unless its designation permits your machine.
- Check paperwork for each route type. Confirm whether the machine needs a South Dakota permit, whether its home-state registration is recognized for the planned use, and whether road travel requires anything different.
- Recheck conditions before loading. Closures or route information can change. A map you saved earlier is useful for planning, but check for current notices and obey posted signs at the trailhead.
When researching a suitable route, Where to Ride a Machine Just Over 62 Inches is a useful related topic. It can help direct your search, but still verify every route on the current official map. A general recommendation does not guarantee that a specific trail is open or suitable on the day you arrive.
Build a backup plan
A wide machine can make a trip more sensitive to a single closure. If your intended route is unavailable, you need another route that is both open to your machine’s width and legal for its permit or registration status. Before travel, identify a backup rather than assuming that any nearby trail will work.
Pay attention to connection points, too. A wide machine might be allowed on one segment but not on the narrower route needed to reach it. Plan the entire ride, including the return route, and check that every segment is open to your machine. If the map is unclear, ask the responsible office before setting out rather than interpreting an uncertain line as permission.
If you are traveling from another state, keep the permit confirmation and vehicle-registration details accessible. They will not override a width restriction, but having the relevant paperwork ready can make it easier to address questions about your machine and planned use.
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming a permit covers every trail. A permit addresses a particular authorization requirement. It does not override width limits, closures or route designations.
Using the manufacturer’s listed width without checking the actual machine. Tires and modifications can change the measurement. Measure the vehicle you are bringing, not a similar stock model.
Treating an out-of-state plate as a universal substitute. Registration may be relevant to road use, while trail rules can involve separate requirements. Confirm the rule for the specific land and route.
Relying on an old map or a trail description alone. Use current route information and heed signs at the location. If map wording and a posted closure appear to conflict, do not ride through; ask the land manager for clarification.
Planning only one route. A closure, width issue or access restriction can disrupt a ride. Keep at least one legal alternative suitable for the machine.
The safest rule is straightforward: measure the machine, use routes that explicitly allow its width, and verify permit or registration requirements separately. For a machine over 62 inches, checking those details before the trip is more useful than trying to resolve them at the trailhead.
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.
