East Rim (FR 139.1) in SD -- Free Camping & Overnight Parking in South Dakota
East Rim (FR 139.1) in SD
A 9.2-mile stretch of dirt National Forest road in Meade County, SD. The road serves Deadman Mountain. The road is open seasonally, May 15 to December 15.
Black Hills National Forest, Northern Hills Ranger District allows dispersed camping here -- 14-day limit in any 28 days.
All 9.2 miles in are maintained only for high-clearance vehicles. Dirt the whole way in (9.2 miles). Climbs 1,000 ft over 9.2 miles -- sustained grades near 16%, with pitches to 20%. Stretches run along a shelf with a drop of up to ~110 ft on the downhill side. Winds through 8 switchbacks. Dead-end road -- no mapped turnaround; expect to back out or unhitch. A cattle guard at the start of the road.
Private here -- the nearest through road is 0.9 miles off. The nearest town, Sturgis, is 6.1 mi off.
September normals 44–71°F, 1.7″ rain. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.
Set by Black Hills National Forest, Northern Hills Ranger District. Stage 1 and 2 orders change within days -- check the current order before you build a fire.
fs.usda.gov