Ski Trail Descriptions

A1 Loop- The A1 loop starts at the main entrance from the parking lot.  It is a figure-8 loop that ends up in the meadow.  This is a great beginner trail with easy terrain!  The total loop is less than 1 mile!

Beginner/Technique Loop- If you travel through the meadow, go south thru the gate.  After a short distance, you'll meet the A loop intersection.  Go right, then take a left onto the Beginner Loop.  This loop travels south and then back north across steep A.  Use caution at this crossing as you'll be going downhill on a short, steep hill "Wild Thing".  The trail continutes on the north side of steep A and pops out just a short distance from the main A Loop trailhead.  This is a great short loop to ski once you have your feet under you or want to make some laps close to the parking lot.  

A2/E Loop- After traveling through the meadow, you'll head south through the gate.  Just a few feet farther, take a right onto the new "A2" trail.  This trail takes you through vaired terrain for a distance of 1 mile.  It comes out on "A Loop", only 1/4" mile from the gate on the "slow A" side.  This is a great loop to ski but takes a little more snow for grooming than the other trails.  

A Loop-  Once you pass through the meadow, you'll head south thru the gate and to the A Loop intersection.  If you go straight, this is "steep A", which takes you down a winding, steep hill into incredible aspens.  This downhill can be exciting for less experienced skiers.  This is also the quickest way to get to the start of "C Loop".  You also have the option of going right at the first intersection, which will take you down "long A".  This route is rolling with less challenging downhills.  Both trails lead down to the main intersection that leads to the start of "D Loop" and the other end of "C Loop".  "A Loop" is a 3 mile loop from the trailhead, remember no matter what, when you get to the bottom you will be CLIMBING back up!

C Loop- This loop can be accessed by going down "steep" A or by going to the D Loop intersection and going left.  This is a challenging route that is only sometimes groomed.  Starting from A Loop, you'll climb significantly before dropping to the cut across and into 11th Hour Gulch.  This is often the best snow at Big Hill. There are several climbs and exciting downhills on this loop.  Once you reach the low point of the Gulch, you climb back up and meet D Loop.  Take a right to head back towards the trailhead.  

D Loop- To get to D loop, you have to head down A loop.  Once at the lower intersection, head east on the groomed trail to the main D Loop intersection.  This is a great loop that can be skied either direction, but most commonly skied counter clockwise.  This is a groomed route that has great varied terrain.  The biggest challenge is the Widowmaker hill, which is exciting on the downhill and a tough climb coming up.  

NORDIC PULSE FILL IN

Warning — Assumption of Risk
Nordic Skiing and Snowshoeing Are Hazardous Activities

Big Hill Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Trails are groomed by the Black Hills Nordic Ski Club, a nonprofit organization, under a Special Use Permit issued by the USDA Forest Service. Trails cross public land and are open to the public for recreational use free of charge, regardless of club membership status.

By entering this trail system, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and related winter trail activities carry inherent risks of injury, including but not limited to:

• Variable and changing snow, ice, and weather conditions

• Ungroomed sections, natural terrain features, and unmarked hazards (trees, stumps, rocks, holes, drop-offs)

• Grooming equipment, snowmobiles, and other vehicles that may be operating on or crossing trails, sometimes with limited visibility

• Wildlife encounters

• Collisions with other trail users

• Remote location, with limited or no cell phone coverage and delayed emergency response times

• Your own physical condition, ability, and equipment

You assume full responsibility for your own safety. Ski or snowshoe within your ability, control your speed, keep a proper lookout, yield to grooming equipment, stay off ski-set tracks when snowshoeing, and follow all posted signage. Children should be supervised by a responsible adult.

Consistent with South Dakota law governing free public recreational use of land, Black Hills Nordic Ski Club, its volunteers, officers, and directors, and the United States Forest Service owe no duty to make these trails safe for use by skiers, snowshoers, or other trail users, and no duty to warn of dangerous conditions. By entering and using Big Hill Trails, you agree to assume all risk and to hold harmless Black Hills Nordic Ski Club and its volunteers, officers, and directors from any and all liability for injury, death, or property loss arising from your use of this trail system, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

No warranty is made regarding trail conditions, grooming, or maintenance.

In an emergency, call 911.
Nearest access point: Big Hill Trailhead, Tinton Road