Black Hills

ACK HILL

L

S

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NATIONAL FOREST

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its 

programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, 

political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited 

bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means 

for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should 

contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of program discrimination, write USDA Director, Office of Civil 

Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, 

Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an 

equal opportunity provider and employer.

Your Home in

the Woods

A Homeowners Guide

to Owning Property

Adjacent to the

Black Hills

National Forest

Supervisor’s Office

1019 N. 5th St.

Custer, SD 57730

(605) 673-9200

TTY (605) 673-9227

www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills

Bearlodge Ranger District

121 S. 21st St., Box 680

Sundance, WY 82729

(307) 283-1361

Hell Canyon District

330 Mt. Rushmore Road

Custer, SD 57730

(605) 673-4853

(In Newcastle, WY please contact 

Custer, SD office)

Mystic Ranger District

8221 S. Highway 16

Rapid City, SD 57702

(605) 343-1567

Northern Hills Ranger District

2014 N. Main St.

Spearfish, SD 57783

(605) 642-4622

For more information contact:

Black Hills 

National Forest

ACK HILL

L

S

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NATIONAL FOREST

The National Forest as a Neighbor

Many acres of 

private land are 

interspersed within 

the Black Hills 

National Forest. If 

you own one of 

these parcels or 

are considering 

buying one, this brochure is designed to let you 

know what you can expect as a neighbor to a 

National Forest and when you may need to contact 

your local Forest Service office for more information.

National Forests are lands open to the public. 

These lands are, by law, managed by the Forest 

Service to provide a continuing flow of goods and 

services, including recreational opportunities, 

minerals, grazing, timber and wildlife habitat. Those 

who own property adjacent to the Forest can expect 

to witness management activities and public uses 

that reflect this multiple use mandate.

The information contained here addresses the most 

commonly asked questions concerning private land 

within the Black Hills National Forest.

Property Boundaries

The most valuable advice we can give you is to have 

a property line survey conducted by an accredited 

surveyor. The fence you think is on the property 

line may not be. The site where you’d most like to 

build your dream home may be partially on the 

Forest. If existing improvements are found to be on 

the Forest, or if you inadvertently construct new 

ones that encroach onto the National Forest, they 

will have to be removed. Avoid costly mistakes by 

knowing exactly where your property lines are — 

don’t rely on existing fences or a non-accredited 

description of your property lines. 

Access to Your Property

If it is possible to reach your property by crossing 

neighboring private land, you will need to pursue 

such access. If your land is completely surrounded 

by National Forest, you will need a special use 

permit to authorize you to construct or use an 

access road, and the Forest Service is required by 

law to charge a fee for such road use. Land 

developers generally need to provide access to the 

land they subdivide, and in all cases, access 

possibilities across private land must be exhausted 

before we can consider access across the Forest. 

If in doubt, contact your local District Ranger for 

specific advice on your situation.

Who Maintains the Road?

Road maintenance 

may be of great 

concern to you. 

Because 

maintenance 

standards and 

responsibilities 

differ throughout 

the Forest, you 

need to be aware of what these are in your area. 

Some roads are maintained by road maintenance 

associations (groups of landowners who tax 

themselves or pay a yearly fee), and some roads 

are maintained by the Forest Service or by the 

county. The Forest Service maintains roads for 

multiple use purposes, not for access to private 

property. We do not plow snow and we might not 

maintain the roads in your area to a standard that

meets your needs. If you need a higher standard 

road or wish to plow or maintain the road, please 

contact your local Forest Service office to see what 

options may be available to you.
What About Fire Protection?

Wildfires have damaged property, destroyed homes 

and taken human life in the Black Hills! You are 

responsible for reducing fire risk on your property 

and protecting your home and investment. Use fire 

resistant 

building 

materials, clear 

vegetation and 

other fuel 

away from 

structures, 

thin your trees, 

and provide 

proper access 

so fire trucks 

can reach your property. Complete information is 

available through or by 

contacting the South Dakota Division of Wildland 

Fire Suppression at (605) 393-8011, or the 

Wyoming State Forestry Division at (307)746-4261. 

www.firewise.org

Who Provides Law Enforcement?

The County Sheriff is responsible for protecting 

residents and personal property in your area. Any 

illegal activity on your property should be reported 

to the County 

Sheriff’s Office. Laws 

involving wildlife and 

fish resources are 

enforced by the 

South Dakota 

Department of Game, 

Fish and Parks, or the 

Wyoming Game and Fish Department. The Forest 

Service is responsible for enforcing laws regarding 

forest resource protections. Violations should be 

reported to your local Forest Service office. 

Regardless of the agency, officers are responsible 

for large areas of land and their response time may 

not be as quick as you would prefer. Please work 

with them and be patient – they’re doing the best 

they can with limited resources.

Getting Utilities to Your Property

You may be thinking of building a new home, or 

updating the services at an existing home. There 

are some things you need to be aware of about 

getting utility lines, such as power, telephone, 

water, internet, and gas to your property. Access 

possibilities across adjacent private lands must be 

exhausted before we will consider public access 

across the Forest. If your land is completely 

surrounded by National Forest, the utility company 

will need a special use permit from the Forest 

Service to install utility lines to your property. If in 

doubt, contact your local Forest Service office for 

specific advice on your situation.

Your Use of Adjacent 

National Forest Lands

Your right to use National 

Forest lands adjacent to 

your property is the same as 

any other citizen – you may 

use and enjoy the Forest 

subject to a few restrictions 

designed to protect the 

area. You can hike, 

mountain bike or ride 

horseback almost anywhere 

on the Forest but you can’t 

construct roads, trails or 

gates. Motorized use must not result in resource 

damage and may not be permitted adjacent to your 

land. Some roads and trails are only open 

seasonally. Maps are available at each Forest 

Service office showing when roads and trails are 

open. You can hunt and fish according to 

regulations set by the South Dakota Department of 

Game, Fish, and Parks or by the Wyoming Game 

and Fish Department. You may cut firewood after 

first obtaining a permit and you may remove other 

Forest products subject to the same permitting 

procedures applicable to all citizens. Cultural 

resources, such as Indian artifacts, old cabins, and 

old dump sites are protected by law. We suggest 

that you contact the local Forest Service office to 

discuss your opportunities and obligations.

Management Activities Adjacent

to Your Property

National Forests are managed for a multitude of 

uses. Some activities that may occur adjacent to 

your property 

include: timber 

harvest, control of 

insects and 

weeds, 

mineral 

extraction, 

livestock grazing, 

wildlife habitat 

management, and 

various recreational activities. Disposal of small 

tracts of National Forest land may occur. It is 

possible that exchanges, or sales of land could 

happen adjacent to your property and you could 

have new neighbors. Your local Forest Service 

office can give you an idea on what activities to 

expect in your area.

 prescribed 

burning, 

Who Maintains the Fence?

Livestock grazing is authorized on most of the 

Black Hills National Forest and may occur adjacent 

to your property. Grazing permittees are not 

required under federal regulations to build and/or 

maintain fence to keep permitted livestock off 

private land. 

You may, at 

your own 

expense and 

on your own 

land, create 

barriers or 

build fence to 

keep livestock 

off your 

private land. If you intend to graze your own 

livestock on your property, you are responsible to 

ensure your animals do not cross onto National 

Forest land.

Hazards Near Your Property

There is always the potential for branches or even 

entire trees to fall over from time to time. The 

Forest Service does not manage individual trees 

that may pose as a hazard to your private property. 

If you are concerned about individual trees, or any 

other hazards on Forest land adjacent to your 

property, please contact your local Forest Service 

office to discuss how these can be addressed.

Treating Noxious Weeds

The Forest Service has an active noxious weed 

treatment program. 

While we coordinate with 

local counties, we do not 

treat noxious weeds on 

private land. 

Landowners are 

responsible for 

preventing and treating

noxious weeds on their 

property. Many counties 

have resources to assist 

landowners in identifying, 

preventing, and treating 

noxious weeds.

Other Things You Need to Know!

You will be responsible for costs associated with 

your access or utility requests and permitting.

Management of the National Forest is ever 

changing. Please contact your local Forest Service 

office to verify the information in this brochure.

Managing Your Forested Land

Professional assistance in managing your private 

forest land is available from Wyoming State 

Forestry Division at (307) 746-4261, or South 

Dakota Division of Resource Conservation and 

Forestry at (605) 394-2395.