Crook County, the county surrounding #DevilsTowerCountry, includes 2,897 square miles or 1.8 million acres of public land. Combined, that land is a popular destination among recreationists including those who enjoy riding their off-road vehicles (ORVs) through the beautiful countryside.
ORV season in Wyoming typically begins April 1 and lasts through mid-December. Snowfall and weather conditions dictate the length of the season. Obtaining information on local conditions is recommended.
The U.S. Forest Service does require an off-road permit for those driving the roads and trails. Permits are available at any U.S. Forest Service office and from some vendors. Additional details can be found online.
Printed maps are available free of charge at the U.S. Forest Service office, located at 101 21st Street in Sundance. Many of the images can also be viewed online, such as this map of the public lands in the Bear Lodge Mountains. The land accessible to the public stretches from just north of Sundance to the Hulett area. A similar map is available for the Black Hills area of northeast Wyoming located south and east of Sundance. Other versions of the maps, as well as other information, is available on the Forest Service website for the area. According to information provided by the Forest Service, maps can also be obtained by downloading the app called “Avenza” onto your smartphone.
Places To ATV/ORV:
Black Hills National Forest
Cook Lake Recreation Area in the Black Hills National Forest (Moderate)
Keyhole State Park