Water on the Bounty

Old black water, keep on rolling

Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shining on me?

Old black water, keep on rolling

Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shining on me?

Black Water, Patrick Simmons (1973).

McKenna Spring is located at the dead-end of USFS Low Standard Road 277.2A.
In autumn of 2022, water ran out of that pipe. Not so in September 2025.

When creating routes for the 2025 Black Hills Bounty, I thought the group would enjoy disperse camping near an obscure spring along a dead-end USFS Low Standard Road. And then start the next day scrambling up an abandoned road to connect with (somewhat) better roads leading to a fire lookout tower. 

I stumbled across such a spring and connector while scouting for the 2022 Bounty. See, Connecting. Now three years later, I thought I should check on that spring before sending a dozen or so trusting friends to camp there this year. Good thing.

On a gorgeous autumn day earlier this week, I ventured deep into the southwestern Black Hills on seldom traveled Forest Service roads and near-roads. Bouncing my way back to McKenna Spring, I found the pipe leading from the spring dry, as well as most of the tank. Well, we either dry camp there or find another spring and campsite. I wasn't about to give up on that route.

Water Draw Spring, just 3 miles north of McKenna Spring along USFS Low Standard Road 277.

USFS paper maps for Black Hills National Forest identify a large number of springs sprinkled throughout the Black Hills. However, like USFS Low Standard Roads, many of the identified springs no longer exist and many springs exist that are not identified on the maps. You must get out there to know.

Scouring a USFS map around the area of McKenna Spring for an alternative water source, I found but one anywhere near. Water Draw Spring. I hope that pans out, or I'll be facing some serious scouting.

I start back up the planned route along USFS Low Standard Road 277. Three miles pass, mostly through private ranch land, without a whiff of water. Crossing into the National Forest, I spot a tank just a bit off the route.

It's Water Draw Spring, running strong and just 3 miles up the route from the currently dry McKenna Spring. With ample space to disperse camp on USFS land and right along the planned route, this should work for Day 1 of the Bounty. Whew.

Cattle tank fed by an unidentified spring along USFS Low Standard Road 284.5A along Sled Canyon.

Onward to Day 2 to confirm an end-of-day water source and campsite, somewhere along USFS Low Standard Road 376 in Red Bird Canyon or 284.5A in Sled Canyon. Again, USFS maps identified several springs in the area, but all were significantly off route and uphill from the route. Hopefully, I can find something better.

Rolling north through Red Bird Canyon and then Sled Canyon, I see scant signs of surface water and few promising campsites. Eventually, near the northern end of this remote stretch of canyons, I spot not one, but two unidentified springs filling tanks with water. Better yet, both lie along the road of the planned route, with space to camp. Either should take care of Day 2. Alright. More luck than skill.

With water and campsites previously confirmed for the remaining days, the 2025 Bounty route should be good to go.

Now, to pack. And then the easy part. Ride a week with friends.

Black Water, Doobie Brothers (1973).