This 174 mile ride begins and ends in Rapid City, South Dakota, gateway to the Black Hills. For motorcyclists, the Black Hills are best known as host to the largest rally in North America held in the town of Sturgis. The Hills are some of the oldest mountains on Earth and are composed largely of granite. In the shape of an egg, they sit like an island in the middle of the northern Great Plains. They are approximately one-hundred miles north to south and fifty miles east to west.
Upon leaving Rapid City you ride northwest on Nemo Rd. to Rt. 385, the main North-South highway through the Hills. On Rt. 385 you pass the Circle B Ranch, a great cowboy supper club and show. Further down this scenic road stop at Pactola Lake, the largest in the Hills. In Hill City stop and shop in the great western stores or take a ride on the historic 1880 Train.
After Hill City you are beginning to ride toward the most famous landmark in the region, Mt. Rushmore. You turn left onto Rt. 87, the Needles Highway and Custer State Park. There is a small fee to enter Custer State Park. Visit the Sylvan Lake Hotel for lunch and an incredible view of the mountains. The Needles are granite columns that line the road with wonderful vistas all around. The Cathedral Spires pull-off is a great place for pictures. Rt. 87 takes you to the Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park. With a little luck you may see the largest buffalo herd in America. Take photos from afar, buffalo are huge and can be dangerous.
When you finish the Wildlife Loop the ride takes you to one of most scenic rides in America, Iron Mountain Road. As you ride up this tight, twisty road you encounter great views and pass through tunnels carved out of solid rock. You will see Mt. Rushmore framed in the distance as you ride through them! Be sure to photograph the “begging burros”. You can’t miss them; they will be right on the road. As you approach the end of Iron Mountain Rd. (Rt. 16A) you will cross over the award winning Pig-tail Bridges.
Gale Bard
A very short side trip will take you to Mt. Rushmore National Monument, one of the most visited sights in America. Allow several hours to see it all. After leaving Rushmore jump back on 16A and stop in the town of Keystone at the Ruby House for some good western entertainment and a bite to eat. Heading out of Keystone you will turn left on Old Hill City Road, a back country paved road taking you over to Rt. 385. You might see the 1880 Train as its track parallels this narrow road. When you arrive at Rt. 385 you’ll head north to Rim Rock Highway, Rt. 44 and ride back down into Rapid City.
Gale Bard
There is so much to see and enjoy on this ride you might easily take two days. Most of the Black Hills are owned by the National Forest Service, so if you ride off-road there are hundreds of miles of fire-trails. Enjoy one of the great undiscovered places in America, South Dakota’s Black Hills.
This month’s featured ride is provided by Moto-Maps® from their Sturgis Edition booklet and was created and reported by Jennings Glenn – a Moto-Maps’ colleague and co-author of Great Roads, Great Rides.
Click on the map, legend and directions below to enlarge.
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