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Coming to visit

3K views 12 replies 4 participants last post by  Dragon1973 
#1 ·
I'm heading out to SD for a week in early September. I'm staying right in Black Hill national forest, Hill City to be exact. I plan on taking in all the excellent roads in the forest, the monuments, and of course Bad Lands one day, or on my way home.

I've given myself 6 full days to take in the area. I'm looking for way points to put in the GPS.

What are some other "things to see" or "roads to NOT MISS" that are not "advertised" within an hour or two (at most) while I'm out there? I don't mind the gravel, but will stop short when the "road" becomes a dirt trail through the trees type of thing; I'm not into dirt-biking. But almost anything else is fair game. Scenic lookouts, windy/steep/narrow/cool roads, attractions, etc.

Thanks!
 

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#2 ·
Nothin' eh? hmmm.

Well I did find quite a number of things on my own. And a buddy of mine took in the Sturgis rally a couple weeks ago, so brought me back a map of all the roads, including the dirt tracks through Black Hills. I'm sure I'll find a few that'll be fun. :) He was on a Harley so could not give me a first person account of anything not smooth.

I'll find out in 10 days when I get there.
 
#3 ·
Just stumbled across your post. I was out there on an extended trip last year in September and stayed in Hill City too. Kind of touristy but what isn't.

Roads: Spearfish Canyon (Alt 14), Needles Highway (87), Iron Mountain Road (Alt 16), and Wildlife Loop Road were a few of my favorites. Check out Custer State Park website, it has good info and some maps.

Sites: Homestake Mine (Lead), Crazy Horse, Mt Rushmore, Dinosaur Park (Rapid City - was there as a kid, reliving the moment :smile2:), South Dakota Air & Space Museum (Ellsworth AFB), Badlands, etc.

That's what comes to mind at the moment.

Have great time and a safe trip.
 
#5 ·
If you are spending 6 days in the area, you should have plenty of time for side trips. There's also Belle Fourche, Devils Tower in Wyoming, Sturgis, Deadwood (where Wild Bill Hickok was shot), of course the Reptile Gardens, and the World's Largest Prairie Dog at Cactus Flats (north of the east Badlands entry point just before I90). I think there's a ghost town west of the Badlands at Scenic but I didn't make it there.
 
#6 ·
What is in Belle Fourche? I've added Scenic and the Prarie dog and the Ranch Store to my list of things to try to get to.

Yea, 6 full days. I'd like to do a 2-week plus trip every year (this is only my second). And last year I learned NOT to plan to be on the move every day. I covered lots of ground and saw exactly those things I wanted to see, but didn't leave myself much time to explore the areas I was in. This time, I'm taking 4 days to get to SD through a long route up and around Lake Superior. But once I get to Hill City, that'll be the home-base for heading out in all directions. Then, 4 days back along the south edge of Lake Superior.
 
#7 ·
There is a road from Hill City to Keystone that is fun. It crosses the railroad tracks several times. There is a Suzuki dealer in Sturgis that is good if you have a problem.
 
#13 ·
Yea... don't count on these guys! I just got back from a great trip, and I did have an issue. What I got out of those jokers was a "good luck with that, I hope you make it home". I was a weeeee bit pi$$ed when I left their place. Back at the motel, the owner has a couple of his own rides: Harley and Gold Wing. Him and I, with the tools he obviously had (need a lot when you own a Harley I guess :wink2:) managed to patch up my issue and I did make it home... and hopefully with a permanent (without replacing the parts) fix.

Dang leaking instrument cluster... thanks Suzuki. I don't ride often in the rain, but when I do, I'm 2,000 kms from home... great!

So, a warning for travelers to the area, don't count on Sturgis Motorsports if you are in a bind. I can't imagine if it had actually been bike-week. I probably wouldn't have been able to even talk to anybody.
 
#9 ·
When are you leaving? If you're coming around the North side of lake superior, you'll likely be headed towards my neck of the woods.

I live in Grand Rapids Minnesota, and will be headed out to Huron SD this weekend (Labor Day). For a scenic route, (at least part of the way) consider
MN210 west to Wahpeton, ND
Then jump down to ND 11 west to past Hankinson
Take ND 18 south and follow SD 25 thru lake city, Webster
Then head west on US212

My route takes me on SD25 south to US14 at DeSmet.

Enjoy your ride.

Sent from my KFFOWI using Tapatalk
 
#10 ·
... will be headed out to Huron SD this weekend (Labor Day). For a scenic route, (at least part of the way) consider
MN210 west to Wahpeton, ND
Then jump down to ND 11 west to past Hankinson
Take ND 18 south and follow SD 25 thru lake city, Webster
Then head west on US212

My route takes me on SD25 south to US14 at DeSmet.

...
Huron, isn't that the home of the World's Largest Pheasant? Wahpeton the home the World's Largest Catfish? And DeSmet has something to do with Little House on the Prairie, the Ingall's homestead.
:grin2:
 
#12 · (Edited)
My trip was accompanied by a 30 mph wind from the SSE. So i was either bucking it, or fighting a hellacious crosswind the whole trip.

Needless to say, after a 400 mile workout i was tired.

I avoided main roads as much as possible, but had to ride 35 miles on US14 and it was quite busy. It was a struggle to keep the bike upright in the blasts of wind.

Note to self: avoid prolonged rides in strong crosswind if possible.

Sent from my LGUS991 using Tapatalk
 
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