Whether you’re in South Dakota for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally or just exploring the scenic Black Hills, here’s our guide to the region’s top rides.
Every August, the world famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally draws hundreds of thousands of bikers to western South Dakota. Sturgis and the surrounding Black Hills are ideal for exploring by motorcycle, with one-of-a-kind rides that offer world class scenery, iconic landmarks and plenty of challenges. No matter when you visit, use this guide to explore the can’t-miss motorcycle rides in Sturgis and the Black Hills.
Note: Skill levels reflect ratings provided by A.B.A.T.E. of South Dakota, ranging from 1 (easy) to 5 (difficult).
Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway
People thought Governor Peter Norbeck was crazy when he hatched a plan for a highway through the granite pinnacles of Custer State Park. Today, the byway that bears his name is known for its outstanding beauty — and potential for a buffalo traffic jam. Ride the entire 70-mile double loop to take in some of the Black Hills' most iconic sights, or explore two of the famous roads that make up the byway: Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road.
Needles Highway
Completed in 1922, the historic Needles Highway (Highway 87) snakes through granite towers and twisting bridges, passing by mountain lakes, craggy peaks and the famed Cathedral Spires.
Distance: 14 miles
Time: 1-2 hours
Skill Level: Medium to difficult (A.B.A.T.E. Skill Level 5)
Ride Highlights:
- Custer State Park — Best known for its 1,300-head bison herd, CSP offers gorgeous scenery and plenty of places to stretch your legs.
- Legion Lake Lodge — With cabins, camping and a full-service restaurant, this historical lodge is perfect for quick stops or a longer stay.
- Cathedral Spires — These jagged peaks pierce the sky, making for one of South Dakota's best photo ops. The short but strenuous Cathedral Spires Trail will bring you up close to the unique formation.
- Needles Eye Tunnel — This one-lane tunnel through a wall of granite is a special highlight of the ride.
- Sylvan Lake Lodge — Just 2 miles from Needles Eye Tunnel, this peaceful retreat is set on one of South Dakota's prettiest lakes.
Iron Mountain Road
After Gov. Norbeck completed the Needles Highway, he topped himself with the Iron Mountain Road (Highway 16A) — a feat of engineering comprising dramatic switchbacks, wooden "pigtail" bridges and tunnels that offer seriously patriotic views.
Distance: 17 miles
Time: 1-2 hours
Skill Level: Difficult (A.B.A.T.E. Skill Level 5)
Ride Highlights:
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial — “America’s Shrine of Democracy” sits at the north entrance of the Iron Mountain Road. Starting at the south end and heading north will afford the best vantage points, as you'll pass through a series of tunnels that perfectly frame the presidents' granite faces.
- Pigtail bridges — Crafted from local timber, these historical structures are some of the road’s most distinctive features.
- The Iron Mountain Road Store — Stop for gas and supplies at this long-running establishment with a café serving lunch, dinner, coffee and gooey fresh-baked cinnamon rolls.
Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway
If it’s wildlife you seek, it’s wildlife you’ll find in Custer State Park. This byway takes you on an 18-mile loop that’s likely to show you bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, deer, elk, coyote, prairie dogs, wild turkeys and some “wild” burros that’ll be happy to make your acquaintance. A word to the wise: If you cross paths with bison, give them a wide berth — these are not beasts you want to tangle with.
Distance: 33 miles
Time: 1-2 hours
Skill Level: Medium
Ride Highlights:
- Custer State Park Welcome Center — Located at the park’s northeast entrance, this is where most visitors start their ride. Nearby is a general store and State Game Lodge.
- Wildlife Station Visitor Center — At the southeast corner of the loop road is where you’ll find the paddocks housing the park’s bison herd. It’s also where you’ll likely run into the park’s band of burros.
- Centennial Trail — Fancy a hike? There are multiple trailheads for this 111-mile trail on the west end of the loop road.
- Blue Bell Lodge — This quaint lodge has 29 cabins, a gas station, a general store and a restaurant serving hearty Western fare. From here, you can continue north and east to complete the loop or join up with the Needles Highway (Highway 87).
Spearfish Canyon State and National Forest Service Scenic Byway
If you like pretty, enjoy 19 miles of it. Spearfish Canyon takes you gently through a mountain canyon complete with a flowing creek, a variety of hillside trees, historical sites and three waterfalls. (Waterfalls in South Dakota? You betcha.) And the fall colors? Well, one cruise when the leaves are popping may have you coming back year after year.
Distance: 19 miles
Time: 1 hour
Skill Level: Medium
Ride Highlights:
- Spearfish — This lovely town at the byway’s northern entrance offers restaurants, hotels, gas stations and multiple attractions worth checking out, including the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives, High Plains Western Heritage Center and Termesphere Gallery.
- Bridal Veil Falls — Tumbling 60 feet into the rushing Spearfish Creek, this waterfall is one of the most beautiful and accessible in the state, with a large parking area and observation platform.
- Spearfish Canyon State Nature Area — Just south of Bridal Veil Falls, this area of outstanding beauty is home to two more waterfalls — Roughlock Falls and Spearfish Falls — plus hiking, fishing, birdwatching and wildlife viewing.
- Cheyenne Crossing — At the bottom of the byway is this historic stagecoach stop, now a café and general store. From here, you could ramble on to Lead and Deadwood via 14A.
Learn more about the Spearfish Canyon State & National Forest Service Scenic Byway
Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway
OK, so this one isn’t technically in the Black Hills, but it’s close — and unique — enough to mention. Located 60 miles east of Rapid City, this 39-mile loop takes you through the rugged, moon-like landscapes of Badlands National Park. Don’t be surprised if you spot some wildlife from behind your windscreen; pronghorn antelope, deer, prairie dogs and even the odd sneaky mountain goat call this place home.
Distance: 39 miles (one way)
Time: 1-2 hours
Skill Level: Medium
Ride Highlights:
- Wall — Coming from the Black Hills via I-90, you’ll enter the park through Wall. The town is a biker haven that’s home to shops, eateries and, of course, world famous Wall Drug.
- Scenic overlooks and hiking trails — There are 16 designated scenic overlooks throughout the park. Can’t-miss stops include Panorama Point and Pinnacle Overlook. Stretch your legs at the Notch, Fossil Exhibit and Saddle Pass trailheads.
- Ben Reifel Visitor Center — Located near the park’s Interior entrance, this must-stop is packed with museum exhibits, walking trails and a Fossil Preparation Lab.
- Minuteman Missile National Historic Site — Just past the Badlands’ northeast entrance near Cactus Flat is this site exploring America’s role in the Cold War. There are actually three separate sites along a 15-mile stretch of I-90, including a missile silo and launch facility.
- Wagon Wheel Bar — Keep cruising south past Cedar Pass Lodge and you’ll find the tiny and charming town of Interior, home to the Wagon Wheel Bar. With a full bar (including off-sale), pizza, burgers and some rustic regulars, it’s an ideal SoDak stop during your Badlands cruise. You can also fuel — and eat — up at the nearby Cowboy Corner.
Vanocker Canyon Road to Nemo
One of the closest scenic rides to Sturgis, this route packs incredible twists, turns and mountain views. You’ll wind through shimmering aspen and birch forests — spectacular in the fall — to reach the former mining community of Nemo. From there, drift north on Nemo Road for a relaxing ride along Box Elder Creek. Once you reach U.S. 385, you can continue north for a 10-mile cruise up to Deadwood, but we might recommend doubling back to check out the scenery from the opposite direction — you won’t be sorry!
Distance: 35 miles
Time: 2 hours
Skill Level: Medium to difficult
Ride Highlights:
- Black Hills National Forest — Vanocker Canyon Road offers quintessential Black Hills scenery, full of flowing creeks and peaceful nature trails.
- Nemo — This tiny town flourished as a timber camp for the Homestake Mine in nearby Lead, and is now a hub for outdoor activities ranging from trout fishing and hunting to hiking and ATV riding. There’s a general store, gas station and restaurant, plus lodging. From here, continue south on Nemo Road to Rapid City or turn north to work your way to Deadwood.
Devils Tower Ride
Each year during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, thousands of bikers rumble into the Cowboy State on “Wyoming Wednesday.” Their destination: Devils Tower, America’s first national monument. Whenever you visit, this ride is a stunner that takes you from the steep and forested Black Hills into wide, swooping grasslands. The ride from Belle Fourche to Hulett, Wyoming, is especially pretty, with small towns offering Old West ambiance and biker hospitality on both sides of the border.
Distance: 161 miles
Time: 3 hours (without stops)
Skill Rating: Easy to moderate
Ride Highlights:
- Belle Fourche — You can stand at a monument to the geographical center of the United States in this town on the western edge of the Black Hills.
- Stone House Saloon — This Belle Fourche bar opens its doors just one week of the year during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This makes it a popular stop for live music, burgers and world-famous bloody marys.
- Aladdin General Store — It doesn’t get more old school than this mercantile that's been peddling goods since 1896. From antiques and clothing to fishing supplies and groceries, we dare you to leave empty-handed.
- Hulett, WY — This tiny town has become a destination thanks to the Hulett Ham-N-Jam, a festival held the same week as Sturgis that draws upwards of 25,000 bikers.
- Devils Tower — Riders of a certain age will recognize this otherworldly formation from Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." These days, it’s more popular with hikers and rock climbers than aliens. Several Indigenous groups consider Devils Tower sacred, and you can learn more about the site’s cultural significance on a hike around the base.
- Sundance, WY — Teeming with Wild West history, this town is where the Sundance Kid served his one and only jail sentence.
- Spearfish — Loop back into South Dakota via U.S. Highway 14 and I-90 to Spearfish Canyon for another scenic drive. Just beyond is Deadwood, if you want to cap off your day with a little gaming and entertainment.
Jewel Cave Loop
Head out for a long and leisurely ride on this route that briefly dips into Wyoming on the way to two of South Dakota’s must-see attractions: Crazy Horse Memorial and Jewel Cave National Monument.
Distance: 176 miles
Time: 4.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to medium
Ride Highlights:
- Buckhorn, WY — Truck over O’Neill Pass, one of the highest points in the Black Hills, to reach this tiny town just across the Wyoming border. Stop for refreshments at Buckhorn Bar & Grill, a biker favorite in an old service station.
- Newcastle, WY — You’ll pass through Newcastle just before crossing back into South Dakota. It’s a good place to refuel or grab a bite to eat.
- Jewel Cave National Monument — One of the longest caves in the world, Jewel Cave is one for the bucket list. Take a guided tour to see intricate passageways, honeycomb-like boxwork formations and glittering calcite crystals.
- Crazy Horse Memorial — Turn north on U.S. Highway 385 to visit this massive mountain carving in progress, a tribute to the legendary Oglala Lakota leader.
- Needles Highway — Detour on Highway 87 to ride the iconic Needles Highway, which is anchored on the south by Custer State Park. Hook up with the Iron Mountain Road (Highway 16A) to get to Mount Rushmore.
- Rapid City — Continue your patriotic tour with a stop in the “City of Presidents.” Statues of 43 U.S. presidents line the streets, as do dozens of great restaurants, shops and hotels.
