A friend and I are planning a trip to ride in South Dakota. We'll be leaving April 18th and riding in SD for about a week.

The friendly people at the State's tourism office in SD are trying to discourage us from riding the Bad Lands loop and the route to Mt. Rushmore (the Needless Highway). They say the grades are too steep, the roads are too narrow, and the traffic too dense. Instead, they say we should focus our riding on the Mickleson trail.

I really enjoy riding hills, but here in Milwaukee, a hill is about 200' high. Anything over about 600' receives the designation "Mt."

Does anyone have experience riding in South Dakota? Your input would be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

kg1

Pictures worth a 1000 workds, here's my ride reports from the old forum.

I rode all you describe in July last year. It was great riding. It's not too steep, it's not too narrow, and there's not too much traffic. Forget the tourism office (in Pierre I would assume), call the rangers in Custer State Park. They were nothing but friendly supportive and helpful while I was on the rides and I bet they'd be the same on the phone. Also, think of the tourism office workers perspective. I can draw a 10 mile circle around my house, count the people and outnumber all of South Dakota. Your concept of too much traffic and theirs may be very different.

When I rode Norbeck and Needles (Ride report number 1 below) not a car went by me on my side of the road until I got into Custer State Park. So to give that a little perspective, I rode from the base of Harney, to Rushmore, down Rushmore toward Keystone, up all the pigtails and through the tunnels, down Norbeck into Custer and then the first car went by me. I was sorta in the zone enjoying the ride and on vacation so time was sort lost on me but I bet it was 2 hours before I saw a car on my side of the road (a few came from the opposing direction from the very start).

Bring the bikes and ride with confidence

Needles Highway
http://forums.consumerreview.com/crforum?50@125.fYRbaWgEUrs.6@.efd2743/22

Wind Cave
http://forums.consumerreview.com/crforum?50@125.fYRbaWgEUrs.6@.efd275b/16

Badlands
http://forums.consumerreview.com/crforum?50@125.fYRbaWgEUrs.9@.efd2798/16

Back when this board transitioned to the new software I posted my Rushmore ride as a way of learning how the new software works. Gregg saved it here:
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=441

Same report as number 1 above. Reports 2 & 3 are only over on the old board.

Hope that helps
Scot

Scot:

Thanks for pointing me to those excellent ride reports. That looks better than I had imagined. Good roads, low traffic, amazing scenery, challenging hills -- almost everything a cyclyist could hope for. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on the weather.

One question, I didn't quite understand what you meant regarding the Bad Lands loop. It's a 40-mile loop, isn't it? We can arrive back at the car without significant back-tracking can't we?

Again, thanks.

Kurt

It's a 40-mile loop, isn't it? We can arrive back at the car without significant back-tracking can't we.

Yes & No

You can do a complete loop from Wall if you don't mind biking on the interstate. It's legal to bike on the I 90 in South Dakota. But even with it legal, I didn't want to do it and it wouldn't have been pleasant. It's an interstate after all. I was there with my non-biking family, so I estimated the bike time and my brother in law picked me up on the East end.

You basically have 3 choices if you begin from Wall.
1) Complete loop using I 90 @60 miles total
2) Complete loop using Co Rd 8 and State Hwy 14. The Co. 8 section between I 90 and Hwy 14 is @5 miles of dirt road. @80 miles total
3) Double back the way you came on scenic 240. @80 miles total.

Hope that helps

This post got me over in my photo directory reviewing my vacation. While I was there I saved off some of the road shots that didn't make it into the reports so you can see conditions, shoulder space, and anything else that may help you.

This post got me over in my photo directory reviewing my vacation. While I was there I saved off some of the road shots that didn't make it into the reports so you can see conditions, shoulder space, and anything else that may help you.
Nice report, makes me want to cycle there. But what is the general protocal or rule of the road for when riding amongst Buffalo? I know they're generally fairly easy going, and fairly disinterested in cars and trucks, but what about bicyclists? Or motorcyclists for that matter? I've been caught in a heard of cattle on a motorcycle before and you just sort of meander through the smaller ones and try to avoid any interest from the bulls and young calves testing their horn buds. Not sure I'd want to trust a Buff while on a bicycle.

Just curious what your take was since you've "been there done that".
Thanks for the reports.

Nice report, makes me want to cycle there. But what is the general protocal or rule of the road for when riding amongst Buffalo? I know they're generally fairly easy going, and fairly disinterested in cars and trucks, but what about bicyclists? Or motorcyclists for that matter? I've been caught in a heard of cattle on a motorcycle before and you just sort of meander through the smaller ones and try to avoid any interest from the bulls and young calves testing their horn buds. Not sure I'd want to trust a Buff while on a bicycle.

Just curious what your take was since you've "been there done that".
Thanks for the reports.

I stopped and waited for the road to clear a number of times. I never "shared the road" with Bison, if they were in the road I waited. You may have seen the picture called the crossing. This was the only time I went near a Buffalo while they were on the road. I did it while hugging a Dodge Ram pickup. The truck split the herd and I went through the gap with the truck. I worked it out with the driver ahead of time so he knew not to drive away while I was still amognst the herd.

The park fliers and the Rangers all say the same thing. Don't get between a cow and calf, and don't make eye contact with Bulls. I took a water break at one of the Ranger gate houses and got the stories. In the week I was in the Black Hills there were 2 gorings. One was a motorcyclist that decided to ride through a stationary group on the road and the other was a guy who got out of his van right next to a buffalo, closed the door and got pinned in a butt cheek right against his own car because he hadn't left himself an exit opportunity.

So if I have any insight it would be
1) always have more than one plan.
2) remember that your in the bison's house, behave like a guest, don't look in the medicine cabinet, stay out of rooms you don't belong in, and understand that they can kick your ass.

The only time I felt in danger was when I didn't do the above. (i wrote about this in the report so forgive me if this is a repeat) I was flying down a long descent, not thinking about where I was but just enjoying the speed and freedom of the open road, breaking rule #2 above....then around a bend, there's 5-6 buffalo walking toward me. I slammed on the brake, and I'm thinking should I stop or should I try and ride by at speed...so I broke rule #1, no plan. Lucky for me they got fightened and ran away back down the hill. If they hadn't I would have been in trouble I think.

The prairie dogs were the funniest. Cyclist must be an infrequent enought sight to cause concern for the Prairie Dogs. I heard the warnings barks almost the entire ride through Wind Cave NP.

ride on the road with bison (buffalo). They are wild animals and are very dangerous, weighing in at 2 tons. If a bull starts rudding, you'd better be a great sprinter.

I have also ridden quite a bit in the Black Hills and the Badlands. Scot is dead-on with his advice and descriptions of road, traffic, etc...

Some advice I can give is to ride the Spearfish Canyon. It is beautiful with plenty of scenery. If you start in Spearfish, you should stop for a bite at Cheyenne Crossing. It's an out-of-the-way (OK, that's redeundant for SD) place with great food and atmosphere.

I've run into all kinds of wildlife in the hills while riding and I can guarantee if you're out early or late, dawn or dusk, you'll see plenty also.

Have fun!