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This year will be my 36th Sturgis rally. I usually arrive 2 days before the official start (Wednesday afternoon) and leave 11 days after on Sunday morning. As much as I love the rally, the rides, the concerts, and last but not least all my biker brothers and sisters. After 11 days. I'm always happy and as tired as a man can be. To head back home.
Amazing and very helpful. You just made me and my friend fly over from Dubai to Chicago and ride a couple of touring Harleys to Sturgis to do these rides! Well done! We are doing it mid July!
Great video as always. I didn't go during Bike Week, but I found that going during the later evening was a great time to ride. Very few cars and/or bikes are on the road. As a bonus, you might see some great color as well.
There is an honour system booth to fill out an envelope with payment or a machine to pay by credit card the $20 entry fee to Custer to MR/Needles Highway. There is a warning sign if caught without paying regarding fines and penalties.
Good point. I think I confused this state park with the national parks. You don't have to pay after the gates are closed for the national parks.@@kevinmatthews365
Leave the 26th for 3 weeks! I ride the roads in both directions and stop at every pull off/ attraction on the right side. Quick in and out and I don't miss any of the views. The wildlife loop is great first thing in the morning to see the critters. Also, the one that goes along the train tour tracks is another route. I divide the area into 4 sections. The pace is an average 35-45mph with a lot of stops so I'm not trying to cram it all into just a few rides. Just doing Spearfish to Deadwood, Lead, Custer, Rapid City and back to Sturgis in one big loop without stopping takes most of a day. Finally, please remember, "Don't pet the fluffy Bison".
I feel like everyone out on the open trail, riding, should be connected to your channel. What a valuable resource as you cover every corner of the USA and everything in between. You really provide great ideas for where to ride next or when in the area! Love it brother. By the way, sub with SoDak Motorcycle Blog as he’s in the Rapid/Sturgis area, has a great channel, and know how much he’d probably enjoy yours!
Additional info; there is a $20 honour system entry fee on the Custer to Mount Rushmore/Needles Highway loop. Best pay it or risk penalties or a fine. Also $10 parking fee at Mount Rushmore. Just did these rides last week and they were some of my favourites on my entire trip. Of course there is an entry fee for the National Parks (The Badlands). The annual pass for $80 is your best bet. But I was caught off guard by timed entry’s that had to be reserved online for some NP’s. There was not one for The Badlands though. Just show up. Don’t bother trying to enter Devils Tower NP. There is a $20 entry fee and with limited parking there is a very long wait shortly after entering the park where you will likely idle for an hour plus just trying to get to the visitor centre. Best to ride the loop as described and there are great picture opportunities just outside of the park.
Our group did a few of these rides during the rally this year rode most of them in the rain but still enjoyed them all.we did over 500 miles just in that area
Another great vid guys! Did all of these roads a few years ago, but me and my crew went three weeks before the Sturgis Rally. Not as crowded, very little traffic and available hotels! Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, Spearfish Canyon and the BadLands are MUST SEE rides; For those of you that have not visited the area, you will not regret riding those. Watch out for afternoon showers almost every day, you will get wet if you are not prepared :)
there are 3 waterfalls on Spearfish Canyon road... the two you mentioned and another that's behind the lodge in Savoy it's a short hike but a beautiful waterfall...
You put together another great video. Thanks for the work required to make this video. It provides good information and saved me some research time. I'll definitely put the info to use in S. Dakota..
Since Spearfish Canyon (my favorite road) is a shorter ride, once you get to Cheyenne Crossing at end of the canyon (heading north to south). Take the CanAm highway out to the Buckhorn Saloon in Wyoming. There's not much out there so it's a lesser known trip. From Buckhorn you can turn around and head back towards Deadwood or head a little bit more south and take Deerfield Rd. (another fun road with some elevation changes) to Hill City. The CanAm highway is probably the best least talked about road in the Black Hills.
After the Sturgis Rally in September is an excellent time to enjoy riding the Black Hills. The weather is good, and the roads aren't as crowded. You missed an excellent opportunity for a Finding Nemo joke! 😊
I thought that Iron Mountain Rd was very technical with very narrow roads, several switchbacks and 3 corkscrew curves. Fun but non-mountain riders will either be very slow or get into trouble.
Thank you for putting this video together. My father and I are taking a motorcycle trip next week and will be going from Missouri to Glacier National Park. We have based several of our rides/stops off of your videos; I cannot thank you enough! One question I have is the Badlands loop. On Google Maps, Sage Rim Rd after 240 cuts north to Wall appears to be dirt, all the way until it terminates at SD44. Do you know if it is paved or if it is dirt? I'm not a fan of riding my Harley touring bike on dirt roads more than I have to, haha. Thanks for your help!
All great roads. Side Note: Some of the roads go through National and State parks and there is a fee to enter the park. They all offer 10 day passes during rally time at a reasonable price.
mite interest folks to know about the different $$$ charge to get in some of your choices, badlands, custer state park, mt rushmore, crazy horse, devil's tower etc and GOD BLESS AMERICA
Great video! Just a heads up: I rode the route from Sturgis through Vanocker Canyon, then south on Nemo Road yesterday (July 10, 2023) and there is a significant amount of road construction on Nemo road currently, including flagmen on short one lane sections and an unpaved gravel section. Hopefully, they will have the construction completed before the Rally starts. Also, I-90 south of Sturgis in down to one lane each way, all on the west bound side (east bound side is tore up) - looking at the amount of work that will need to get done, I will be surprised if this gets done before the Rally. A video from yesterday's ride: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yrNvFXwhJJQ.html
