Sturgis and Black Hills Motorcycle Rides

Don’t miss this Northern Hills Ride! Locally known as the “Canyon Ride” as it takes you through Boulder Canyon, Spearfish Canyon and Vanocker Canyon on a 2 ½ hour.
100 mile loop which begins and ends on Main Street Sturgis.
Click Here for 20 years of Spearfish Canyon Fall colors photos.

According to veteran riders, this may well be one of the most picturesque rides in the country. The diversity of this route is what makes the veteran riders refer to it as one of the best 100 miles of motorcycle riding in the country.

Starting in Sturgis –
Take Boulder Canyon (Alt 14) to Hwy 85 North.
Take I-90 West until you reach exit 14.
Go left a few hundred feet and take a right on Colorado Blvd.
(Watch for the Spearfish Canyon signs, 14A.)
There are 3 Waterfalls in the Spearfish Canyon.  Bridal Veil Falls, Spearfish Falls, and Roughlock Falls (There are 2 small easy hikes to see both Spearfish and Roghlock Falls).  Cheyenne Crossing is at the end of Hwy 14A.
Turn east on Hwy 85 to wards Lead and Deadwood.
Turn Right on Hwy 385 South.
Turn Right onto Nemo Road. A mile outside of Nemo is the turnoff to Vanocker Canyon.
This road will bring you right back to Sturgis at exit 32

The Iron Mountain Road then Mt Rushmore and finally Crazy Horse
17 MILES 314 CURVES
14 SWITCHBACKS
3 PIGTAILS
3 TUNNELS
4 PRESIDENTS
2 SPLITS
If you want to change the google map below, here are the directions we used.
Google Map: 999 Main St, Sturgis, SD 57785 3 US-385, Deadwood, SD 57732 Keystone, South Dakota 57751 US-16 Scenic, Keystone, SD 57751 24600-24602 Iron Mountain Rd, Custer, SD 57730 US-16 Scenic, Custer, SD 57730 US-16 Scenic, Custer, SD 57730 Custer, South Dakota 57730 Hill City, South Dakota 57745 23821 US-385, Hill City, SD 57745

Hill City, South Dakota 57745
Sylvan Lake Rd, Custer, SD 57730
26611 US-385, Hot Springs, SD 57747
US-16 Scenic, Custer, SD 57730
US-16 Scenic, Custer, SD 57730
Iron Mountain Rd, Custer, SD 57730
SD-87, Custer, SD 57730
SD-87, Custer, SD 57730

Sturgis -> Belle Fourche -> Aladdin -> Hulett – Devils Tower -> Sundance -> Spearfish -> Deadwood -> Sturgis

Starting in Rapid City, Head East on High 44 past the Regional Airport.
Go through Scenic and on to Interior and Cedar Pass.
You will pick up Hwy 240 called the Bandlands Loop and exit on I-90 (Exit 110 at Wall)

I90 Westbound riders are so eager to get to Sturgis or the Black Hills they don’t take the time to see the Bandlands. This is a mistake. The whole loop takes only an hour and brings you right back to I-90.

1. The Roads are paved 2 lane highways with some gentle curves, nothing too challenging.
2. There aren’t many trees and it can get hot in the summer. Bring along plenty of water.
3. Other than Interior there aren’t any town in the National Park. Fill up with Gas at Rapid City, Interior, or Wall.
4. There is lodging in the park at Cedar Pass, Interior, or Wall.
5. There are 4 scenic overlooks and several scenic pull offs and some short walking trails near the visitors center.
Motorcyclists are a more curious lot though and I expect you’ll stop and take more of the beauty than the typical car traveler.

Sturgis Motorcycle Museum -> Belle Fourche -> Fruitdale -> Nisland -> Vale -> Bear Butte -> Buffalo Chip -> Sturgis Motorcycle Museum