August 15-18
Moderate to Challenging, rider's choice
On Road and Off Road Travel
Hybrid or Cross bikes recommended for Mickelson Trail
Bike rentals available

  Black Hills Monument Tour Summary

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This tour explores the heart of the South Dakota Black Hills featuring classics like Mt. Rushmore,Crazy Horse Memorial, Needles Highway and a Wildlife Loop Road within Custer State Park as well as the grandeur of the Black Hills themselves. The riding of this tour is very flexible to accommodate rider's ambitions. No one has to do the big climbs if they do not want to, or if the energetic riders wish, they will have ample opportunities to explore additional loops in addition to climbing the big hills.

 

• Arrival Day - This tour starts out at Palmer Gulch Resort within 6 miles of Mt. Rushmore. We will pick up people at the Rapid City Airport at 1:30 p.m., and meet those with cars at Palmer Gulch Resort at 3:00 p.m. We will fit people with their bikes and take a short ride followed by a social hour, dinner and a tour orientation meeting.
  
  
• Second Day - Mt.Rushmore Loop - Standard route is 35 miles or easily shorten or lengthen by 7 miles.
  • Following coffee and fruit or muffin, you will depart for an early morning 6 mile ride to Mt. Rushmore where breakfast will be served while gazing at the faces of the four presidents.
  • After staying at Mt. Rushmore as long as you like, the tour continues downhill before turning onto the Iron Mountain Road to ascend a 700 foot elevation gain in 4 miles.  Those who wish to avoid this uphill climb will jump in the van and travel to the top to descend a 5 mile thriller on the backside of this famous route.  Seven miles further takes the rider to Keystone for lunch. 
  • Following lunch, the tour travels a delightful back country road to the back entrance to Palmer Gulch Resort for a shorter tour, or to Hill City where art galleries and fine boutique stores abound.
  • Those who want 7 additional miles will ride their bikes back to Palmer Gulch Resort, and those who do not, will jump in the van.
  
  
  
• Third Day - Crazy Horse Memorial Loop - Standard route is 27 miles and can easily be lengthened by 7, 12, or 19 miles at the end of the day.
  • Following breakfast, we take a scenic road to gain access to the Mickelson Trail to head for Crazy Horse Memorial where most people will wish to spend a considerable amount of time viewing and learning about the largest active mountain carving in the world involving a rich Native American history.
  • The route continues on the Mickelson Trail to Custer for lunch.  After lunch, we will continue a 12 mile stretch of the Mickelson Trail to Custer for lunch at the Sage Creek Grill. After lunch we will continue a 12 mile stretch of the Mickelson Trail through beautiful meadows and rock out-croppings to the village of Pringle in South Central Black Hills. 
  • This completes the standard route and many riders will choose to return to Custer and continue to Sylvan Lake Lodge in the van. But, the hardy cyclist can return to Custer and then up a steep climb to Sylvan Lake Lodge to complete a rewarding 46 mile day. 
  • You will spend your last night in this historical lodge.
  • Dinner will be held in the lodge's grand dining room with a view of Harney Peak.
  
  
• Fourth Day, Needles Highway and Wildlife Loop Tour - The full route is 42 miles which all riders will cover in its entirety by bike or riding in the van several times (for about 10 miles) to avoid some challenging hills and ridge climbs.  We designed the route this way because the Wildlife Loop is a must do to see buffalo and other wildlife regardless if one is on a bike or is in the van. It is typically the ultimate finale for our tour.
  • Following a superb breakfast buffet, the route follows the classic Needles Highway (mostly downhill) with many stops along the way.
  • You will continue through the heart of Custer State Park with Legion Lake as a choice rest stop.  Some will then opt in the van to avoid a 1.5 mile, 200 foot climb over Mt. Coolidge pass prior to stopping for a delicious picnic lunch at Blue Bell picnic area on lovely French Creek.
  • Following lunch remains a 22 mile spectacular ride via the Wildlife Loop to the Game Lodge where the tour ends. Again, the support van is available to avoid 3 ridge climbs and shorten the bike ride to everyone's comfort level.
  • We will shuttle everyone back to their cars at Palmer Gulch Resort or their motels in Rapid City. Showers can be made available at Palmer Gulch Resort.  Do not schedule a flight to depart Rapid City on the fourth day of this tour, experience has shown there is not enough time to make it without undue stress.