Trip Summary Trip Dates: May 17 - May 23 Start - End Locations: Rapid City, SD - Rapid City, SD Route Notes: CANCELLED Days: 7   Rest Days: 1   Level of Support: Full Miles: 239 Average Miles Per Day: 47 Surface: Road/Dirt Riders: 40 Type: Supported   Meals: Catered meals Accommodations: Camping Physical Difficulty: Intermediate   Cost: $949 Booking Status: Closed

There is truly only one place on Earth like the Black Hills of South Dakota. Rising abruptly out of the Great Plains, the area’s impressive pinnacles, mysterious geologic formations, and dense forests all are easily accessed from the seat of your bike as you pedal along lightly traveled roads and the storied Mickelson Trail, a 114-mile-long rail trail.

You’ll ride through Custer State Park, which encompasses 71,000 acres of spectacular terrain holding an abundance of wildlife. On last year’s tour, we saw mountain goats, bighorn sheep, bison, deer, elk, and wild donkeys, not to mention an assortment of smaller critters such as prairie dogs, marmots, and a wide array of birds. Mountain streams, waterfalls, high trestles, and tunnels are some of the scenic eye candy you’ll enjoy. All along, you'll be enjoying hearty cuisine and the camaraderie of your riding partners.

On day one, you will ramble out of Rapid City and into the foothills, climbing for much of the day and finally stopping for the night in Lead, home of the famous Homestake Gold Mine. If you have the time and the energy, tours are available of this historic mine. On your second day, you’ll travel on the Mickelson Trail to the night’s stay at a wonderful campground just outside of Hill City. (Important note: Laundry facilities are available here.) On day three, you’ll continue along the mellow rail trail, riding past the Crazy Horse Memorial, an immense sculpture-in-progress that, when finished, will dwarf even nearby Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

After a night spent in the town of Hot Springs, you’ll enter Custer State Park, a preserve so large and beautiful that many believe it merits national park status. From the top of Mount Coolidge, elevation 6,023 feet, you’ll see Harney Peak, The Needles, and bison herds on the plains below. On a clear day, you can even spot Badlands National Park, some 60 miles away!

After leaving Mount Coolidge, you’ll experience a wild, downhill ride, pedaling past the park’s State Game Lodge, which served as the “Summer White House” for President Calvin Coolidge in 1927 and was also visited by President Dwight D. Eisenhower for several days in 1953. Built in 1920, the lodge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

You’ll overnight in historic Keystone, where you’ll have a layover day and the opportunity to visit Mount Rushmore. Your final day of riding will take you back to Rapid City, passing spectacular Lake Sheridan along the way. This mostly downhill ride is also your shortest day, so you’ll be able to spend a few hours exploring Rapid City and the surrounding area.

From amazing scenic vistas to mind-boggling national memorials and state parks, you’ll get to experience it all on this unforgettable loop ride in the heart of America.

For more detailed information, see Supported trip logistics.