Six Iconic Motorcycle Rides Near Custer, South Dakota

Days 104–106 of My Grand Detour — a 112-day, 18,000-mile solo motorcycle journey across the U.S. and Canada. Some of the most iconic motorcycle rides in America are packed into a small corner of South Dakota (and a little bit of Wyoming). I finally rode them all. Iconic Motorcycle Rides Near Sturgis, South Dakota This episode covers July 23–25, 2024 — three days exploring the legendary roads and landmarks that make the Black Hills one of the most famous riding destinations in the world: • Devils Tower rising out of the Wyoming plains • Spearfish Canyon, a Black Hills favorite • The world-class twisties of the Needles Highway • Iron Mountain Road, with its pigtail bridges and Rushmore-framing tunnels • Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial • The rugged beauty of Badlands National Park Along the way I met fellow riders (including Dana and Harriet, who I’ll cross paths with again in Canada), wrestled with some hilariously bad camera angles, and spent three unforgettable days riding the roads that every American motorcyclist should experience at least once. Ride Summary • Day 104: Spearfish → Devils Tower → Deadwood → Custer (219 mi) • Day 105: Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Rd, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse (83 mi) • Day 106: Custer → Badlands NP → Minuteman Missile NHS → Mitchell (338 mi) Route Map: https://tinyurl.com/24xc-d104-106 Links & Resources Devils Tower National Monument: https://www.nps.gov/deto Custer State Park / Needles Highway: https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/custer Badlands National Park: https://www.nps.gov/badl Minuteman Missile NHS: https://www.nps.gov/mimi Stanislav Petrov: https://www.nps.gov/people/stanislav_... 00:00 Exploring Sturgis and Surrounding Landmarks 06:25 The Black Hills Classic Rides 12:13 Journey Through the Badlands 18:09 Reflections on the Ride and Human Connection #motorcycle #motovlog #motorcycleroadtrip #blackhills #southdakota