Black Hills

Wild beauty. Living history. Endless adventure.

Kelly Hannegan

Price :

$3,599

Surface :

Paved & Bike Trail

Duration :

7 days

Support :

Inn to Inn

Difficulty :

Level 4

“Majestic,” “striking,” and “otherworldly” are just some of the words used to describe the Black Hills of South Dakota, and you’ll see why from your saddle as you cycle along lightly traveled roads and portions of the unforgettable Mickelson Trail, a 114-mile-long gravel-surfaced rail trail.

Beginning and ending our adventure in Rapid City, we’ll visit the historic towns of Lead, Hot Springs, and Keystone, the gateway to Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Custer State Park. We’ll also see the Crazy Horse Memorial, which will dwarf Mount Rushmore when finished, and Wind Cave National Park, one of the world’s largest and most complex cave systems. From breathtaking vistas to rock-solid national memorials and state parks, you’ll experience it all on this fantastic loop ride.

Select Dates

Photos by Gary Kleeman | Bruce Bickar | Peter Hinman | Eric Schoen

Dates

Price

Dates:

May 30 - June 5, 2027

Price:

$3,599

Dates:

Sept 25 - Oct 2, 2027

Price:

$3,599

“The camaraderie that developed between the riders over the course of the tour was great. It was good to ride with different people!” – Tour Participant

Itinerary

You’ll meet your Tour Leader and the rest of the group just outside Rapid City for an orientation session and map meeting followed by a hearty dinner. Together, we’ll make any final adjustments to your bicycle, then it’s time to get some shut eye in preparation for the day ahead.

Not long after leaving Rapid City, we’ll merge onto the relatively quiet Nemo Road, following it for most of the day. Lunch will be in the once-thriving Homestake Mine company town of Nemo. No one’s certain how the town got its name, but there are at least three theories. It was named for: Captain Nemo of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, “omen” spelled backwards, or a Native American word meaning “nowhere.” At day’s end, we’ll check into our cozy resort in Deadwood, a lively gambling town that is anything but dead.

Before leaving Deadwood, you’ll want to have a look in the No. 10 Saloon where Wild Bill Hickok met his maker after being shot while playing poker. Leaving town, we’ll pedal onto the splendid, traffic-free Mickelson Trail, a rail trail that we’ll follow for the next 80-plus miles. Before reaching the day’s destination of Hill City, we’ll swing into another locally famous watering hole, the Moonshine Gulch Saloon in tiny Rochford, for a beer or sarsaparilla.

This morning, we’ll pedal the Mickelson Trail past the famed Crazy Horse Memorial. Begun in 1948 by Korczak Ziolkowski, the mountain monument is now operated by the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation. We’ll finish today’s ride in Hot Springs on the southern edge of the Black Hills National Forest.

After breakfast, we’ll travel through Wind Cave National Park which protects one of the largest and most complex caves in the world, with 94 miles of known passageways. Above ground in the fresh Dakota air, the park supports 28,000 acres of ponderosa pine forests and one of the best remaining examples of native mixed-grass prairie. We’ll overnight at the luxurious State Game Lodge just outside Custer State Park. A highlight of our tour it’s home to large bison herds and other wildlife.

Returning to Hill City via a different set of roads, we’ll have an opportunity to visit the world-famous Mount Rushmore National Memorial or enjoy a host of other activities and attractions, such as the Black Hills Central Railroad. This historic steam locomotive, which once hauled gold out of the Black Hills, now carries tourists.

All too soon, we’re back in Rapid City, which we’ll re-enter by way of the scenic Sheridan Lake Road. After this weeklong sampler of the bucolic Black Hills, however, we think you’ll come back for another taste. In fact, we’d bet on it in Deadwood.

Route

Additional Details

Start Location:

Rapid City, SD

End Location:

Rapid City, SD

Airport:

Rapid City Regional (RAP)

Total Days:

Riding Days:

Layover Days:

Riders:

Miles:

253

Average Daily Mileage:

Accommodations:

Indoor (Inn to Inn)

Meals:

Indoor Dining

Difficulty:

Level 4

Technical Difficulty:

Easy

Terrain:

Very Hilly

Elevation Alert:

High Point: 6,300'

Single Supplement:

$875

Know before you go

Special Note

For those considering the fall departure, this tour is intentionally scheduled to be adjacent to the Custer State Park Buffalo Round-Up. While we wish we could be in the park for the event itself, we were advised to avoid the area do to increased traffic…. so we did the next best thing: timing it so those who wanted to arrive early could witness it.

Inn-to-Inn Reminder: No Vehicle Support

This Inn to Inn tour offers the simplicity of traveling without a support vehicle while still enjoying the comfort of indoor accommodations and restaurant meals. Please make sure your bike can comfortably carry your personal belongings for the day, including clothing, toiletries, and lunch. There is no vehicle support on this trip, so you’ll need to be prepared for variable weather and be self-sufficient with basic bike repairs and flat fixes.

Information for eBike riders

Because every rider, e-bike, road, and elevation profile are different, it is ultimately up to the participant to judge whether their battery will last through each tour day. We recommend using pedal assist in its lowest setting or off when not needed to maximize battery range. Bringing a second battery is also recommended. Remember, there is no vehicle support on our Inn to Inn trips, and you would need to carry the extra battery along with all of your other things.

Our Philosophy & What You Can Expect From Our Leaders

At our heart, we are a nonprofit committed to empowering and connecting people through the power of bicycle travel.

Adventure Cycling tours are not like other bike tours. We pride ourselves on being travelers, not tourists.

We believe that everyone joining our tours, including the leaders, are active participants who take joint ownership of group tasks like cooking, shopping, and maintaining group gear. This team mindset helps forge bonds that last for years (and tours) to come. Participants come for our routes but stay for our community.

We call the folks facilitating our tours leaders, not guides. Our leaders are not here to do everything for you; they are here to keep everyone on track and empower members of the group to step into ownership after they’ve adjusted to life on the road.

Our leaders commit to:

Establishing expectations of mutual respect and support among participants for the duration of the tour, so that all contribute equally
Creating a safe, welcoming space for cyclists from all walks of life
Keeping your tour on track while remaining flexible, so group members can shape their own experience
Pedaling alongside you, embracing the spirit and resilience of life on the bike

Your tour fees go directly towards covering the costs of your tour and supporting other programs our nonprofit puts forth into the world. The bonus of joining one of our tours is that you get to challenge yourself, have fun, and do good every time you ride with Adventure Cycling.