This is part two of a 6-part series on attempting to ride the top 14 most popular rides around the Sturgis area in one week. We all know that riding is not the only thing you want to do when you arrive in a new area. It's the ride, but it is also the things that you experience along the way, that will make you want to return. If you missed part one, I covered a ride through Spearfish Canyon round to Sundance Road, ending up at Devil’s Tower.
Each Sturgis ride does not have to be done in the order presented (or in one week), but at some point these are all great rides for you to take. Stay tuned for the following four blogs. Ride on!
MOTORCYCLE ROADMAP
Rochford Road – Nemo – Vanocker Canyon Road
Approximately 3 hours, 109 miles, round-trip from Sturgis
This road map will take you round trip. Most of the ride maps in this series are one-way, but this ride can be started and ended in Sturgis. This is a three-hour round-trip ride, so not all day on the bike. It's designed for you to be able to spend more time stopping for photos and for a decent time in Deadwood.
DEADWOOD
I have you starting off in Sturgis but if you're coming from another area, you will—at the very least—want to make Deadwood your starting point. I have to say from my own personal experience, Deadwood was my favorite town out of the rides around Sturgis. I like the balance Deadwood keeps between its history and modern tourism.
You can bounce down both sides of the main street and hit little casinos along the way. Even if you're not interested in gambling (although I did pretty well!), each casino has memorabilia worth dipping your moto boot in.
They also have a gun fight out on the street. May be cheesy, but a nice little re-enactment of how things used to be if you had a little trouble during a card game. There are also a multitude of shops up and down the street. But unlike other towns, they aren't filled with useless touristy items. Most are unique, local items so it's worth perusing. Deadwood captured my attention for hours, and I'm not even a shopper.
I would recommend starting out around 9ish in the morning and spending a couple of hours in Deadwood. Maybe snack or breakfast here, but do not fill up; a great lunch spot is available later. You will want to spend some of the time as you stroll the streets checking out all the Sturgis motorcycle rides.
ROCHFORD ROAD
Darn—it's time to leave Deadwood, but this next leg is a great ride. Cutting over from Deadwood and heading through Lead you'll get on beautiful highway 205 named Rochford Road (angling towards Silver City). For this entire ride you will be in the north central part of the Black Hills. When I rode, there was a little detour with a patch of dirt road so just be aware—it's a huge area, you will likely run into construction or road issues somewhere.
You will want to be comfortable with riding short periods on dirt or gravel. If you have concerns, check all of your routes ahead of time. There are a lot of photo-taking opportunities along Rochford Road. Try to ride slow and look for spots to pull over. It is also nice in the morning because there is zero traffic—especially if you head out on a weekday.
SUGAR SHACK
Yes, I have a pattern of talking about food as well as motorcycle riding. I am a foodie and wine lover, and also enjoy breweries. So, I must toss in a hole-in-the-wall recommendation on every ride. I am not a real breakfast eater so when it comes to lunch and dinner, I'm looking forward to something substantial. Not all of the rides are about hamburgers, but this ride just happens to have a really good burger, too.
Stop at the Sugar Shack in Merritt, South Dakota. You can't miss it because there are a load of bikes out front! They have a small kitchen where they flip handmade burgers. You can drool on picnic benches outside and listen to motorcycle engines until your happy hamburger basket arrives.
NEMO
If you're following the itinerary here as listed, you probably worked up an appetite with all the exploring in Deadwood. You satisfied that little midsection grumble and are sittin’ pretty on your bike. You have about another 1.5 hours to go.
Moving in the direction of Rapid City on I-44, you can stop here for supplies to take back to home base, or skip past it and head toward Nemo. This part of the ride is refreshing as it follows several nice-sized creeks: Box Elder Creek, Hay Creek, and on to Elk Creek. You'll see a lot of gulches, too. The scenery is unique with the creeks, and as always: spectacular.
VANOCKER CANYON ROAD
This leg of the ride will take you straight (well maybe curvy) back to Sturgis. Along the way you can stop at Wonderland Cave. I didn't stop so I can't pass along any photos or tips, but I heard good things about the area, so I plan to catch it the next time. There are just so many rides and so many things to see and do, right? Which is why we want to plan all the good rides for sure. So, join me next month when we will turn our wheels onto Needles Highway, Playhouse Road, and Iron Mountain motorcycle rides.
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 2023
I know we all get a little sidetracked with everyday life. But if you really want to get livin’, you need to start planning your Sturgis motorcycle trip. Whether you're heading toward Sturgis Rally 2021 or just want to ride South Dakota, I am here with the resources.
Also, don’t forget that Twisted Road has motorcycles for rent throughout the United States, so you don’t have to miss a day on two wheels.
