Some of my favorite roads in the Black Hills - corners, corners, corners!!

Some of my favorite rides in the Black Hills involve great scenery and lots of corners to play on!
In no particular order:

Spearfish Canyon - Roughly 45 miles full circle, there are a lot of corners (sweepers and some tighter ones) and the scenery is beautiful as the road twists and turns throughout the canyon, with canyon walls looming high above your head and a river guiding your way through the rock. There are several good stops along the road for hiking and sightseeing - one of which is Bridal Veil Falls. You cant miss it because there are pedestrian signs, rumble strips in the middle of the road, and a decent sized parking area across the road from the falls. There is a viewing platform for pictures and you don't have to actually 'hike' to see it.

Another worthy stop is Roughlock Falls. Turn towards the Spearfish Canyon Lodge on the gravel road. Go less than a mile and there is a parking area on your left. The path to the falls is moderately steep elevation, but not super long and well worth the views.


Spearfish Canyon - From Sturgis, the fastest way to get there is I-90 to 85 South to Spearfish, take 14A South.

Vanocker Canyon Road to Nemo - One of my FAVE's in Sturgis! Lots of corners, sweepers, changing elevations, and great scenery. Coming on I-90 to Sturgis, take the exit for Junction Avenue and head south (past Arby's and the Mobil gas station). The road is deceiving to start, as from I-90, it looks like a boring straight road with nothing but fields on both sides, but that changes quickly!  (picture courtesy of American Iron)

Custer State Park - Wildlife Loop. 30-ish miles through grasslands and through pine covered hills. Not only are there some fun windy roads here, there is wildlife galore - from donkeys to bison to bighorn sheep to deer. The loop is located on the east side of Custer State Park where 16A and Wildlife Loop converge. Turning into 87, where the road gets even twistier!

Iron Mountain Road - This road goes between Mount Rushmore on 16A. While it is only 17 miles long, it offers 314 curves - 14 switchbacks, 3 pigtails, several tight corners, 3 tunnels, and expansive views of the hills, as well as great photo opportunities of Mount Rushmore in the distance. A MUST ride in the blackhills!

Devil's Tower - while the RIDE itself is nothing exciting, seeing Devil's Tower up close is quite amazing! I like taking I-90 out of Sturgis to 34 in Whitewood, crossing into Wyoming 24 through Aladdin and Hulett, to Devils Tower. There are a few super out of the way, random stops that can be made for food and drink - each unique and with more character than should be fit into 4 walls!

Another fun road:  From Keystone take 16A south, take a right on S. Playhouse Road, then a right on 87, which connects back to 385 to get back into Hill City. 

There are a lot of fun twisty roads in the area, not all are paved... but if you know me at all, you know that I like gravel adventures too!