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Trip Itinerary
Cycle the Black Hills' scenic gravel roads, where every mile on unpaved paths reveals awe-inspiring vistas and an unforgettable adventure.
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Where to Arrive
Airport:
Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP)
Pick-up location:
Holiday Inn Downtown Convention Center, Rapid City
Pick-up time:
9:00 AM
Where to Depart
Airport:
Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP)
Drop-off location:
Holiday Inn Downtown Convention Center or Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP)
Drop-off time:
2:00 PM
Additional Arrival Information
We suggest that you arrive at least one day prior to the start of your Black Hills Gravel bike tour, which will enable you to adjust to the time zone and minimize the risk of missing the trip start due to flight-related delays. We recommend that you fly into the Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP).
From the airport, if you are staying at the Holiday Inn Downtown Convention Center (our meeting hotel), they offer a shuttle for $12 per person. Just call the front desk (605-348-4000) for a pick-up when you land. The drive takes about 20 minutes. If you are driving to the trip, you can park at the Holiday Inn for the week if you book a pre or post night here. Ask the front desk for a parking pass. If staying elsewhere, you may book a shuttle to any Rapid City hotel by calling Rapid Shuttle (605-399-9999) or booking online at www.rapidshuttle.com.
Your Trek Travel guides will meet you in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Downtown Convention Center (505 N 5th St, Rapid City, SD 57701) at 9:00 AM on the first day of the trip. Your trip begins with a 45-minute shuttle to Spearfish, where you'll enjoy a bike fitting session followed by your first ride. Please come dressed in your riding clothes and pack your riding gear as well as a change of clothes and swimsuit in a separate, readily accessible bag. Your main luggage will be stored until you reach the first hotel.
If you will be late for the meeting or are going to miss it altogether, please inform your guides. If you cannot reach them, please call the Best Western Black Hills Lodge (605-642-7795), and leave a message with your expected arrival time and contact details.
Additional Departure Information
At the end of the trip, your guides will offer a shuttle to the Holiday Inn Downtown Convention Center and also the Rapid City Airport. You will say farewell to your guides at your preferred stop, between 1:30-2:00 PM. Please do not book a flight before 4:00 PM to allow for any potential delays.
Enjoy a warm-up gravel ride around Spearfish
Overview
Meet your guides in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Downtown Convention Center in Rapid City at 9:00 AM for a shuttle to Spearfish, where you'll start off with a signature Trek Travel picnic lunch, followed by a bike fitting session. After your guides share some safety tips and route highlights, you'll head out on your first ride. Following a couple of short miles of pavement, you'll reach the unpaved roads that wind through the rolling ranch land north of town. Stretc... Meet your guides in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Downtown Convention Center in Rapid City at 9:00 AM for a shuttle to Spearfish, where you'll start off with a signature Trek Travel picnic lunch, followed by a bike fitting session. After your guides share some safety tips and route highlights, you'll head out on your first ride. Following a couple of short miles of pavement, you'll reach the unpaved roads that wind through the rolling ranch land north of town. Stretch your legs and settle into the gentle climbs as you get ready for a big week of riding! The ride ends at the Best Western. Once you are checked into your room, you'll have some time to unwind before gathering for a stroll to dinner. Your guides will fill you in on the adventures to come as you enjoy social hour and dinner at our favorite local restaurant. Read More
Hotel
Black Hills Best Western
Meals included
Lunch | Social Hour | Dinner
Highlight of the Day
Welcome to Spearfish
Ease into the week with a scenic ride on smooth gravel roads
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Spearfish to Chicken Creek Loop | Approximately 27 mi | 43 km and 1,600 ft | 488 m
Ride Option 2
AVID OPTION:
Spearfish to Creekside Loop | Approximately 30 mi | 48 km and 1,750 ft | 533 m
Experience Spearfish Canyon and the wild western town of Deadwood
Overview
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before meeting at the bikes for your first full day of adventure. Today’s ride begins with a paved climb up Spearfish Canyon. Wind your way through the ponderosa pines and towering limestone walls as you climb alongside Spearfish Creek. Keep an eye out for mountain goats and osprey and be sure to pause for photos along the way, perhaps stopping at the overlooks for Bridal Veil and Roughlock Falls. The avid option is an out and back on an e... Enjoy a hearty breakfast before meeting at the bikes for your first full day of adventure. Today’s ride begins with a paved climb up Spearfish Canyon. Wind your way through the ponderosa pines and towering limestone walls as you climb alongside Spearfish Creek. Keep an eye out for mountain goats and osprey and be sure to pause for photos along the way, perhaps stopping at the overlooks for Bridal Veil and Roughlock Falls. The avid option is an out and back on an exquisite gravel road that is an extension of Spearfish Canyon. Enjoy a picnic-style lunch creekside before the final climb to Hanna and the long, rewarding descent on the Mickelson rail trail that delivers you into Deadwood. After getting settled at the Deadwood Mountain Grand, the evening is yours to explore. Enjoy dinner on your own in this Wild West town, best known for its most famous gunslinger, Wild Bill Hickok, and the colorful Calamity Jane. Read More
Hotel
Deadwood Mountain Grand
Meals included
Breakfast | Lunch
Highlight of the Day
Spearfish Canyon
Savor the scenery and enjoy the gravel side of Spearfish Canyon
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Spearfish to Deadwood | Approximately 40 mi | 64 km and 3,050 ft | 930 m
Ride Option 2
SHORT OPTION:
Spearfish to Deadwood with Shuttle | Approximately 25 mi | 40 km and 1,500 ft | 457 m
Ride Option 3
AVID OPTION:
Spearfish to Deadwood with Roughlock Falls | Approximately 51 mi | 82 km and 3,800 ft | 1,158 m
Ride through the undiscovered heart of Black Hills National Forest
Overview
Fuel up with a hearty breakfast to prepare for today's incredible ride through the heart of the Black Hills. Today's ride follows the Mickelson Trail all the way to Hill City, while the short option starts with a boost in the van and pedals the final 33 miles of trail to Hill City. Avid riders will ride gravel forest roads over more challenging but equally scenic terrain, connected by a few sections of the trail. All routes pass through our favorite segment of the M... Fuel up with a hearty breakfast to prepare for today's incredible ride through the heart of the Black Hills. Today's ride follows the Mickelson Trail all the way to Hill City, while the short option starts with a boost in the van and pedals the final 33 miles of trail to Hill City. Avid riders will ride gravel forest roads over more challenging but equally scenic terrain, connected by a few sections of the trail. All routes pass through our favorite segment of the Mickelson trail including the small town of Rochford, founded in 1878 when gold was discovered in a nearby creek, and the Mystic tunnels. After the tunnels, avid riders will have a chance to diverge on challenging gravel roads, and everyone will end in Hill City where you'll be greeted with another delicious picnic lunch at the trailhead. Afterwards, you'll shuttle to your home for the next two nights, Sylvan Lake Lodge. Dinner is at the Lodge this evening, so you'll have time to relax and recover for another epic ride tomorrow. Read More
Hotel
Sylvan Lake Lodge
Meals included
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Highlight of the Day
Mickelson Trail
Enjoy scenic views and smooth pedaling as you wind through the Black Hills National Forest on South Dakota's original rail trail
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Deadwood to Hill City via Mickelson Trail | Approximately 50 mi | 80 km and 3,200 ft | 975 m
Ride Option 2
SHORT OPTION:
Dumont to Hill City with Shuttle | Approximately 33 mi | 53 km and 1,150 ft | 351 m
Ride Option 3
AVID OPTION:
Deadwood to Hill City | Approximately 65 mi | 105 km and 4,950 ft | 1,509 m
Pedal Needles Highway and the gravel roads of Custer State Park
Overview
Get excited for your final big ride today! You'll begin with a short descent to Sylvan Lake. One look at the crystal blue water surrounded by rounded granite rock formations reveals why it's known as the "Crown Jewel" of Custer State Park. From here, you’ll climb through striking granite spires on Needles Highway and thread through the Needles Eye tunnel before turning... Get excited for your final big ride today! You'll begin with a short descent to Sylvan Lake. One look at the crystal blue water surrounded by rounded granite rock formations reveals why it's known as the "Crown Jewel" of Custer State Park. From here, you’ll climb through striking granite spires on Needles Highway and thread through the Needles Eye tunnel before turning onto gravel and making your way to Custer State Park. You'll pedal the gravel roads of the famous Wildlife Loop, where it is common to encounter some of the 1,500 bison who call the park home. You may also see wildlife such as pronghorn antelopes, burros, prairie dogs, and bighorn sheep. Enjoy the scenery as you ride through beautiful open grasslands and pine speckled hills. Today ride and the short option will end at the Wildlife Loop Visitor Center, while avid riders will tackle an additional 10 miles of gravel, ending at Bluebell Lodge. From here, everyone will shuttle the final 20 minutes to Custer, where you'll have time to explore and enjoy lunch at a cafe of your choosing. Your guides will, of course, provide you with their recommendation. Following lunch, you'll shuttle the short 15 minutes back to the Lodge. This evening, you'll head back to Custer and celebrate in style with a gourmet dinner at Skogen Kitchen. Read More
Hotel
Sylvan Lake Lodge
Meals included
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Highlight of the Day
Featured Meal | Skogen Kitchen
Welcome to Skogen Kitchen, a chef-driven concept, offering innovative and worldly dinner options. Owners Eliza Raney (GM) and Joseph Raney (... Welcome to Skogen Kitchen, a chef-driven concept, offering innovative and worldly dinner options. Owners Eliza Raney (GM) and Joseph Raney (Chef) combine efforts to deliver an exquisite experience to our table tonight. Read More
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Sylvan Lake to Visitor Center | Approximately 33 mi | 53 km and 1,800 ft | 549 m
Ride Option 2
SHORT OPTION:
Sylvan Lake to Visitor Center with Shuttle | Approximately 25 mi | 40 km and 1,400 ft | 427 m
Ride Option 3
AVID OPTION:
Sylvan Lake to Blue Bell | Approximately 42 mi | 68 km and 3,000 ft | 914 m
Enjoy a final scenic ride or hike and visit Mt Rushmore
Overview
Rise and shine to enjoy your final morning at the Lodge with incredible views in every direction. You have several options this morning including an out and back ride to Palmer Creek trailhead. It begins with a big descent and then you turn around and climb your way back, admiring the views along the way. There are also scenic hiking options from the Lodge including a mellow two-mile loop around Sylvan Lake with an option to add on half a mile of steep, strenuous te... Rise and shine to enjoy your final morning at the Lodge with incredible views in every direction. You have several options this morning including an out and back ride to Palmer Creek trailhead. It begins with a big descent and then you turn around and climb your way back, admiring the views along the way. There are also scenic hiking options from the Lodge including a mellow two-mile loop around Sylvan Lake with an option to add on half a mile of steep, strenuous terrain on the Sunday Gulch trail. Of course, you can also simply relax and enjoy a leisurely morning. After checking out, your guides will drive you to Mt Rushmore where you'll get a closeup view of the iconic memorial. The 60-foot sculptures of four U.S. Presidents took 14 years to complete using jackhammers and munitions to carve into sheer granite. You can walk the short path to the sculptor’s studio to learn more about the history and process. After enjoying a final picnic lunch, you'll shuttle back to Rapid City. Your guides will offer a stop at the Holiday Inn Downtown Convention Center and also at the Rapid City Airport. Please do not book a flight before 3:30 PM to allow for any potential delays. Read More
Meals included
Breakfast | Lunch
Highlight of the Day
Mt Rushmore
Cap off the week with a visit to the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Sylvan Lake to Palmer Creek & Return | Approximately 13 mi | 21 km and 1,500 ft | 457 m
Ride Option 2
TODAY'S HIKE:
Sylvan Lake Loop with Sunday Gulch | Approximately 2.3 mi | 3.7 km and 360 ft | 110 m
If a date is marked as Private, it is reserved for a private group.
Don’t see exactly what you are looking for or looking for a custom date?
Call our trip consultants at 866-464-8735
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Road: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 25 mi (40 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Gravel: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 20 mi (35 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 1-3 hours of hiking. Up to 5 mi (8 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Road: 2-4 hours of riding. 20-35 mi (35-60 km). Up to 2,500 ft (750 m).
Gravel: 2-4 hours of riding. 15-30 mi (25-45 km). Up to 2,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 2-4 hours of hiking. 4-8 mi (6-12 km). Up to 1,500 ft (450 m).
Road: 3-5 hours of riding. 25-55 mi (40-85 km). Up to 4,500 ft (1,500 m).
Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).
Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).
Road: 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).
Gravel: 4+ hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
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