The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally…truly a “WOW” experience.
Imagine if you will, Sturgis, South Dakota, a small, quiet mid-western town of 6,500 people, growing to a metropolis of party-ready bikers totaling 500,000+ in a week’s time. Unbelievable right?
The Rally this year is being held from August 8th to August 14th, 2016. It is sure to be the biggest and baddest gathering of motorcycle riders anywhere.
When you go, I highly recommend riding around the legendary Black Hills and to several of my favorite American landmarks, including Mount Rushmore, Devils Tower, the Crazy Horse Memorial and Custer State Park.
Want to ride a different road daily, then click on the following link for the Top 13 Motorcycle Rides Around Sturgis…read on for a taste of my favorite destinations around the area…
Devils Tower, Wyoming
DEVILS TOWER – AMERICA’S FIRST NATIONAL MONUMENT (1906). Northeast Wyoming. Sacred monument to the Lakota and other Indian tribes from the area.
Granite Spires along Needles Highway.
The Needles Highway.
Lots of scenery to absorb on this beautiful ride…in fact, it’s one of my favorites.
Narrow, winding roads make their way up the hillsides taking you through one-lane tunnels and past huge needle-like stones.
There are overlooks along the 14-mile ride that offer spectacular visions of canyons, cliffs and buttes. Take this road to see the Black Hills area at its best.
Mount Rushmore.
There’s nothing like seeing this monument from the seat of your motorcycle. The faces of four American Presidents are literally carved out of the granite mountain. Mount Rushmore is only 17 miles from Rapid City, South Dakota. One can’t help but feel a strong sense of national pride at this monument. Truly an awesome feat of engineering art.
THE MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL.- Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln.
The Crazy Horse Memorial.
The Crazy Horse Memorial is a mountain monument under construction on privately held land in Custer County, South Dakota. It depicts Crazy Horse, an Oglala Lakota warrior, riding a horse and pointing into the distance. Click here for more info from Wikipedia.
The statue in the forefront of the photo below is literally being carved into the mountain you see in the background. Truly an amazing undertaking and a spectacular memorial to the brave Indian warrior, Crazy Horse.
CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL. World’s Largest Carving. Black Hills, South Dakota
Custer State Park
Custer State Park is South Dakota’s largest and first state park and game preserve. It is named after Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer. The infamous Custer, along with 210 of his men, died in 1876 at the battle of Little Big Horn.
Custer State Park offers great scenery and one of the largest herds of free-roaming buffalo. The Wildlife Loop Road, about 20 miles long, had plenty of pull-off areas to take in the great scenery.
THE AMERICAN BUFFALO. In the mid 1800s, covered the American Plains numbering in the tens of millions.
The Hills Around Deadwood, South Dakota.
RIDING THE HILLS AROUND DEADWOOD, SOUTH DAKOTA.
SALOON NUMBER 10…Most famous watering hole in Deadwood, South Dakota.
Saloon #10 – This famous saloon and museum is where Wild Bill Hickock bit the dust on August 2, 1876.
The legend of this frontiersman and gunfighter, Wild Bill Hickock, is sure an interesting one. Click here to read all about it.
My Bottom Line.
My rides to Sturgis, South Dakota over the years have always been exciting and truly amazing. My daily rides exploring the Badlands and the region around Sturgis, spectacular! Meeting up with old friends and meeting new ones, a bonus.
The Sturgis Experience is a must see for all serious motorcyclists and travelers…Add it to your bucket list I tell yas.
Ride Safe Out There.
Have fun in Sturgis everyone!
Note: Copyrights and Trademarks are the property of their owners. No infringement intended. Always wear a approved helmet. Never ride under the influence. Special thanks to Nate Wek at South Dakota Public Broadcasting (SDPB) for compiling the Top 13 Rides information from the good folks at “Ultimate Motorcycle Rides“. This info has been invaluable to me and my blog fans as we plan daily rides around Sturgis.
