Badlands NP & Mount Rushmore is it possible?

[tonythomson]

Hi trying to plot next years route Florida to Vancouver.

Is it possible to leave ACA route at Bonesteel SD and go east through Badlands NP and visit Mnt Rushmore and then pick up the Northern Route?

Any info re - accommodation / camping / stores etc much appreciated

Thanks Tony

[JHamelman]

Hi Tony,

Is it possible to leave ACA route at Bonesteel SD and go east through Badlands NP and visit Mnt Rushmore and then pick up the Northern Route?

If you are planning to travel from Bonesteel, both Badlands NP and Mt. Rushmore are west rather than east. I would imagine it would be pretty straightforward to travel from Bonesteel to the Northern Tier Route across the southeast corner of South Dakota and northern Iowa.

Check out the links on South Dakota's bicycle and pedestrian page:
http://www.sddot.com/pe/projdev/planning_bp.asp

Also some options on Iowa's page:

http://www.iowadot.gov/iowabikes/

I hope this helps.

.Jennifer.

[geegee]

In my opinion, if you are going out of your way just to see Mount Rushmore, you might as well tough it out and go through Wyoming. Far more scenic than North Dakota or Montana. There are some long climbs though, like Ten Sleep Canyon, and you'll probably have to do quite a bit of wild camping. For an epic ride head out to Yellowstone-Virginia City-Dillon, then hook up with the Lewis and Clark Route.

[tonythomson]

Hmm food for thought - thanks for all your help. Tony

[denbec]

Hey Tony,

I did a similar trip this year (2009) and thoroughly enjoyed my ride through the Badlands and Black Hills - it was one of the best parts of my trip.  I grew up in South Dakota (now living in Ft. Lauderdale) and was amazed at how much more enjoyable the area was to visit on bicycle. 

To answer your question - I rode the Cowboy Trial (or the nice road right next to it) to Newport, NE and then up to Burke, SD - on to Winner, SD and then to Presho, SD where I picked up the road that runs next to I-90 almost all the way to Wall, SD.  I didn't go into Wall the first day but rode into the Badlands and camped there - then rode though the Badlands the next day - on to Wall, SD where I camped at a nice campground just to the S. side of Main Street.  From Wall I had to ride I-90 into Rapid City (legal in South Dakota).  The next day I rode to Mount Rushmore (but didn't stay there long) and continued on to Crazy Horse Monument which is right on the Mickelson Trail.  I rode the Mickelson Trial (fantastic!) to almost Lead / Deadwood and then got on Hwy 14 to Spearfish, SD and all the way across Wyoming.  Mount Rushmore is a steep climb but not too long and certainly beautiful. 

I agree with the other posters that you continue on to Wyoming like I did unless you are looking for an easier (and possibly less exciting) ride.  The Big Horn mountains were the most challenging of my trip especially with the weather conditions I encountered at the top, but also the most rewarding.  Yellowstone was beautiful but very biker unfriendly with narrow roads WAY too much traffic and Huge RV's taking up the whole road - but I would possibly do it again.  It was suggested to me to rather take a road north of Cody, WY which is a very scenic bypass of Yellowstone and I can get that information for you if you would like.

On my blog you can see a google map of my entire route.  It was a fantastic trip. 
http://bikedenbec.blogspot.com

The google map is here:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=113308409966478718980.0004642c44ff67cc85ae5&ll=37.439974,-101.25&spn=28.815161,50.361328&z=4


I'd be happy to answer any other questions for you if needed.

Dennis

[tonythomson]

Hi Guys
many thanks for this very informative info.  Still trying to decide but at the moment might have to put this trip on hold as will probably ride the Atlantic coast due to time constraints on my visa. 

Will do it at some point and have printed all info off.

Many thanks Tony