Custer — Travelrags

OutsideSep 15, 2026

I Traded My Mountain Bike for a Motorcycle to Ride Across South Dakota’s Badlands

Turning 50 inspired our national parks columnist to swap his mountain bike for a motorized one so he could vroom through South Dakota’s Badlands National Park and Black Hills National Forest—one of the world’s most iconic motorcycle routes.

14 things in this story

Custer State ParkNature reserverolling plains full of buffalo, towering cliffs, cold lakes
Wildlife LoopTrail18-mile loop around the park to see buffalo and antelope
Sylvan LakeSight17-acre reservoir where water meets tall, tan cliffs
Elsewhere
Black Hills National ForestSightBlack Hills, United Statesdirt roads, archeological sites, caves, ghost towns
Royal Enfeld HimalayansPlaceRapid City, United Statesclassic adventure bike designed for road and dirt
Motorcycle Safety FoundationPlaceRapid City, United Statesorganizes bike education courses across the country
Hotel Alex JohnsonHotelRapid City, United Statescool hotel downtown with a good ghost story
Windsor Block BarRestaurantRapid City, United Statesbest cocktail bar within walking distance
Vintage RidesPlaceRapid City, United Statessmall operation renting Royal Enfeld Himalayans
Sage Creek RoadTrailBadlands, United Stateslong gravel road onto a plateau with views
Scenic Loop RoadTrailBadlands, United Statespaved road through the heart of tan cliffs and spires
Notch TrailTrailBadlands, United Stateswinds through a canyon to a ladder with a view
Iron Mountain RoadTrailBlack Hills, United States17-mile blacktop connecting Custer State Park with Mount Rushmore
Pactola LakeSightBlack Hills, United Statesarea for exploring dirt roads in Black Hills National Forest

Read the full piece at Outside →