Best of the Black Hills – Self-guided

This is our big self-guided tour of the American West: 9 days including 8 on the bike, about 770 miles on a loop from Rapid City. You cross the Badlands, the Pine Ridge Reservation and Hot Springs, then Custer State Park, Iron Mountain Road, Sturgis and Deadwood, before heading into Wyoming as far as Devils Tower. Black Hills Blast covers the Black Hills in a 3-day weekend. For a simple motorcycle rental, see vintageridesusa.com.

You ride on your own or with friends, without a guide or support vehicle, with your 8 hotel nights already booked and a roadbook app. There are two versions: about 770 miles entirely on good paved roads, or an off-road version of about 861 miles, half of it on gravel and dirt roads. You choose according to your experience.

The level is Intermediate: you need to be self-reliant and comfortable on days of up to 161 miles. The paved version needs no off-road experience; the off-road version is for riders who have already ridden on dirt. You ride between 2,300 and 6,900 feet, and bison are plentiful in Custer State Park: always give them the right of way.

60 to 161 miles a day, over 8 riding days. The two longest stages, from Wall to Hot Springs and from Sundance to Lead via Devils Tower, cover 161 and 121 miles; the shortest, around Custer and Keystone, leave time for Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse or the hot springs.

A Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, with side panniers and a top case for your things for the week. Your suitcase can stay at the garage in Rapid City: the route passes within about an hour of it around day 5. If your height makes you hesitate, talk to your travel advisor; we can also provide a full-face helmet in your size, on request.

Yes, the paved version works very well two-up. The tour costs $3,390 per rider and $1,150 per passenger. If you are thinking of riding the off-road version two-up, talk to your travel advisor first.

$3,390 per rider and $1,150 per passenger. The price includes the motorcycle, 8 nights in standard hotels on a shared basis (single room supplement $1,150), the roadbook, the luggage system, roadside assistance, entry to Custer State Park and the Black Hills National Forest, the Wyoming trail permit and comprehensive motorcycle insurance. You pay for flights and transfers, all meals, gas, tolls and parking, medical insurance, and a $41 registration fee on your first trip with us.

On paved roads, roadside assistance comes out if you break down; on the off-road version it is still available, for an extra fee. Our team answers the phone around the clock in an emergency. The motorcycle is fully insured, with a $1,000 deductible, and your own insurance should cover medical expenses.

A valid US driver’s license with a motorcycle endorsement (Class M) is all you need in both states on the route, South Dakota and Wyoming. If you are not a US resident, talk to your travel advisor before booking.

You arrive in Rapid City on day 1, without riding that day, and pick up the motorcycle on day 2. Day 9 is a riding day: plan an evening flight, or ask your travel advisor for an extra night. The season runs from late April to September, with temperatures from 39 to 104°F depending on the time of year: pack several layers and rain gear. Open dates are shown on this page.