Abercrombie FJR
Well-known member
I just thought I would open up an auxiliary thread to plan and discuss the dual sport riding portion of bigjohnsd's Black HIlls Roundup II without highjacking the main Black Hills Roundup and signup pages with dirty talk.
It sounds like MR Bill and Russperry are interested in riding the whole DakAL while sleeping under the stars. Mr Bill mentioned possibly taking off Tuesday morning and with a four day DakAL schedule that would bring him back to Spearfish on Friday. If that's what other want to do, I'm in but I would also be in for a Monday morning DakAL launch returning Thursday to leave two days of pavement riding Friday and Saturday with the rest of the hooligans that show up.
Others have mentioned riding a couple days dirt and a couple days of pavement. They could take a two day loop around the North half or South half of the DakAL if they want or join up with the final two days of those riding the whole route. Another option is just spend a day or two riding the extensive Black Hills trail system.
Bikes will be required to have a Black Hills National Forest Trail Permit.(cost is $25) They can be purchased at the Spearfish forest service office or
Trail permits may be ordered on-line at :
https://www.blackhillsparks.org/black-hi ... l-permits/
Last September I rode a modified Dakal over 6 days with a group of 12 from Glacial Lakes Motorcycle Club GMLC.ORG. Since I was following tracks on a GPS I don't know how much our ride was modified from the original DakAL route. I think the modifications I rode included a lot of gravel roads and pavement so I'm sort of anxious to go back and ride the full DakAL the way it was originally created.
For those that want to ride the whole DakAL you could start on section three in Spearfish Monday or Tuesday so we would end at rally head quarters in Spearfish Thursday or Friday. A four day schedule of hard riding with not much flower sniffing would start you out on Section three.
Day 1 Section 3 – Spearfish to Buffalo - 223 miles
Gas, Food, Lodging: Lots of choices in Belle Fourche. Camp Crook has two cafes. Camp Crook Central Store has close as of May 2015 and no gas is available. DakAL route distance between Belle Fourche and Buffalo is 205 miles. You may need to carry extra gas. No lodging in Camp Crook. One motel (Tipperary Lodge Motel), high octane gas, and one cafe/bar available in Buffalo. There is a free public campsite in downtown Buffalo.
Special Places: Geographic center of the nation, Bakken Oil Fields, Custer National Forest.
Tips: Lots of cool, dispersed camping locations in North or South Cave Hills. One free, public campground in the North Cave Hills (Picnic Springs).
On the east side of the South Cave Hills, the route makes a loop. Suggest you ride this loop clockwise. There is one steep, single track down hill that can be a challenge. It is only about 100 yards. You may want to walk it prior to riding this section. If it looks spooky, turn around and ride back out.
Day 2 Section 4 - Buffalo to Hill City - 205 miles
Gas, Food & Lodging: Gas and snacks are available at Hoover Store. Newell has gas and food. Sturgis has many choices. Nemo has food, gas and cabins.
Special places: Slim Buttes Battle Field, Bear Butte State Park, Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground, Full Throttle Saloon, Sturgis Motorcyle Museum and Hall of Fame, Ft. Meade, Black Hills National Cemetery.
For those that only want to ride two days, they could meet up with us Wednesday or Thursday morning depending on which day we start, in Hill City or our Camping location near by and join us for Days three and four.
Day 3 Section 1- Hill City to Hot Springs - 233 miles
Gas, food and lodging: The only supply option for this entire section is Edgemont, SD. Edgemont has two restaurants on Main Street, two gas stations slightly out of town on the main highway and one very basic motel.
Special places: Black Hills National Forest, Bear Mountain, Jewel Cave National Monument, Crazy Horse Memorial, Ft. Igloo, Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, Cheyenne River crossing, Mammoth Site.
Tip: When you ride the bridge over the Cheyenne River entering Edgemont, observe the water level. Later in the day the route will take you through the river. If the river is moving fast with a milky white or brown color, then the river crossing will generally be impassable. DO NOT cross the river with rapid flowing water! The river will be impassable about 30% of the time.
Day 4 Section 2- Hot Springs to Spearfish - 220 miles
Gas, Lodging & Food: Hill City has many choices. Trailshead Lodge has gas, food and cabins. Spearfish Canyon Lodge, at Savoy, has high octane gas, good food and spectacular lodging. The lodge is highly recommended. DakAL route distance from Hill City to Spearfish Canyon Lodge is 105 miles.
Special places: Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Rd, Mt Rushmore, Cement Ridge Lookout, Spearfish Canyon, Roughlock Falls, Spearfish Falls, Bridal Veil Falls
It sounds like MR Bill and Russperry are interested in riding the whole DakAL while sleeping under the stars. Mr Bill mentioned possibly taking off Tuesday morning and with a four day DakAL schedule that would bring him back to Spearfish on Friday. If that's what other want to do, I'm in but I would also be in for a Monday morning DakAL launch returning Thursday to leave two days of pavement riding Friday and Saturday with the rest of the hooligans that show up.
Others have mentioned riding a couple days dirt and a couple days of pavement. They could take a two day loop around the North half or South half of the DakAL if they want or join up with the final two days of those riding the whole route. Another option is just spend a day or two riding the extensive Black Hills trail system.
Bikes will be required to have a Black Hills National Forest Trail Permit.(cost is $25) They can be purchased at the Spearfish forest service office or
Trail permits may be ordered on-line at :
https://www.blackhillsparks.org/black-hi ... l-permits/
Last September I rode a modified Dakal over 6 days with a group of 12 from Glacial Lakes Motorcycle Club GMLC.ORG. Since I was following tracks on a GPS I don't know how much our ride was modified from the original DakAL route. I think the modifications I rode included a lot of gravel roads and pavement so I'm sort of anxious to go back and ride the full DakAL the way it was originally created.
For those that want to ride the whole DakAL you could start on section three in Spearfish Monday or Tuesday so we would end at rally head quarters in Spearfish Thursday or Friday. A four day schedule of hard riding with not much flower sniffing would start you out on Section three.
Day 1 Section 3 – Spearfish to Buffalo - 223 miles
Gas, Food, Lodging: Lots of choices in Belle Fourche. Camp Crook has two cafes. Camp Crook Central Store has close as of May 2015 and no gas is available. DakAL route distance between Belle Fourche and Buffalo is 205 miles. You may need to carry extra gas. No lodging in Camp Crook. One motel (Tipperary Lodge Motel), high octane gas, and one cafe/bar available in Buffalo. There is a free public campsite in downtown Buffalo.
Special Places: Geographic center of the nation, Bakken Oil Fields, Custer National Forest.
Tips: Lots of cool, dispersed camping locations in North or South Cave Hills. One free, public campground in the North Cave Hills (Picnic Springs).
On the east side of the South Cave Hills, the route makes a loop. Suggest you ride this loop clockwise. There is one steep, single track down hill that can be a challenge. It is only about 100 yards. You may want to walk it prior to riding this section. If it looks spooky, turn around and ride back out.
Day 2 Section 4 - Buffalo to Hill City - 205 miles
Gas, Food & Lodging: Gas and snacks are available at Hoover Store. Newell has gas and food. Sturgis has many choices. Nemo has food, gas and cabins.
Special places: Slim Buttes Battle Field, Bear Butte State Park, Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground, Full Throttle Saloon, Sturgis Motorcyle Museum and Hall of Fame, Ft. Meade, Black Hills National Cemetery.
For those that only want to ride two days, they could meet up with us Wednesday or Thursday morning depending on which day we start, in Hill City or our Camping location near by and join us for Days three and four.
Day 3 Section 1- Hill City to Hot Springs - 233 miles
Gas, food and lodging: The only supply option for this entire section is Edgemont, SD. Edgemont has two restaurants on Main Street, two gas stations slightly out of town on the main highway and one very basic motel.
Special places: Black Hills National Forest, Bear Mountain, Jewel Cave National Monument, Crazy Horse Memorial, Ft. Igloo, Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, Cheyenne River crossing, Mammoth Site.
Tip: When you ride the bridge over the Cheyenne River entering Edgemont, observe the water level. Later in the day the route will take you through the river. If the river is moving fast with a milky white or brown color, then the river crossing will generally be impassable. DO NOT cross the river with rapid flowing water! The river will be impassable about 30% of the time.
Day 4 Section 2- Hot Springs to Spearfish - 220 miles
Gas, Lodging & Food: Hill City has many choices. Trailshead Lodge has gas, food and cabins. Spearfish Canyon Lodge, at Savoy, has high octane gas, good food and spectacular lodging. The lodge is highly recommended. DakAL route distance from Hill City to Spearfish Canyon Lodge is 105 miles.
Special places: Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Rd, Mt Rushmore, Cement Ridge Lookout, Spearfish Canyon, Roughlock Falls, Spearfish Falls, Bridal Veil Falls
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