Exploring Sturgis (Days 5 & 6)
Days 5-6 Exploring Sturgis South Dakota
2LaneLife
Two moto-vloggers passionate about traveling and the open road.
Another great couple days with the boys. After all of the great riding on the way to Sturgis, we were glad to be able to relax and explore the area for a few days. There's so much to see out there, especially for some of the first timers, so we chose some our favorite spots to check out. We got to see a city that felt alive for the first time in a while, rode through some amazing single lane roads (1LaneLife!) on the way to Custer State Park, enjoyed the breathtaking Black Hills, and rode through a rain storm or two..
After waking up before the sun every day and riding until dark, it was nice to be able to catch up on some sleep and be able to relax during our stay there. We woke up on day 5, and got some great breakfast at Red's Grill & Pub right down the road from the house before heading out to check out some bikes on the strip!
When we pulled into Sturgis the evening before, there weren't as many bikes as we were expecting, but by the next day, there were plenty to see. With people from all over the world, it's always interesting to check out all the different setups and styles people are rockin'! We walked around for a bit, checked out a few shops, then geared up to head towards Custer State Park.
Now this is where the views start to get even better.. Along the 385 on our way towards Custer, we passed by Pactola Lake, which is the largest reservoir in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It was built during the construction of the Pactola Dam, and while it was believed that the pre-existing town in that location is now under water, the only previous structure under the lake is an old dynamite bunker...still pretty interesting!
A ways down the road, we turned off onto the 16, which would take us to Keystone, where we would stop for lunch on our way to the state park. Keystone was a cool little town buried in the hills with lots of little shops and restaurants. We ended up at Jane's Boardwalk Pizza for some pizza, sandwiches, and drinks, then got back on the road!
We initially planned to head right to mount Rushmore from Keystone, but we took a wrong turn and decided to continue enjoying the scenery and come back some other time before the end of the trip. The 16 brought us to the 16A, where we would get to experience some one of a kind single lane roads, a few rock tunnels, and miles of switchbacks through the forest, filled with fellow riders. This was a perfect example of just going with the flow and enjoying whatever surprises coming our way.
It seems like no matter where you go out in South Dakota, there's some rich history and a story to hear. Custer state park was no different. Hidden within the Black Hills, surrounded by trees and beautiful bodies of water, lies South Dakota's first and largest State Park and wildlife reserve.
The park spans over 71,000 acres and is home to a wide variety of animals like free roaming bison, elk, mule deer, mountain goats, cougars, prairie dogs, and more! We were hoping to be able to see some bison along the roads this year, but no such luck. A few of our friends got turned around by a huge herd the day after though!
After spending the afternoon checking out the area, we headed back towards Deadwood, and caught a little rain storm along the way. Yea...some of us got soaked, but it was all in good fun, and definitely part of any real Sturgis experience! It's such a unique site going from clear skies, through a gloomy storm, then ending up right back in some sunshine! Our last stop of the day would be the legendary Boar's Nest, which is one of our favorite spots out there for food and hangin' out.
We had some great burgers, but the company was even better. Having some food and drinks right by the creek with good friends all around was an unforgettable experience, and we look forward to it every year for that reason...the people. Jesse from Legend Suspensions came with his family, Cbear and friends just came into town, and we were all hangin' having a good time before heading back to the house to unwind.
Our Route
If you click on the image of the map, you will find a link to the route to our entire Sturgis Journey! There's plenty of different routes and stops along the way as well! It may look like a ton of distance to cover for some, but taken in sections, it's super enjoyable, especially with all of the views!
(click here to open in a new window)
**Remember to always stay up to date with road conditions and routes, 2LaneLife is not responsible for peril.
All in all, we had another awesome two days exploring Sturgis and surrounding areas as a group, and are still reminiscing on the good times. Recapping our experiences through the blogs and videos makes it fee like we're reliving the trip, and we hope it gives those who haven't experienced it themselves the chance to get a glimpse into the 2 Lane Life! If you made it this far, thanks for reading, and more importantly, thanks for the continued support! Since this trip, we have grown a ton on YouTube, and we're excited to be able to share our stories with so many likeminded people!
See you next week!
Stay safe...stay inspired
-2LaneLife
Focus on the Journey
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