2024 Black Hills Bounty (Day 4) - Mt. Rushmore Plus

If tomorrow all the things were gone, I'd worked for all my life

And I had to start again, with just my children and my wife

I'd thank my luck stars, to be living here today

Cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can't take that away.

And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me

And I'd gladly stand up next to you, and defend her still today

Cause there aint no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA

God Bless the USA, Lee Greenwood (1984)

Classic photo op at Mount Rushmore.

Day 4 of the 2024 Black Hills Bounty.

From Custer, the BackBone Grande ventures north and west to eventually ascend to big views atop Coad Hill and plummet down twist-and-shout Reno Gulch Road. It then hops on the relaxing Mickelson Trail through Hill City, before meandering further north and west on some of my favorite USFS Low Standard Roads, including Castle Peak Road, Black Fox Camp Road, and beyond. It's a ride.

When creating the BackBone Grande, I added an optional, off-route loop day ride from Custer and a second off-route loop from Hill City. Both of these loops offer a significant break from backcountry, rough road bikepacking and lead the touring cyclist along a popular destination ride to Sylvan Lake, Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road (Pigtail Highway), and Mount Rushmore. Cycling enthusiasts travel from all over the world to ride these roads. See, Off-Route Mt. Rushmore Loops.

Climbing Needles Highway in Custer State Park.
(image by Paul Brasby)

The Bounty crew loves that Mt. Rushmore ride, having ridden different versions of it in 2021 and 2022. This year, however, they lacked an additional day to ride one of those off-route loops. Instead, they decided to ride to Mt. Rushmore via a combination of the Custer loop and the Hill City loop. 

More specifically, they rode from Custer to Mt. Rushmore via the first part of the Custer loop and then from Mt. Rushmore to Hill City via the ending part of the Hill City loop. Of course, that meant missing the main route of the BackBone Grande from Hill City to Custer. But it hit all the Mt. Rushmore loop highlights over 37 miles of winding pavement, 5 miles of USFS Low Standard Roads, and 2 miles of single track.

A tourist day of conventional Black Hills highlights.

A stop along Needles Highway reveals the Cathedral Spires, a popular hiking and climbing destination.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Soaking in the sun & scenery along Needles Highway.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Camp Remington Road, a short cut to Iron Mountain Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Iron Creek Trail crosses Iron Creek more than a few times.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Five boards pass for a bridge on Iron Creek Trail.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Always smiling, even when not pedaling.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Climbing up Iron Mountain Road, through a few tunnels and pig tail bridges.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Tunnels on Iron Mountain Road frame Mt. Rushmore in the distance.
(image by Luke Derstein)

Even the forest frames Mt. Rushmore from Iron Mountain Road.
(image by Luke Derstein)

Relaxing over lunch under the inspirational Mt. Rushmore.
(image by unknown volunteer)

Taking the long way home to Hill City on USFS Low Standard Road 356. 

This was our final day on lightly loaded bikes. In the morning, we load everything on the bikes for a final 3 day, fully loaded bikepacking ride to Spearfish on the BackBone Grande.

God Bless The U.S.A. (Rock Version), Lee Greenwood & Drew Jacobs (2024)

God Bless The U.S.A., featuring Lee Greenwood,

Home Free, & The Singing Sergeants (2021).

Here's a link to the Black Hills Bounty Page, which describes and links all blog posts for every post for every year of this ride (2021-present). Black Hills Bounty Page.