BackBone Grande - Mt. Rushmore Alternative (New)

During 2021 and 2022, I created the Black Hills BackBone Grande to be a local bikepacking route that is great on its own and great as a shake-out ride for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.

It's all that, and much more. See, BackBone Grande Page. 

Iron Mountain Road tunnel frames Mt. Rushmore.
(image by Paul Brasby)

The Main Route of the BackBone Grande follows rough back roads across South Dakota along the spine of the Black Hills, showcasing the best of our scenery, history, culture, and wildlife. It generally follows dirt/lightly graveled USFS roads in Black Hills National Forest, barely discernible BLM roads in Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, and county gravel roads out on the surrounding prairie. The Main Route occasionally uses pavement as a connector, where necessary, and even passes through a few small towns.

At its core, however, the BackBone Grande is a back country route, like its inspiration, the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.

Needles Highway.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Needle's Eye Tunnel, on Needles Highway.

Cathedral Spires view from Needles Highway.
(image by Paul Brasby)

All that being said, people from all over the world flock to the Black Hills for more conventional tourist experiences. Many follow paved highways that wind through the forested hills that are spiked with granite spires and sprinkled with crystal clear streams. A few of those paved roads around Mount Rushmore were actually purpose-built for tourism, including Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road, aka Pigtail Highway.

I did not include those well-traveled paved roads in the BackBone Grande, notwithstanding requests from out-of-state cyclists. In short, that area right around Mount Rushmore is too busy, too developed, and overall too civilized for that route. It's too big a step away from backcountry bikepacking.

But those iconic roads are on the bucket list for many cyclists. So, rather than venturing off mission by changing the Main Route of the BackBone Grande, I added an optional, off-route loop day ride from Custer and a second off-route loop from Hill City. That is, taking a Zero Day on the BackBone Grande, in either Custer or Hill City, opens up the option of riding a mostly paved loop through the Needles, past the Cathedral Spires, up and down Iron Mountain Road, and into Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Of course, I had to throw in a few short connectors of lesser known gravel, dirt, and single track. See, Off-Route Mt. Rushmore Loops.

Climbing Iron Mountain Road with Mt. Rushmore framed by the forest.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Iron Mountain Road, aka Pigtail Highway.
270 degree curve, over a wooden bridge, and into a tunnel.

Feedback from BackBone Grande riders and those considering riding it reveal a strong demand for riding the roads on the Mt. Rushmore loops, but an unfortunate reluctance to take a Zero Day to do so.

Recognizing that the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route offers a handful of short Alternative Routes along the way, I finally added this one to the BackBone Grande. Know that it's clearly my third choice.

So, one now has three Mt. Rushmore options when riding or planning to ride the BackBone Grande.

1. (My Recommendation). Ride the Main Route of the BackBone Bounty. Save the Mt. Rushmore loop for another time. Maybe shuttle down for a victory lap at the end. It is great fun on an unloaded gravel bike and worthy of a destination vacation.

2. (If a return trip to the Black Hills is unlikely). Plan an extra day. Take a Zero Day at either Custer or Hill City. Unload the bike. Play tourist for a day by riding one of the off-route Mt. Rushmore loops. Then continue on the Main Route of the BackBone Grande.

3. (If a Zero Day is out of the question, but you must ride to Mt. Rushmore). Bypass the Main Route from Custer to Hill City, ride this new Alternative Route from Custer, and return to the Main Route at Hill City. Then continue on the Main Route of the BackBone Grande from Hill City. (You will miss the Main Route of the BackBone Grande from Custer to Hill City).

Lunch at Mt. Rushmore National Memorial.
(image by unnamed volunteer)

 Leaving Mt. Rushmore for Hill City.
(image by Paul Brasby)

For RideWithGPS maps of the BackBone Grande, the Mt. Rushmore Alternative, the Custer Mt. Rushmore Loop, the Hill City Mt. Rushmore Loop, and the Trail #1 Bypass, go to BackBone Grande + Alternatives Collection.

For a Page describing and linking every blog post on the BackBone Grande, go to BackBone Grande Page.

RideWithGPS file for the Mt. Rushmore Alternative.