BackBone Grande Visual Tour (6) - Spearfish City Campground to Buffalo (miles 265-380)

Ventura Highway in the sunshine

Where the days are longer

The nights are stronger than moonshine

You're gonna go, I know

'Cause the free wind is blowin' through your hair

And the days surround your daylight there

Seasons crying, no despair

Alligator lizards in the air, in the air

Ventura Highway, Dewey Bunnell (1972).

The BackBone Grande is my 420+ mile backroad bikepacking route across the State of South Dakota along the spine of the Black Hills and through the surrounding prairie. Inspired by my experience riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, I designed it to create that type of experience here in my back yard. Tracking rough roads that showcase the best of our scenery, history, culture, and wildlife, the BackBone Grande is a great ride on its own and as a shakedown for the GDMBR.  For a collection of my stories all about it, go the BackBone Grande Page.

For those more visual learners, I've selected images along the route from various scouting trips, the first through-ride, and other rides. Here is my sixth installment of the BackBone Grande Visual Tour, from the Spearfish City Campground to the North Dakota finish (miles 265-380).

Now clear of the Black Hills, the BackBone Grande streams out of Spearfish on the city bike path to connect with surprisingly pretty Lookout Mountain Road to start a nice, long roll into the prairie on mostly fast county gravel roads, with a few miles of paved connectors and a couple of Minimum Maintenance Roads. Water is scarce. Re-supply dries up. In abundance here is utter exposure to the elements. One will experience all that the prairie offers.

Highlights include twisty Crooked Oaks Road, Belle Fouche National Wildlife Refuge, Geographic Center of the United States, stagecoach stop at the near ghost town of Harding, unique earth formations on Gilbert Road, and the cowboy town of Buffalo.

There's no place like the open prairie to feel the free wind blowing through your hair.

Here's a photo gallery of the BackBone Grande route from the Spearfish City Campground to the North Dakota border (miles 265-380). Also, here are links to prior blog posts about this section. Introducing the BackBone Grande - Oasis In The Prairie; The First Through-Ride - Prairie Gold.

Also, here are links to prior Visual Tour posts:  Nebraska Border to Buffalo Gap (miles 0-95); Buffalo Gap to Custer (miles 95-135); Custer to Hill City (miles 135-163 & alternative); Hill City to Hanna Campground (miles 163-225); Hanna Campground to Spearfish (miles 225-265).

Spearfish bike path heading out of town.

Lookout Mountain Road. Good gravel road past small ranches, to start.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Lookout Mountain Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Lookout Mountain Road, hinting of the road to come.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Lookout Mountain Road starts to climb a bit.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Lookout Mountain Road. Believe it.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Yeah, Lookout Mountain Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

196th Street rolling toward St. Onge.
(image by Paul Brasby)

196th Street rolling toward St. Onge.
(image by Paul Brasby)

St. Onge Bar has limited supplies and limited hours, but is the last commercial stop for 100 miles.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Sale Barn Road is wet practically all the time.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Sale Barn Road, riding north away from the Black Hills.

Crooked Oaks Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Crooked Oaks Road. Uniquely pretty in the spring, and gorgeous in the fall.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Brooker Road flows through big cattle country.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Brooker Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Geographic Center of the United States, just off Harding Road (Old Highway 85).
(image by Paul Brasby)

Battle Creek Wetlands Project. BLM land for surface water and dispersed camping.

Harding Road. No escape from the elements.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Harding, a stop on the Medora-Deadwood stagecoach line.

North of Harding, on Harding Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Further north of Harding, on Harding Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Curious locals checking us out.
(image by Paul Brasby)

They followed us for awhile, before peeling off into the prairie.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Gilbert Road, looking east.

Gilbert Road. The prairie turns a little lumpy.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Gilbert Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Gilbert Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Gilbert Road.

Gilbert Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Decisions. Decisions. On U.S. Highway 85 into Buffalo.

Ventura Highway, America (1972).

BackBone Grande Visual Tour (5) - Hanna Campground to Spearfish City Campground (miles 225-265)

(when words fail, the soul sings)

The Great Gig In The Sky, Richard Wright (1973).

Easing down an unnumbered, abandoned road through Lost Canyon.
(image by Paul Brasby)

The BackBone Grande is my 420+ mile backroad bikepacking route across the State of South Dakota along the spine of the Black Hills and through the surrounding prairie. Inspired by my experience riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, I designed it to create that type of experience here in my back yard. Tracking rough roads that showcase the best of our scenery, history, culture, and wildlife, the BackBone Grande is a great ride on its own and as a shakedown for the GDMBR.  For a collection of my stories all about it, go the BackBone Grande Page.

For those more visual learners, I've selected images along the route from various scouting trips, the first through-ride, and other rides. Here is my fifth installment of the BackBone Grande Visual Tour, from the Hanna Campground to the Spearfish City Campground (miles 225-265).

Leaving the Hiker/Biker friendly USFS Hanna campground, the BackBone Grande drops down past the popular Cheyenne Crossing cafe and into Spearfish Canyon on paved U.S. Highway 14A. Just 5 miles downhill lies Savoy, which now comprises Latchstring Restaurant and Spearfish Canyon Lodge. Turning west on Roughlock Falls Road (USFS Secondary Road 222.3), the route passes Roughlock Falls, USFS Rod & Gun campground, and USFS Timon campground to eventually connect with Schoolhouse Gulch Road (USFS Secondary Road 222). 

Now, we're getting back there. Stay on the public road through this stretch, as it passes through larger pockets of private land. Abruptly turn north of Pettigrew Gulch Road (unnumbered USFS Low Standard Road), staying on the road until it dead-ends at a gate with a USFS sign marking the public land boundary. Pass through this gate onto an abandoned road that roughly follows a creek winding generally north along a meadow. Another gate lies ahead before the forest closes in to reveal the all-too-short Lost Canyon, a dreamy spot to linger and, better yet, camp. Out of Lost Canyon, the route takes a short Low Standard connector to another unnumbered, abandoned road to climb to a ridge line. After a quick ridge line spin, the BackBone Grande takes yet another abandoned Low Standard Road to connect with Higgins Gulch Road (USFS Secondary Road 214) for the final descent into Spearfish. 

Notwithstanding the verbiage above, and other attempts, my meager words fail to describe this stretch.

Enjoy it. With or without words.

Here's a photo gallery of the BackBone Grande route from the Hanna Campground to the Spearfish City Campground (miles 225-265). Also, here are links to prior blog posts about this section. Introducing the BackBone Grande - Northern Black Hills and Beyond; The First Through-Ride - Low Standard and Lower; 2024 Bounty - The Way To Lost Canyon; 2024 Bounty - The Way Home.

Also, here are links to prior Visual Tour posts:  Nebraska Border to Buffalo Gap (miles 0-95); Buffalo Gap to Custer (miles 95-135); Custer to Hill City (miles 135-163 & alternative); Hill City to Hanna CG (miles 163-225).

Coasting down Spearfish Canyon from Cheyenne Crossing on U.S. Highway 14A.

Further north on U.S. Highway 14A in Spearfish Canyon.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Back on gravel climbing Roughlock Falls Road (USFS Secondary Road 222.3)
(image by Paul Brasby)

Roughlock Falls Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Roughlock Falls Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Roughlock Falls Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Emerging from the rock walls at the western end of Roughlock Falls Road.

Getting further out there, on Schoolhouse Gulch Road (USFS Secondary Road 222).

Rolling past a small reservoir on Schoolhouse Gulch Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Schoolhouse Gulch Road is a public road through private lands. Stay on the road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Schoolhouse Gulch Road gets a little rougher.

Although it may look like a driveway, Pettigrew Gulch Road is a USFS Low Standard Road.

Pettigrew Gulch Road turns 90 degrees left (west) in the image (in the second tree shadow).
You may be able to discern my bike on the ground, in the shadow, at the turn.
Continuing straight would take you directly onto private property.

Here's that 90 degree turn looking west. The road hugs that little treed incline to the right.
My bike still lies on the road in the shadow of that second tree above.
The gate into USFS land lies less than 100 yards down that road.

Pettigrew Gulch Road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Pettigrew Gulch Road dead-ends into a old public road, long since closed to motorized traffic.
Indeed, there's not much evidence of any traffic to speak of, other than BackBone Grande riders.

Sometimes the old road bed is more visible on that unnumbered abandoned road.

Not much of a bridge, but also not much water to cross. Same road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Single track follows a creek through a meadow. Occasional glimpses of the road bed here.

The meadow gives way to the forest, with hints of the road.

Old road bed re-appears as the forest closes in.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Dropping into Lost Canyon.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Lost Canyon.

Lost Canyon.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Lost Canyon.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Finally dropping out of Lost Canyon onto USFS Low Standard Road 633.1.

Back on unnumbered two track along Beaver Creek (July 2024).

Same two track a little further north along Beaver Creek (June 2023).
(image by Paul Brasby)

About to turn 90 degrees for a ridge line climb.
(image by Paul Brasby)

It's a bit of a climb to that ridge.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Cruising again along the ridge line on USFS Low Standard Road 130.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Nice rolling, packed-dirt-with-gravel-sprinkles USFS Low Standard Road 130.
One of the smoothest Low Standard Roads I've ever ridden.
(image by Paul Brasby)

One more unnumbered abandoned road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Same unnumbered abandoned road.
(image by Paul Brasby)

Final descent to Spearfish on Higgins Gulch Road (USFS Secondary Road 214).

Further downhill on Higgins Gulch Road.

Popular Spearfish City Campground.
(image by Paul Brasby)

The Great Gig In The Sky, Pink Floyd (1973).