More Black Hills Bounty

Thank you, sir, may I have another?

Chip Diller, Animal House (1978).

In 2021, at the request of cycling buddy Paul Brasby, I created a 5 day bikepacking ride through the Central Black Hills of South Dakota for him and some out-of-state friends. I dubbed it the "Black Hills Bounty" due to the treasure trove of remote, rough forest service roads through unique scenery. That route hit what I believe are some of the very best bikepacking roads in the Black Hills. Six of us rode it in June 2021, calling a few audibles and taking a few detours along the way. It turned out great because the guys riding it were great. 2021 Black Hills Bounty - Wrap & Map Links.

First day of the first Black Hills Bounty.
With a missed turn, a crash, and an audible in the first mile, we started something!
(image by Lane Bergen)

At the time, I thought that was it. These are active, experienced cycling enthusiasts who ride and race many events all over and have so for years. With so many other options, I had no reason to think they'd choose to drive all the way back to the Black Hills for another bikepacking trip.

And yet they did. Again, and again, and again, and again. Indeed, much of the core group has ridden every year since, making 2025 the fifth, now annual, Black Hills Bounty.

The routes change. Some riders change. Every year some newcomers join. But the mission lives on.

Black Hills Bounty routes on RideWithGPS (2021-2025).
This represents the routes for 30 riding days over those 5 years.

In 2021, we rode through the Central Black Hills, based out of Custer, including a Bucket List ride up Iron Mountain Road, into Mt. Rushmore, up Sylvan Lake Road, and down Needles Highway.

2021 Black Hills Bounty.
Paul Brasby, Lane Bergen, Craig Groseth, Jeff Hoffman, Ben Cooper, Jeff Bloom.

In 2022, we rode through the Southern Black Hills, again starting from Custer but turning south into Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park en route to the railroad town of Edgemont and Jewel Cave National Monument.

2022 Black Hills Bounty.
Jon Naaf, Craig Groseth, Kevin Fox, Lane Bergen, Jeff Bloom.

In 2023, we rode through the Northern Black Hills, with a swing into Deadwood and then out to the Bear Lodge Mountains and further west to Devil's Tower National Monument.

2023 Black Hills Bounty.
Jeff Bloom, Peggy Waite-Bradley, Kevin Fox, Jon Naaf, Ben Cooper, Jeff Caldwell, Paul Brasby, Craig Groseth

In 2024, we rode from the Nebraska border to Spearfish, including the Mt. Rushmore Alternative, along a big chunk of my cross-state BackBone Grande route.

2024 Black Hills Bounty.
Craig Groseth, Paul Brasby, Luke Gerstein, Jeff Caldwell, Ben Cooper.

In 2025, we rode into the far reaches of the Western and SouthWestern Black Hills, based out of USFS White Tail Campground at Deerfield Lake. 

2025 Black Hills Bounty.
Jeff Caldwell, Jeff Bloom, Kevin Fox, Mark Almer, Ben Cooper,
Craig Groseth, Paul Brasby, Rob Foudray, Brit Flinchbaugh (not pictured Paulette Kirby)

As shown in the collection of Bounty maps, we've covered the length and breadth of the Black Hills, and beyond, over the years. And there's so much more out there to explore.

So, we'll be back out there in 2026.

Maybe that Collection map of Bounty rides will someday just be a swarm of lines covering all the green background of the Black Hills.

For an index of posts about each year's ride, go to the Black Hills Bounty Page (2021-present).

Collection of Black Hills Bounty routes on RideWithGPS (2021-2025).
This represents the routes for 30 riding days over those 5 years.