Motorcycle Route Author
By Guest (0 McR Points)
on Mar 31, 2003
Rider Reviews
Written Directions
NOTE: This road is also referred to as "Stone Mountain Road" and has a nice web page focussed on this road. Start out in Keystone SD and take Hwy 16A southeast. This road will zig zag all around and then take you into Custer State Park and merge with state route 87. For a bonus trip, take 87 either north or south as its beautiful both ways.Scenery
Awesome! That's pretty much all I can say about it. I've driven all over the country on some of the most scenic roads around and this one is in my top three. The Black Hills National Forest area ranks right up there with most of the riding of done in Colorado and Montana. If you've never been to this area you'll see why the Lakota called this region the black hills ... because of the starkness of scenery surrounding this area, the black hills really do look black as you approach. However, when in the midst of the Black Hills you will revel in the lush dark green of the Ponderosa Pines and Black Hills Spruce and the many beautiful tanish/grey rock outcroppings that are sprinkled all along the drive!Drive Enjoyment
For roads that get driven on quite often they are in pretty decent shape. There are some really nice twisties on this road if you like that sort of thing (especially just south of Keystone). Some of the people we road with were a little intimidated by them at first but we took it slow and no one put their bikes down and all were elated we took the drive. It was a little crowded the weekend we were there with traffic so I wish I would have planned to work in a weekday ride of this route - maybe next time! The Iron Mountain Road Website states that there are 314 curves, 14 switchbacks, 3 pigtails, 3 tunnels, 2 splits, and 4 "Presidents."Tourism Opportunities
There are so many places to stop at that you could spend a week here and the scenic drive could take days. Keystone, SD is a major tourist town with an 1880 railroad that takes you through the beautiful Black Hills scenery, a large cave called Rushmore Cave that you can tour and do things like zip-lining, a gold mine historic center, and a bunch of more classic touristy things like miniature golf, an alpine slide, and plenty of gift shops & restaurants and much more!!!!Photo contributed by visitor in Oct 09: "Dodging the buffalo on 16A!"
