Beyond Sturgis guide

A stop at Sturgis Brewing Company will provide a nice meal and relaxed atmosphere. The spacious building with tall ceilings and light pouring in through the windows is a stark contrast from the dark motorcycle joints that the rally is known for, but sometimes it feels right. They have burgers, sandwiches, pizza, salads, great appetizers, and daily specials including the bacon-wrapped filet available on Thursdays.

The Pump House Coffee & Eatery transformed a retro Texaco station into place for riders to fuel up. Their menu features coffee, tea, deli sandwiches, pastries, and unique souvenirs. The outdoor seating and big windows make it a convenient place to watch riders meander through town. Attached to the coffee shop is Mind Blown Studio, a glass blowing studio where you can watch molten glass melt into sculptors. It’s coffee and a show! 

If you’re a history head or love to get into the cowboy spirit, take a ride through Deadwood. This historic town has maintained the spirit of a bygone era. Cowboys duel daily in the streets framed by historic buildings, and locals embrace the infamy of the outlaw town. Immerse yourself in the history by checking out the hotel and restaurant at the location where folk hero Wild Bill Hickok was shot. For all the history beyond Wild Bill, there are many immersive tours that’ll take you back in time with actors playing the part. If you’re looking for more modern excitement, many of the old buildings have been revamped on the inside with restaurants and slot machines.  

Spearfish Canyon is considered one of the most beautiful locations in the Black Hills and once you wander through the creek-carved gorge of limestone walls, it’s easy to see why. The natural area was carved by Spearfish Creek over millions of years, and the creek still runs through it today. Check out the view at Roughlock Falls, Spearfish Falls, and Savoy Pond or hike the trail system connecting all three. There is plenty of wildlife to look for, fishing spots to cast at, picnic tables to eat at, and fresh air to breathe. If you want to up the adrenaline on this outdoor adventure, go off-roading! Bring your own UTV or use a local rental company like the Spearfish Canyon Lodge which offers Polaris UTVs or snowmobiles depending on the season.

Don’t leave South Dakota without experiencing the good of the Badlands. This national park showcases rugged beauty that cradles some of the richest fossil beds in the world. You can visit the Fossil Preparation Lab and talk to the paleontologists while they unearth fossils before your eyes. From there, hop on your hog, choose a scenic road, and follow it to the end. Pull over at an overlook to take in every inch of the 244,000 acres of expanse with dramatic landscape shifts and a rainbow of natural colors inked in the earth. If you’re lucky, you’ll see bison, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs roaming the landscape grown from the fossils of their ancestors.

If you’re riding or driving to Sturgis, you’re sure to see plenty of billboards advertising Wall Drug. This western emporium is more than a pit stop — it’s a rite of passage for anyone heading to Sturgis. The legendary roadside attraction in South Dakota has been welcoming bikers for decades with its quirky charm, free ice water, and endless photo ops. Whether you’re grabbing a buffalo burger, picking up a souvenir, or just stretching your legs, Wall Drug turns every journey into an adventure.

The Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a 5,725-foot-tall rock sculpture of four influential presidents. Each of the four presidents were chosen to represent four of the most important events in the history of the United States. The most prominent figure is the first president, George Washington, who represents the birth of the United States. Thomas Jefferson’s depiction represents growth of the United States paying homage to the Louisiana Purchase. Theodore Roosevelt represents the development of the country as he linked east and west through the Panama Canal and worked to end corporate monopolies. The monument also depicts Abraham Lincoln who held the nation together during the Civil War and abolished slavery. He represents the preservation of the country.

In the heart of the Black Hills lies one of the largest and most diverse state parks in the nation. With 71,000 acres of protected land, visitors can drive the scenic routes that wind through natural rock features, hike the everchanging land and water that flows through the park, take a safari ride to watch bison roam in their natural habitat, and even stay in the stunning cabins within the park. It’s an oasis of Black Hills delight for any rider who needs a moment away from the revving engines echoing through Sturgis.

If you’re riding through Wyoming on the way to the rally, you can’t miss this monstrosity of a national monument. The 867-foot-tall rock mass is a popular pitstop with spiritual connections to the Native Americans in the region. Several sacred narratives and oral histories are imbedded into the geologic structure. One such story from the Crow Nation recounts two little girls who were chased by a bear. The girls climbed up a rock and the Great Spirit caused the rock to grow toward the sky. The bear scratched and clawed at the growing rock until the girls were out of reach, marking the natural wonder with its striking cleaved columns. Legend has it that those girls may still be on the top of Devils Tower to this day — safe from the bear.