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Black Hills South Dakota BDR-X

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The Black Hills BDR-X is the perfect introduction to a BDR in the midwest.  With striking landscapes ranging from wide-open prairie, dense pine forests, and tall aspen trees, this 350 mile route encompasses all the elements for your next adventure.  

Enjoy a plethora of gravel and dirt roads, challenging two-track, and some of the best pavement you’ve ever ridden as you make way through historical towns in an area that shaped the west.

Mount Rushmore, Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, Spearfish Canyon, Cement Ridge Lookout Tower, and the Custer Wildlife Loop are some of the many incredible features dotting the landscape of this scenic route.

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The latest version of the Black Hills BDR-X route map is the First Edition,
dated: February 2025

Route Architect Spotlight

Bill Hearne

Bill Hearne spent many years growing and operating his powersports dealership, Outdoor Motorsports, in Spearfish, SD.  The dealership was named a Top 100 Dealer by Dealer News magazine eight times. He worked to improve motorcycling for all riders; establishing certified motorcycle safety training in the Black Hills and working with highway departments to ensure road design was motorcycle friendly.

At age 50, Bill was a late starter in off-road riding and Malcolm Smith is to blame.  Malcolm invited Bill to ride Baja with him and the spell was cast.  Bill doesn’t ride fast or well but definitely pegs the fun meter.

After selling and retiring from the powersports industry, Bill wanted to do something to give back to the motorcycle community that he had enjoyed.  The result was the Dakota Adventure Loop (DakAL), a 900-mile off-road adventure through western South Dakota.  The route is open to anyone seeking a diverse and challenging adventure.

Working to produce and protect off-road motorcycle trails, Bill recognized that private funding would be needed to make any real impact.  This thought morphed into the nonprofit SD Trails Development Corporation and the Dakota 600.  The Dakota 600 is a five day off-road event offering everything from gnarly single track to laid back ADV riding.  The Dakota 600 has two goals.  First, show the riders the best off-road event they have ever experienced.  Second, raise significant funds for trail development.  To date, the Dakota 600 has raised over $250,000 to create better trails for you.

Groups and organizations seek Bill’s advice and council due to his experience and knowledge of trails and their development.  At age 73 he is still riding the A loops and embraces the passion that is off-road adventures.

SECTION-BY-SECTION

Keystone
to SpearfishSpearfish
to Hill CityHill City
to Keystone
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Keystone to Spearfish – 93 Miles

Start your adventure in Keystone, SD, a great place to explore the many tourist attractions before departing on your journey. Almost immediately, you’ll be greeted with a rugged stretch of dirt road through tall pine forests. Meandering through the woods, top out at Pactola Reservoir for a great view before getting back on the dirt. After a short section on primitive two-track, the route continues on and off pavement as you get even deeper into the Black Hills.

Take a rest at the Nemo Country Store for gas and a snack, then enjoy a mixture of fast, flowing gravel roads into the historic mining towns of Lead and Deadwood. Famous for wild west lawlessness and the town where Wild Bill Hickok was killed on August 2, 1876, Deadwood offers great lodging and cuisine on the historic downtown main street.

Take a spin up to the Mt. Roosevelt Friendship Tower where a short hike will take you to incredible views of the tower before dropping back to Deadwood. Your final stretch north includes gravel switchbacks and rustic homes before settling into the town of Spearfish, with multiple opportunities for food, fuel, and lodging and another convenient access point to the route.

K Bar S Lodge

Upscale hotel with wonderful rooms, restaurant, and remote setting with close access to downtown Keystone and nearby Hill City.

  • Address: 434 Old Hill City Rd, Keystone, SD 57751
  • Phone: (605) 857-8805
  • Visit Website »

Rushmore Express

Rustic basic motel with good service and close walking distance to downtown Keystone.

  • Address: 320 Cemetery Rd, Keystone, SD 57751
  • Phone: (605) 666-4483
  • Visit Website »

Under Canvas Mt Rushmore

Rustic glamping tents near the start and end of the route

  • Address: 24342 Presidio Rnch Rd, Keystone, SD 57751
  • Phone: (888) 496-1148
  • Visit Website »

Comfort Inn & Suites Mt. Rushmore

Standard hotel with ample parking, breakfast, and close proximity to downtown.

  • Address: 321 Swanzey St, Keystone, SD 57751
  • Phone: (605) 666-4925
  • Visit Website »

Roosevelt Inn

Standard hotel with ample parking, breakfast, and close proximity to downtown.

  • Address: 206 Cemetery Rd, Keystone, SD 57751
  • Phone: (605) 666-4599
  • Visit Website »

Powder House

Basic motel lodge with great restaurant on property, just outside of Keystone.

  • Address: 24125 US-16A, Keystone, SD 57751
  • Phone: 1-800-321-0692
  • Visit Website »

American Pines Cabins

Cabins in a remote setting just a few miles from downtown

  • Address: 1315 Old Hill City Rd, Keystone, SD 57751
  • Phone: (605)-666-5475
  • Visit Website »

Backroads Inn and Cabins

  • Address: 901 Echo Valley Rd, Keystone, SD 57751
  • Phone: (605)519-9920
  • Visit Website »

Coyote Blues Village BnB

  • Address: 23165 Horsemans Ranch Rd, Rapid City, SD 57702
  • Phone: (605)-574-4477

Town Hall Inn

Historic building with close access to downtown Lead and downtown Deadwood

Stampmill Inn

Rustic historic building with old west feel and restaurant saloon.

Blackstone Lodge and Suites

  • Address: 395 Glendale Dr, Lead, SD 57754
  • Phone: (605)-584-2000
  • Visit Website »

Iron Horse Inn

Historic building in the middle of downtown Deadwood

  • Address: 27 Deadwood St, Deadwood, SD 57732
  • Phone: (605)-717-2585
  • Visit Website »

Martin Mason Hotel

Historic hotel in downtown Deadwood

  • Address: 33 Deadwood St, Deadwood, SD 57732
  • Phone: (605)-722-3456
  • Visit Website »

Historic Bullock Hotel

Rustic historic hotel on Main Street downtown

  • Address: 633 Main St, Deadwood, SD 57732
  • Phone: (605)-578-1745
  • Visit Website »

The Lodge at Deadwood

Large hotel with restaurant and gaming, just outside of town

  • Address: 100 Pine Crest Lane, Deadwood, SD 57732
  • Phone: 1-877-393-5634
  • Visit Website »

Orchard Creek Cottages

Modern luxury cabins with close access to downtown Spearfish

  • Address: 514 W Mason St, Spearfish, SD 57783
  • Phone: (605)-646-0763

Best Western Black Hills Lodge

Standard accommodations in Spearfish.

  • Address: 540 E Jackson Blvd, Spearfish, SD 57783
  • Phone: (605)-642-7795
  • Visit Website »

Powder House

Upscale restaurant with great steaks

  • Address: 24125 US-16A, Keystone, SD 57751
  • Phone: (800)-321-0692
  • Visit Website »

Ruby House Restaurant

Great restaurant with steaks and more on the historic boardwalk

  • Address: 124 Winter St, Keystone, SD 57751
  • Phone: (605)-666-4404
  • Visit Website »

Boss’ Chicken and Pizza

The name says it all!

  • Address: 212 Winter St, Keystone, SD 57751
  • Phone: (605)-666-4122
  • Visit Website »

Cruizzers Pizza

Great pizza in 50’s style restaurant on the boardwalk downtown

  • Address: 110B Winter St, Keystone, SD 57751
  • Phone: (605)-666-4313

Sugar Shack (off route)

Great rest stop for burgers and ice cream near Pactola Reservoir in section 1

  • Address: 22493 US-385, Deadwood, SD 57732
  • Phone: (605)-341-6772
  • Visit Website »

Nemo Mercantile

Convenience store with food, grocery supplies and picnic area.  Also now serving full menu with pizza, salads, and a bar.

Stampmill Restaurant & Saloon

Rustic eats in a historic saloon setting

The Sled Haus

American food in a modern barn setting

  • Address: 209 Glendale Dr, Lead, SD 57754
  • Phone: (605)-639-5322

Deadwood Pizza Factory

American food in a modern barn setting

  • Address: 647 Main St, Deadwood, SD 57732
  • Phone: (605)-645-6419
  • Visit Website »

Jake’s Fine Dining

Upscale eatery in the heart of downtown Deadwood

  • Address: 677 Main St, Deadwood, SD 57732
  • Phone: (605)-578-1555
  • Visit Website »

Cadillac Jacks Gaming Resort

Large resort and casino with multiple restaurants inside

  • Address: 360 Main St, Deadwood, SD 57732
  • Phone: (605)-578-1500
  • Visit Website »

Killians Food & Drink

Great pub food and beer in a modern setting near downtown Spearfish

  • Address: 539 W Jackson Blvd, Spearfish, SD 57783
  • Phone: (605)-717-1255
  • Visit Website »
Uncle Louie’s Diner
Good ‘ol American diner with great breakfast
  • Address: 447 N Main St, Spearfish, SD 57783
  • Phone: (605)-559-0366
  • Visit Website »

The Original Spearfish Breakfast House

Longstanding American diner in the heart of downtown

  • Address: 608 N Main St, Spearfish, SD 57783
  • Phone: (605)-722-2554

Antunez

Great Mexican food in downtown Spearfish

  • Address: 117 E Illinois St, Spearfish, SD 57783
  • Phone: (605)-722-8226
  • Visit Website »

Latchstring Restaurant

Great American restaurant tucked away next to Spearfish Canyon Lodge for breakfast and dinner.

  • Address: 10619 Roughlock Falls Rd, Lead, SD 57754
  • Phone: (605)-584-3333
  • Visit Website »

Phillip’s 66

  • Address: 424 US-16A, Keystone, SD 57751
  • Phone: (605)-666-5203

Nemo Mercantile

Nemo Country Store and Mercantile

  • Address: 12724 Nemo Rd, Nemo, SD 57759
  • Phone: (605)-578-1438

Exxon

  • Address: 514 W Main St, Lead, SD 57754
  • Phone: (605)-584-3221

Southside Service

  • Address: 157 Charles St, Deadwood, SD 57732
  • Phone: (605)-578-1857

Pack Horse Liquor and Convenience

  • Address: 95 Sherman St, Deadwood, SD 57732
  • Phone: (605)-578-2479

Sinclair

  • Address: 402 Main St, Deadwood, SD 57732
  • Phone: (605)-578-1110

Conoco

  • Address: 820 E Colorado Blvd, Spearfish, SD 57783
  • Phone: (605)-642-4793

Phillips 66

  • Address: 2615 E Colorado Blvd, Spearfish, SD 57783
  • Phone: (605)-642-2041

Spearfish to Hill City – 104 Miles

Immediately after leaving Spearfish, get ready for one of the best stretches of pavement in the country. Spearfish Canyon Road twists and turns as it meanders along the creek amidst towering cliffs and waterfalls, and is particularly scenic in the fall. Stop at Spearfish Canyon Lodge for fuel and a bite to eat, hike to the waterfalls, or extend your first day and stay here for the night.

Back on the dirt, this next section passes through towering canyon walls, famously known as the filming location for the final scene in Dances With Wolves, and features a scenic stop at Roughlock Falls. After making your way through the canyon amidst endless aspen forests, take the scenic climb up to Cement Ridge lookout tower; welcome to Wyoming! After admiring the view, the route takes you back down the hill through expansive pine forest before swinging by the Trailshead Lodge, another great stop for food, fuel or even a place to stay.

You’ll quickly get back on the dirt heading south through flowing gravel, then an optional advanced section features a short rocky downhill through Whitetail Peak Road followed by an area prone to deep ruts that are particularly challenging when wet. Take a quick detour to the Rochford Mall for a sarsaparilla before continuing through a fantastic road alongside the creek, past the Castle Creek campground and the nearby ghost town of Mystic.

The final stretch is full of beautiful forest roads and endless scenery along creeks and lakes. Be sure to take a side trip to the viewpoint overlook before descending into Hill City.

Spearfish Canyon Lodge

Fantastic rustic lodge with riverside rooms, bar, and restaurant with close access to hiking.

  • Address: 10619 Roughlock Falls Rd, Lead, SD 57754
  • Phone: (605)-584-3435
  • Visit Website »

Trailshead Lodge

Rustic cabin rooms with restaurant on-site

Lantern Inn

Updated classic motel with new ownership and close access to downtown

  • Address: 580 E Main St, Hill City, SD 57745
  • Phone: (605)-574-2582
  • Visit Website »

Trails End Cabins and Motel

Cabins tucked away within walking distance of downtown

  • Address: 320 Park St, Hill City, SD 57745
  • Phone: (605)-574-4900
  • Visit Website »

Robins Roost Cabins

Cabins within walking distance of downtown

  • Address: 12630 Robins Roost Rd, Hill City, SD 57745
  • Phone: (605)-574-2252
  • Visit Website »

Trailshead Lodge

American food with plenty of dining area

Alpine Inn

Incredible steaks and dessert, but be prepared for a long wait. It’s worth it.

  • Address: 133 Main St, Hill City, SD 57745
  • Phone: (605)-574-2749
  • Visit Website »

Hill City Cafe

American diner with hearty breakfasts in downtown

  • Address: 209 Main St, Hill City, SD 57745
  • Phone: (605)-574-4582

1885 Steakhouse & Saloon

Great steaks in a historic setting

  • Address: 301 Main St, Hill City, SD 57745
  • Phone: (605)-574-2959
  • Visit Website »

Mangiamo Wood Fired Pizza

Great pizza, drinks, and appetizers in downtown

  • Address: 158 Museum Dr, Hill City, SD 57745
  • Phone: (605)-574-2564
  • Visit Website »

Spearfish Canyon Lodge

  • Address: 10620 Roughlock Falls Rd, Lead, SD 57754
  • Phone: (605)-584-3435

Trailshead Lodge

  • Address: 22075 US-85, Lead, SD 57754
  • Phone: (605)-584-3464

Hill City to Keystone – 156 Miles

Section 3 starts in the town of Hill City, yet another iconic South Dakota town featuring great restaurants and attractions. You’ll quickly get onto dirt after leaving town, where the route gives you the option to take the harder track up Bear Mountain or stay on the main route. Bear Mountain is a rocky and tight stretch of two-track with a constant climb through dense aspen forests, and would be particularly challenging when wet. The reward as you summit is Bear Mountain lookout tower, where you can climb to the top for great views. If you take the main route, you can backtrack to the tower on gravel, the views are well worth it.

Heading south and even further into the National Forest, this next stretch is full of fast gravel roads, before turning into some of the most remote sections of overgrown two-track roads, a highlight section on the route. Passing through Pringle, head east and stop at Wind Cave National Park before the route takes you north. As you enter this area of the Hills, you’re now in Custer State Park territory and will need a park pass. Grab one at the entrance station before starting the Wildlife Loop where you’re sure to see bison, burros, and even bighorn sheep on this great stretch of pavement and prairie dirt roads.

Stop at Blue Bell Lodge for gas and a great burger, and get ready for some of the best pavement in the country! After a few stretches on and off gravel, the remaining part of the route is all paved, and includes the iconic Needles Highway, a stop at Mount Rushmore, and the grand finale on Iron Mountain Road as you ride back to Keystone.

Blue Bell Lodge

Rustic cabins and lodge with restaurant

Sylvan lake Lodge

Historic lodge with rooms and easy access to the route and historic areas.

Lodge at Palmer Gulch

  • Address: 12620 SD-244, Hill City, SD 57745
  • Phone: (800)-562-8503
  • Visit Website »

Hitchrail Bar & Restaurant

Great American pub food and burgers in downtown Pringle

  • Address: 421 Northern St, Pringle, SD 57773
  • Phone: (605)-673-2697

Chuckwagon Dinner

Great restaurant serving bison burgers and steaks, located within Blue Bell Lodge

Carver’s Cafe

Food and ice cream within Mt Rushmore Natl Memorial

  • Address: 13000 SD-244, Keystone, SD 57751
  • Phone: (605)-574-2515
  • Visit Website »

Exxon

  • Address: 201 Main St, Hill City, SD 57745
  • Phone: (605)-574-2077

Conoco

  • Address: 632 Main St, Hill City, SD 57745
  • Phone: (605)-574-9001

Blue Bell Lodge

  • Address: 25453 SD-87, Custer, SD 57730
  • Phone: (605)-255-4531

PLAN YOUR ADVENTURE

BLACK HILLS PACKING LIST

This packing list serves as an example and is not intended to be a complete list for your backcountry riding needs. Feel free to customize this list to work for you.

  • Helmet
  • Boots
  • Goggles
  • Gloves (2 sets)
  • Protective gear (pressure suit, Leatt brace, knee braces)
  • Jacket
  • Pants
  • Balaclava or neck gaitor
  • Water bladder or bottle
  • Hydration pack
  • Ear plugs

BLACK HILLS MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIPS

RICE'S SPEARFISH CANYON MOTORSPORTS

Spearfish, SD

WEBSITE

Located in the Northern Black Hills, Rice’s Spearfish Canyon Motorsports is just two miles from Section two of the Black Hills BDR-X. We sell and service Honda, Yamaha, GasGas, Can-Am, Skidoo, Spyder and Royal Enfield. Purchase your Off-Highway-Vehicle pass here! With a large selection of parts, accessories and apparel we can help with anything you need for your adventure! Our staff are all powersports enthusiasts and own at least one machine and have years of powersports experience. See ya out there!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Below are answers to some of the Frequently Asked Questions about the Black Hills South Dakota BDR-X.

The Black Hills BDR-X is a 355 mile route through the Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park in South Dakota, USA.  Featuring incredible pavement, gravel roads, rugged two-track, and a never-ending supply of historical and scenic waypoints, this route can be accomplished in about 3 days, but extend your stay and see what else the Black Hills has to offer.

This route is best done late May through early October.  Lingering patches of snow and ice can be found in the spring, and temperatures start to drop in late fall. 

Be aware of events in the area, including the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which fills the area with up to a million riders and can be extremely congested.
This years’ rally takes place August 4-13, 2023.
https://www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com/

As with all BDR’s, this route is designed for intermediate riders.  Most of the composition is easier gravel and packed dirt, but there are stretches of tight, rugged two-track, rocky hills, and the Optional Harder climb up Bear Mountain.

The Black Hills BDR-X has one dedicated ALT Harder track, on Section 3 just outside of Hill City.

This section includes a rocky two-track climb to the top of Bear Mtn and tops out at the lookout tower.
Riders wishing to remain on the main route can still backtrack to the lookout tower from the west via a gravel road.

May through October are generally predictable, but can see hot temperatures in the middle of summer, and cold mornings and evenings in the shoulder season with potential for frost on the ground.  Rain storms can happen at any time but are more common in early summer.  June is typically the highest rain month.

This route is designed to be ridden counter-clockwise, starting from Keystone, but you can access this loop from any location.  Please be prepared for two-way traffic everywhere on this route and always remember to Ride Right to avoid head-on collisions around blind corners.

This route can be accomplished in three days, roughly one section per day.  This area is full of amazing opportunities for tourist activities, hiking, memorials, monuments, national parks, and historical areas so do yourself a favor and plan to spend some extra time to really enjoy the area.

Yes.  A Custer State Park Pass is required for certain portions of this route, primarily the later half of Section 3, which cannot be avoided.  

A park pass is $8 per day, $20 for 7 days, or $36 for an annual motorcycle pass.

There are several self-pay and manned kiosks throughout the area, and the Wildlife Loop entrance station is the first one you’ll encounter as you ride this route in the recommended direction.  For more information visit: https://gfp.sd.gov/pel/
You will also need to pay a parking pass if you visit Mt Rushmore National Memorial, as well as entrance fees to Wind Cave National Park and other attractions should you choose to visit them.

There are many established campgrounds throughout the route, as well as dispersed camping within the Black Hills National Forest.  Be mindful, campfires are absolutely NOT allowed in the National Forest outside of established campgrounds with dedicated fire rings.

The Black Hills can be very popular during the summer and advanced reservations for lodging and campgrounds is highly recommended.

Campfires are absolutely NOT allowed in the Black Hills National Forest outside of established campgrounds with dedicated fire rings.  Dispersed campfires are not permitted.
For more information click HERE

The longest gap between fuel stops is 100 miles on Section 3 on the route from Hill City to Blue Bell Lodge.  There is the option to take a detour to Custer if fuel is required.  Fuel is fairly widely available on this route but pay special attention to certain areas and never pass gas.  This loop makes it easy to detour from the track to get fuel in a nearby town.

There are plenty of great lodging options available throughout this route.  Additionally, the route can be accessed easily from various towns within the Black Hills.  The most notable locations for lodging opportunities along the route are: Keystone, Deadwood, Spearfish, Spearfish Canyon Lodge, Hill City, Hot Springs, and Custer as well as nearby Rapid City and Sturgis.

This route cannot be ridden without the use of GPS tracks.  Be prepared and bring a navigation device with the latest GPS tracks loaded. Free GPS tracks are available for download on this site. The route can also be navigated using a smartphone GPS navigation app like Gaia, Rever and others. The Black Hills BDR-X expedition documentary film is a great source of information about the route and is available via on-demand video platforms like YouTube and Vimeo. 

Any GPS unit capable of handling 15 track logs with a minimum of 1500 points each is suitable for use on this route. Garmin models that work best for this application are: Zumo XT, Zumo 590/595/395/396, Montana, and 276Cx. Many other GPS units are compatible with the GPX file format, check the owner’s manual of your device for more information.  You can also import the tracks into a GPS navigation app, like Gaia GPS, but make sure you have the premium version of the app, so you can navigate via offline maps.

Cell phone service can be limited in some areas on this route so a satellite communication or tracking device such as Zoleo, Spot, or Garmin InReach is strongly recommended for emergency situations.

Any bike that has a license plate, can run knobby tires, has adequate suspension, can carry the gear you will need, and has enough fuel range. Most adventure or dual-sport motorcycles will be suitable for this trip.  Even very experienced riders on our team reported being challenged on larger bikes by some of the technical sections of the route during the filming expedition. Choose the bike that you are the most comfortable riding in challenging terrain and that you are able to pick up if you drop it.

DOT approved knobby tires are strongly recommended.  Riding this route without at least a 60/40 tire (60% dirt, 40% road) is not recommended.

Segments of this route can be ridden two-up for those experienced in riding off-highway with a passenger and luggage. However, we strongly advise against riding the technical sections of this route two-up.  The pavement portions of this route are a fantastic way to explore with a partner on board.

No. Please don’t go off the route anywhere where it’s gated or signed for seasonal or permanent closures, and don’t venture onto private property. There are many trails in the Black Hills National Forest that are restricted to OHV vehicles only and may not be traveled without this permit.  For more information click HERE

The Black Hills BDR-X route may include a few instances where the track follows an easement road through private land. In many, but not all cases, the land owners have installed “private land” signs and it is important that riders acknowledge these signs and stay on the designated track. If you are unsure of the land ownership adjacent to the roads, such as outside of national forest lands, it’s best to stay on the track to avoid trespassing. In all cases riders should not ride off the roads which creates new trails and damages vegetation. Please remember that riding off the designated roads can jeopardize our right to use these roads for recreation.

Yes, there may be gates and/or barricades along the route. When you encounter gates, leave them as you found them. If they were open, leave them open and if they were closed, close them again after you pass through. If you pass by ranches, be courteous and ride respectfully. In spring and early summer there may be temporary closures when crews are repairing washouts, downed trees, and other road hazards. If roads are closed due to wildfires, do not ride around the signs as that can put you or fire crews in danger and can get you a hefty fine. Check the BDR website for route updates before you go.

Please abide by posted road closure signs. Ignoring these signs is a sure-fire way of getting a road closed for good. That said, sometimes locals will post unofficial “road closed” signs on public roads for their own personal reasons. Additionally, land managers may not have removed a “closed” sign from a seasonal road – even though the sign right next to it clearly displays the open/closed dates. In these cases, use your best judgment – if in doubt navigate around the closed road and report it to BDR. And please remember never to engage in arguments with local land owners.

Each state has its own recreational fishing requirements and restrictions. To learn about the required licenses and stamps for fishing (and hunting) in South Dakota, visit: https://license.gooutdoorssouthdakota.com/Licensing/CustomerLookup.aspx

We do our best to post the most up-to-date information about the route on ridebdr.com/.

We depend on the BDR community to inform us about route and road conditions, so if you encounter any road closures or severe conditions that are worth reporting, please contact us with the information.  For more information to plan for road closures click HERE

South Dakota is a habitat for many animals like deer, pronghorn, bison, burros, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats — all of which make their way to the road at some point. Be alert everywhere you go as animals can and will cross your path along the route – especially at dusk.

Pronghorn are known for wanting to race motorcycles, but don’t encourage them. Slow down as soon as you see animals as, for some reason, they like to cross in front of bikes instead of running away from them. Look out for wild horses when you are in open range land.  Appropriate food practices while camping is an absolute must for your safety and the animal’s safety. 

Buffalo are dangerous animals and should never be approached.  Do not pet the fluffy cows.

Yield to all animals whether wild, domestic, or livestock by slowing down or stopping. Many locals in rural areas keep their dogs off-leash on their property and dogs love to chase motorcycles – be cautious and considerate.

All of the roads used on the BDR-X are public roads and as such, are open to vehicles. If you do decide to drive this route you will want a 4×4 with high clearance as the route has deep puddles, large rocks, ruts and steep, loose grades. Always stay to the right and go slow around blind corners to avoid head-on accidents with others using the roads. We recommend traveling the loop counter-clockwise to minimize head-on traffic.

It is absolutely essential that you Ride Respectfully and follow the tips outlined in our Ride Respectfully campaign.  Remember, it’s up to all of you to preserve our access – we can easily lose access to many of these roads if we don’t practice proper etiquette. Always represent BDR and the ADV community in the best light.

Rating the Routes by Difficulty

We are often asked if we rate BDRs by difficulty. We don’t officially rate the difficulty level of our routes as it varies daily due to current weather, road conditions, and other unpredictable factors. Difficulty also depends on individual skill and fitness level, bike and tire selection and load carried.

Some riders find sand to be most challenging, some find mountain passes difficult. Each rider’s perception is unique.

While we can’t provide a standardized rating like ski resorts, we can provide some basic guidance of difficulty level from most to least. This order does not include optional harder sections and implies favorable road and weather conditions:

BDR Routes: CABDR-South, ORBDR, AZBDR, WYBDR, UTBDR, COBDR, NVBDR, NEBDR, WABDR, NMBDR, CABDR-North, IDBDR, SEBDR, MABDR.

BDR-X Routes: Big Bend, TX; Red Desert, WY; Steens/Alvord, OR; Chattahoochee, GA; Black Hills, SD; PA Wilds, PA.

Review the FAQs for each route before your trip.

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