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Dakota Dreamin' NEW |
Dates: (12 days, 11 nights; Sun-Thu) |
Assembly Point: Bismarck, ND |
Tour Cost: $3,300 (includes all lodging, all breakfasts and dinners, park entrance fees, support van, leaders, tour maps & narratives) |
From the Missouri River, as it carves its course through the center of the Dakotas, effectively dividing east from west, to the badlands and rugged hills of the west, there is an undeniable wildness and majesty to this vast landscape that is the western Dakotas. Over 200 years have passed since the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery traveled through this region in search of an all-water route across the continent. That route, of course, was not to be found, but the expedition opened the west to the tide of settlement that followed. It began with prospectors, farmers, ranchers, merchants and traders, all headed westward to seek their fortunes. Two centuries later, Urban America is very much a western reality. But not so in the Dakotas, which, for better or worse, has clung to its rural character.
Unpopulated and unhurried, a pace of life to be envied in a land that is ruggedly beautiful—this is the western Dakotas, North and South, that we fell in love with in the course of our Lewis and Clark Odyssey in 2004, and again in the context of Odyssey 2006:Lewis and Clark in the Dakotas. Irresistibly, we’re back in 2008; Dakota Dreamin’ will be our way of expressing how we feel about the Dakotas as an exciting bicycle touring opportunity.
We’ll launch our journey in Bismarck, ND, near the Mandan Villages where the Lewis and Clark Expedition wintered in 1804-05 before continuing its mission to the Pacific. We’ll trace the Missouri upstream from North Dakota’s capital to the Mandan Villages and beyond. We’ll ride the shores of sprawling lakes created by the dams constructed along the Missouri. We’ll overnight in Pick City on Lake Sakakawea and then in New Town before riding west to Williston on Day 3.
From Williston, we’ll visit Fort Buford State Historical Site, the army post where both the great Sioux chief, Sitting Bull, and Nez Perce leader, Chief Joseph, were imprisoned following their capture as the U.S. Government drove the Native Americans from their lands to make way for the tide of settlers that followed in the wake of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Near Fort Buford, we’ll also visit the Confluence National Monument, where the Yellowstone joins the Missouri and the point at which the captains were reunited on their journey home.
We’re headed south from Ft. Buford to Watford City, gateway to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Early morning of Day 5, we’ll ride the park’s scenic road to road’s end. Bison are everywhere along this route as are magnificent views of the badlands carved by the Little Missouri. We’ll ride on to Medora that afternoon, spend the evening at the Badlands Motel, and then ride the scenic loop through Theodore Roosevelt’s South Unit the next morning. Once we’ve completed our tour of the park, we’ll van shuttle to Spearfish, SD, where we’ll spend the evening.
The ride from Spearfish into the Black Hills is extraordinary and we’ll climb through magnificent Spearfish Canyon on the morning of Day 7 to the late-19th century silver mining camp of Lead. A quick descent to Rocheford and we’re on the hard-packed (road-bike appropriate) off-road Mickelson Trail for a scenic ride to Hill City. We’ll overnight at the Golden Spike and ride to Mt. Rushmore on Day 8. Following our tour of Rushmore, we’ll ride to Custer State Park and an evening at the State Game Lodge, a favorite summer retreat of former presidents Coolidge and Eisenhower.
We’ll continue our exploration of Custer Park throughout Day 9. We’ll cycle the Wildlife Loop, home to a free-ranging herd of bison as well as the surprising wild burros. Later in the day, we’ll ride the awesome Needles Highway through the corridor of towering granite spires. We’re headed for the Sylvan Lake Resort on the shores of Sylvan Lake, where we’ll spend our next two nights. A layover day presents the opportunity to hike nearby Harney Peak in the Black Elk Wilderness. A beautiful 5-mile trail leads to Harney’s 7,242-foot summit, the highest peak east of the Rockies. That afternoon, we’ll tour the Crazy Horse Memorial, the massive sculpture still in progress that honors the great Lakota warrior.
Day 11, we’ll head downhill through Custer to Jewel Cave, tour the amazing cave with the National Park Service and ultimately return to Custer for our final overnight at the Buffalo Ridge Lodge. Following a visit to Sheridan Lake on our final day, we’ll enjoy a long, long descent from the Hills to Rapid City, where our program concludes.
Total cycling mileage–704
Total hiking mileage–5
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