Originally Posted by Bluraven

We lived in Rapid for 12 years and have been back for another 5 Rallys but now we go up the last two weeks in July and do the "Pre-Sturgis".

We're lucky in that my in-laws own a vacation home near Sheridan Lake so we always have a free place to stay, but we always stay the last weekend in July in Deadwood just for the partying.

I'll be there again this year so if that's the time you're there wave as you ride by.

As for Black Hills HD; this isn't their first rodeo so you'll be taken care of.
As for places to visit, you can google or search this forum and find thousands of post recommended "must see" places.

Below is my recommendatations.
Other than the Badlands and Devils Tower which are pretty much day trips the rest can be combined in a couple of nice day rides.

Not in any particular order:

1) Mt. Rushmore/Keystone (take the 1880s train. A little pricey but a cool ride through the Hills. Also the Mt. Rushmore night lighting is kind of cool)
2) Crazy Horse Monument (still being constructed which is kinda cool)
3) Needles Hwy (My signature pic is on a pull off after the last tunnel)
4) Custer State Park (don't be intimidated by the buffalo, they are used to bikes and the noise. But I'd keep it in gear just in case they decided to take you out )
5) Devil's Tower (take the back roads, stay off hwy 90, also take a pair of walking/hiking shoes and either walk the perimeter via the paved path which takes about an hour or the unpaved nature path which takes about 2 hours)
6) Badlands
7) Hot Springs Mammoth Site
8) Deadwood (last week in July is the Day's of 76 Rodeo week, also if you're into fine dining Jake's (Kevin Costner's place) is a nice meal for around $100 for two plus drinks)
9) Spearfish Canyon (to include Roughlock Falls)
10) Sturgis if you're there the last two weeks in July (businesses are setting up for the Rally). Before that I guess you can ride through just to say you've been there, but there's not much to see then.

Originally Posted by dnespolo

I'll be in Lead from 7/25 my first time there for a whole week. I guess I'll be heading Deadwood first thing that first night. I don't think I'll be able to do everything you are suggesting in one week but hopefully I'll be back again.

Thanks