This one-way route is brought to you by Kymberly Byers, a self proclaimed “vagabond bikepacker” whose passion is to ride the back roads to the roads less traveled.
The route can be ridden as a two-day bike packing trip or an epic 1-day.
Photo Credits: Kymberly Byers
One of the best parts is riding through the Black Hills National Forest in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. There are many rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, ponderosa pines, open grasslands and tumbling streams.
Biking by and learning about the Vore Buffalo Jump. It is one of the most important archaeological sites of the Late-Prehistoric Plains Indians where in the past Buffalo were driven over the edge of the sink hole as a method for the Native American tribes to procure the large quantities of meat and hides needed to survive the harsh prairie winters.
The terrain is gentle and mainly non-technical (even with 4,000 + feet of climbing!). Grades are not steep and the the entire route feels very flowy.
Devil's Tower National Monument is quite a sight to see and makes for a spectacular destination whether you camp near the views of the tower or use that as your turn-around point.
I often felt as if I was getting turned around in the national forest. Make sure you download the route and use a reliable GPS navigation. (Gravel Bike Adventures recommends the Wahoo ELEMNT Roam.)
Between miles 16-65 there isn't a single opportunity to resupply. (Make sure you have enough hydration and food to keep you going for at least 50 miles!)
Miles 57 through 65 are on a busy road, but luckily there is a good shoulder.
Do this ride if you are looking for either a great scenic bikepacking route from Spearfish to Devil's Tower or an epic one-day ride of 100-140 miles!
There is a gas station at mile 16. If you aren't already fully stocked plan to stop there as there isn't another opportunity for 50 miles of riding.
At mile 65 you'll find, Devil's Tower Gulch Restaurant, a lovely place with a great view of the Tower, which makes a nice lunch or dinner stop.
Camping is available at the KOA near the Devil's Tower National Monument park entrance (and they have a swimming pool for a post-ride soak as well as showers, laundry facilities and free wifi).
If you wanted to shorten this to a 100-mile out and back, we would recommend starting this from Beulah, WY.
Need some bikepacking gear? Gravel BIke Adventures love the Big Agnes Ultra Light Copper Spur Bikepacking Tent and the Revelate Designs Terrapin System Seat Bag.
I started this ride at the Spearfish campground/park which has free parking in addition to camping.
Guest: Kymberly Byers
Kymberly Byers is a self proclaimed “vagabond bikepacker” whose passion is to ride the back roads to the road less traveled.
Her current mailing address is in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but she gets around quite a bit and who knows where she’ll land next!
Kymberly began bikepacking in 2017 and has been doing multiple trips a year since. In 2020, She bikepacked 100 consecutive days from Fort Wayne Indiana to the Headwaters of the Mississippi to the Badlands, Black Hills, Devils Tower, over the Bighorn mountains, to Yellowstone, made a lap around the Tetons and many points beyond. She also completed smaller trips along the Gulf coast, Texas, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and more- 26 states in 2020 alone!
You can learn more about Kymberly and her 2020 bikpacking trip on the Girls Gone Gravel Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/girlsgonegravel/rebroadcast-strangers-self-worth-with-kymberly-byers-episode-25
“Basically, I just want to ride and experience the vast beauty of our earth. If I can share my experiences, then all the better.”
