The Keystone Custer Loop is an amazing ride that includes 3 of the Must-Ride roads in the Black Hills; The Needles Highway, The Custer Wildlife Loop, and Iron Mountain Road. Starting in Keystone, it is a short ride to Mount Rushmore. Continuing on past Mt. Rushmore is a neat opportunity for a profile view of George Washington. Up next are the switchbacks that take you to the scenic Needles Highway with its crazy rock spires.
After finishing the Needles Highway, you can take the gravel road to the top of Mt. Coolidge for an amazing view of the Black Hills (Note: the road to Mt. Coolidge is not on this GPS route, but we have identified the entrance if you wan to add on this side trip).
Just past the road to Mt. Coolidge is the entrance to Custer National Park Wildlife Loop. If you are lucky you will see plenty of Bison and other wild animals. When you finish the Wildlife Loop, the route returns to Keystone on Iron Mountain Road.
Iron Mountain Road has many amazing features including switchbacks, pigtails, and tunnels. When you are riding through the tunnels, look for the views of Mount Rushmore. Be sure to stop at the Norbeck Overlook for more great views of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills. If you can only take 1 ride in the Black Hills, this ride will give you a great idea of what the Black Hills have to offer.
Approximate Mileage: 75 Miles
Estimated Riding Time: 3.25 Hours
Road Surface: Paved
Attractions:
- Keystone: Mount Rushmore, Mt Rushmore Profile View, Norbeck Overlook
- Hill City: Needles Highway, Needles Highway Scenic Overlook
- Custer: Cathedral Spires Pullout, Hole in the Wall Picnic Area, Mt Coolidge Lookout, Custer Wildlife Loop, Iron Horse Highway
Motorcycle Rides, Keystone, Hill City, Rapids City, Custer, Hermosa
Keystone Custer Loop
If you are riding with a group, we ask that every person using our route for navigation purchase their own copy.
In order to encourage this, we are happy to offer a discount for group purchases. Please contact us after purchasing 1 item at full price, and we will set up a coupon code that will give everyone in your group 50% off of the same item.
Our digital routes are designed to operate in most GPS devices. In addition to GPSs, our routes should work with several smartphone apps. They will NOT work on Google Maps or Apple Maps.
If you plan on using a smartphone app, we recommend the REVER app. REVER will work with both Android and iOS and in addition to navigation it has many other great features.
For best results in REVER, download the route to your computer first, then import into your smartphone. Turn by turn may not work, so we recommend that you utilize the "Follow the Line" option.
You can get 20% off your first year’s subscription to REVER by following THIS LINK.
AND using this coupon code at checkout: Driftlessforless.
By using this link and coupon code a portion of your subscription fee will go to support Driftless Roads USA.