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● Sturgis Ride Guide
Iron Mountain Road
The engineering marvel — three tunnels perfectly framing Mount Rushmore, plus pigtail bridges that loop over themselves.
Miles
17
Time
1 hr
Difficulty
Moderate
Starts at
Custer State Park (Peter Norbeck Visitor Center)
The Route
Peter Norbeck Visitor Center, Custer, SD → Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Keystone, SD
What to Expect
US-16A between Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore. Three narrow rock tunnels, three pigtail bridges, 314 curves, 14 switchbacks. Slow-speed sightseeing road — rev the engine in a tunnel, everybody does it.
Ride Brief
Skill Level
All levels comfortable at slow speeds. If you can handle a hairpin at 15 mph you'll love it. Sightseers everywhere — patience beats pace.
Fuel
Fuel in Custer before you start or Keystone at the end. No gas on the road itself.
Food Along the Way
Buglin' Bull and Skogen Kitchen in Custer to start, Powder House Lodge or Ruby House in Keystone at the end.
Best Time to Ride
Sunrise. Tunnels perfectly frame Rushmore in morning light and traffic is nonexistent.
Watch Out For
- !Blind pigtail bridges — expect oncoming trikes
- !Deer and elk at dawn/dusk
- !RVs on switchbacks