Centennial Trail - 5 Day Guided Mountain Bike Trip

DAY 1

A short shuttle takes us to iconic Mount Rushmore National Monument. Carved out of a solid granite mountainside over the course of fourteen years, Rushmore is a must see for any visit to the Black Hills. After our sightseeing opportunity we begin riding north on the Centennial Trail. A strenuous climb around Samelius Peak rewards us with great views of Black Elk Peak to the south. At 7242’ high, it is South Dakota’s highest peak! A big descent takes us down to our camp at Sheridan Lake. TOTAL MILEAGE: 13 miles

DAY 2

As we leave camp with Black Elk Peak behind us, we will climb up through a beautiful grassland with a 360 degree view of the surrounding hills. We’ll enjoy our lunch here while taking in the wonderful views. A fun downhill on grassy singletrack will bring us out of the prairie towards a lush section of forest our guides affectionately call the “green tunnel”. We’ll enjoy this mellow climb up to our camp at Pactola Reservoir, where we can take a well deserved swim. TOTAL MILEAGE: 14 miles

DAY 3

Today we ride rugged trail through the dark timber, which is where the Black Hills derives its name. Being in the geographic center of the United States, the area is home to birds from all regions of the US. Stealthy riders are likely to spot numerous bird species, white tail deer and perhaps a coyote. A maze of doubletrack and a couple forest roads bring us into our camp on Boxelder Creek. TOTAL MILEAGE: 16 miles

DAY 4

We continue to follow the mixed use two-track skirting around the town of Nemo which began as a timber camp in the late 1800s. We’ll ride among limestone capped cliffs as and descend to Dalton Lake where we can go for a quick swim. From here the Centennial Trail is mostly singletrack through to tomorrow’s finish. We continue to wind our way north to our only primitive camp of the trip near Elk Creek. TOTAL MILEAGE: 21 miles

DAY 5

Today we descend out of the Black Hills, just east of the infamous town of Sturgis. While not devoid of some steep climbs and pedaling, it’s a downhill day! Traversing along the northeast edge of the hills give us views out into the wide open plains. We’ll also have views of the limestone and shale canyons that form the outer band of the Black Hills. Some flowy singletrack brings us all the way down out of the hills to finish our journey. From here we shuttle back to Rapid City and the bike shop where we started. TOTAL MILEAGE: 12 miles

Be sure to bring everything on this list. We have carefully developed this list to ensure your comfort on the tour regardless of the weather. If you are prepared for extreme weather, it is an adventure. If you are not prepared it can be a serious problem.We recommend the layering system, including a wicking or long underwear layer, an insulating layer and a weather barrier for wind and rain. This list reflects that philosophy. Weather in the mountains can be unpredictable so be sure to bring all the warm clothing and rain gear listed!

HOW TO PACK: The bulk of your gear and clothing will ride in the Western Spirit support vehicle (preferably in a large duffle bag) and will not be accessible during the day.

For this trip, you will need a riding pack and optional day bag:

Your riding pack may be a hydration pack, but needs to carry 2-3 liters of water, rain gear, other warm clothing, and food for the day. You may be away from camp and the support vehicle all day and need to be self-sufficient.

A small day bag is optional and may be used to store things you’d rather not ride with, but would like to have access to during the day. This day-pack will remain with the support vehicle and may not be accessible, depending on the day.

WHAT WE PROVIDE: ✓ meals, snacks, water, electrolyte drinks, non-alcoholic drinks ✓ camp mugs, all kitchen and dining ware ✓ 1 cycling water bottle ✓ camp chairs ✓ solar showers ✓ sunscreen & bug spray ✓ bike stand and lube ✓ guides bring their own tools ✓ first aid kit with basic medications

BRINGING OR RENTING

• Bike (Our rentals come with flat pedals. You are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.)
• Helmet (gratis w/rental bike)
• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad

CYCLING CLOTHING

• cycling shoes
• 3 - 5 pair cycling shorts
• 3 - 5 cycling shirts
• long sleeve cycling shirt
• long sleeve cotton shirt or solar sleeves
• cycling socks
• windbreaker
• tights or leg warmers
• 2 pair cycling gloves (1 pair full length for warmth)
• rain jacket (Gore-Tex or similar)
• rain pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
• warm layer (lightweight synthetic puffy jacket or long sleeve fleece shirt)
• sunglasses or other eye protection

CAMP CLOTHING

• camp shorts
• shirts
• warm socks
• long underwear, top and bottom (wicking layer, not cotton)
• 2 pair warm long pants
• long sleeve fleece or sweater
• pile or down jacket (insulating layer)
• warm gloves and hat
• brimmed hat or visor
• bathing suit (for solar showers on the trip and at the hotel before/after your trip)
• hiking shoes
• sandals
• rain gear to wear in camp

PERSONAL

• toiletries
• medication (daily and emergency)
• towel
• biodegradable soap
• wet-wipes
• flashlight or headlamp (with extra batteries)
• sunglasses
• optional day bag
• stuff sacks or reusable grocery bags (or separate compartments for your dry bag
• cash for tipping guides: your guides work as a team and share all of their gratuities. A tip of 10-20% of the price of your trip given to either one of your guides when you return to civilization is a great way to say thanks for a job well done.

OPTIONAL

• camera, extra batteries
• binoculars
• alcoholic or any of your favorite beverages (your guides will pack these)
• books or maps
• we encourage you to turn your devices off, but if you cannot, please bring a way to charge them. We recommend a portable USB charger with 1-2 charges. Also, putting your phone on airplane mode to save power is recommended.

Driving Rapid City is located 400 miles (6-7 hours) from Denver, the closest international airport.

Flying into Rapid City Airport Code: RAP

TAXI SERVICE Airport Express Shuttle 605-399-9999 or 800-357-9998

Rapid Taxi +1 (605) 348-8080

It is a good idea to book your rooms in advance; here are a few recommendations:

Hilton Garden Inn Rapid City 815 E Mall Dr, Rapid City South Dakota 57701. Book your room at the Hilton Garden Inn using this special booking link to enjoy a Western Spirit discounted rate.

The Rushmore Hotel 605-348-8300

Super 8 605-348-8070, 800-800-8000

Hotel Alex Johnson 605-342-1210, 888-729-0708

We love biking and traveling as much as you do! For over 30 years, we’ve been in the business of bike guiding and we’ve honed every little detail to give you the highest quality bike trip on the market. We’ve cherry-picked the best mountain bike trails and road rides so you can immerse yourself in the stunning landscape of the American West. We go the extra mile to make sure you have the most fun on your bike!

At Western Spirit, our staff is the heart of our company. Our guides love what they do, and are dedicated to providing you with a memorable vacation. Each of them has received extensive training in backcountry travel, cooking, natural history, and first aid, not to mention their cycling and mechanical skills. They are committed to helping people experience the outdoors and have a wealth of knowledge to share. Their attention to every detail leaves you free to enjoy the riding.

It’s our philosophy that everyone in our busy world needs to get outside more. We know it’s tough to squeeze it all in, but with Western Spirit we’re here to make it as easy as possible. Our friendly office staff is just a call away to help you find the perfect trip for you. We believe in getting away from it all, spending rejuvenating time in nature, and most of all, having a lot of fun!

The trip price includes food and drinks for the trip, guides, support vehicle, campsites, permits, and any entry fees into national parks and public lands.

Not included are: rental fees (bikes and camping gear), alcoholic beverages, gratuities for your guides, and applicable sales tax. If you would like to bring alcoholic beverages we will store them for you at the appropriate temperature.

Your total tour cost will include your trip fee, appropriate rental fees and applicable sales tax

We provide water, coffee, teas, electrolyte drinks, and assorted soft drinks. We cannot provide alcohol. You are welcome to bring your favorite alcoholic beverages and our guides will store them at the appropriate temperature. We’ll keep the beer cold while you’re out riding!

Yes! From lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day, we’ve got healthy and delicious food to fuel your fun. Food is one thing we take pretty seriously and we get rave reviews from our guests.

Our guides are amazing backcountry chefs and will prepare all your meals. All snacks are included. We’re sponsored by Clif Bar, and provide you with plentiful bars, snacks and electrolyte drinks. If you have specific favorite riding snacks, however, please bring them with you.

Yes, no problem! We are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions, and we do it frequently. Our guides are masters at making sure everyone is satisfied. Please let us know when you fill out your forms so our guides can accommodate you and your needs. It is good to be specific (e.g., vegetarian but prefer tempeh over tofu) to help the guides with meal planning.

We wish we could tell you exactly, but Mother Nature is quite unpredictable as you may know. Our trips are designed with the best weather in mind, and follow the seasons—desert trips in spring and fall, and mountain trips in the summer. By sticking to our packing list that we’ve designed for you, you’ll be prepared for whatever comes our way (bringing rain gear almost assures it won’t rain, right?).

Most of our permits allow us to take 13 guests and 2 guides, although many trips are smaller than our maximum allowed. Our Maze permit in Canyonlands National Park is more limited with only 7 guests and 2 guides to maintain the remote wilderness experience.

For mountain bikes, we use the Specialized Stumpjumper ST 29ers. For road bikes, we use the Specialized Diverge E5 Elite. All our rental bikes come with flat pedals, a helmet, and one water bottle cage. We provide the water bottle and all the bike repair gear.

If you’re renting a bike from us, you do not need to show up early. Please meet at the scheduled time and we will fit you to your rented bike then.

All Western Spirit rental bikes come with flat pedals. If you have clipless pedals (e.g., SPD, Crank Brothers, etc.), you’re welcome to bring them along with your shoes. We swap out pedals all the time!

The packing list will tell you how to pack, since it depends on which trip you are on. Overall, we use a 3-bag system:

Camping gear and personal items for camp (gets packed away in the morning and is inaccessible throughout the day), Small daypack (stays in vehicle and is accessible throughout the day, e.g., extra layers, prescription medications, extra snacks, etc.), Hydration pack you wear (all things you readily need, right there on your back). We recommend a 2-liter hydration system (e.g., Camelbak) to carry the things needed during the day (water, snacks, lunch, rain gear, extra layer, sunscreen, camera, etc.), and to easily hydrate without stopping.

Nope! We provide spare tubes (for 26”, 27.5” and 29” wheels), lube, tool kits, and pumps.

Certainly! If you bring camping gear, please bring a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. We’ll provide everything else you need. Don’t worry about the camp chairs—we bring those too!

Please make sure all your gear is in excellent, working condition before you head out on your trip. If you’re bringing your own bike, please make sure it has been tuned up and is in excellent riding condition before the trip.

Yes! We rent tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. Sleeping bags are thoroughly washed between trips. The following prices are for the whole trip:

2-person tent – $40 Sleeping bag – $35 Sleeping pad – $15 Total $90

We offer solar showers which are a nice way to rinse off and refresh yourself, but it is not enough water to take a full-fledge shower. The showers are not private, so please bring a swimsuit and your own towel. Showers are dependent on water resources, which may be restricted if it’s a hot desert trip. Some campsites have streams and lakes available for swimming. We also recommend wet-wipes to refresh after a fun day on the bike.

It’s not a glamorous topic, and we know this can be a subject of concern and embarrassment for some. We make it as easy and sanitary as possible! If we’re camping in designated campsites, we use the pit toilets available in the campgrounds. If we’re camping in the backcountry, we obey by the pack-it-in-pack-it-out rule. We set up a portable toilet lovingly called “the groover,” and put it in a private location with a stunning view. We provide a hand wash system for clean up.

Please join us! We get solo travelers all the time and going on a bike trip is a great way to meet like-minded people. Many of our guests end up as lifelong friends after a Western Spirit trip.