Bike rides in South Dakota

Explore 6 rail-trail, greenway and park ride options in South Dakota, with route lengths, surfaces, access notes and starting locations. These are selected recreational outings, not an exhaustive trail inventory. Read each guide’s scope and access cautions before choosing a ride.

6 ride guides · alphabetical order

• Creekside Trail — Custer State Park, South Dakota

  Custer State Park

  4.8 mi · Out-and-back

  Paved

  Start at the Custer State Park Visitor Center, at the junction of US Highway 16A and Wildlife Loop Road. Use its designated public parking and walk your bicycle through the lot to the signed Creekside trailhead. The manager's map marks both parking and a trailhead here. The park office farther west is a different facility; its address is not this ride's start.

• Farm Island — Nature Exploration perimeter loop

  Farm Island, Pierre area

  1.8 mi · Loop with return approach

  Gravel / aggregate shared-use trail

  Ride an easy-rated gravel circuit near the western end of Farm Island, east of Pierre, South Dakota. This outing includes the Nature Exploration Trail's western access stem, its outer loop and the return along the stem: approximately 1.8 miles total, with a short walked parking approach extra.

• Lake Thompson — Campground Shoreline Trail: short bicycle return

  Lake Preston / Lake Thompson

  Up to 1 mile return · Out-and-back

  Improved gravel shoreline trail; not grass Nature Trail

  Follow the signed main path along the signed gravel Campground Shoreline bicycle trail, away from grass Nature Trail. Turn after 0.5 outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.

• Lewis and Clark paved bicycle trail — Gavins Point: short bicycle return

  Yankton / Gavins Point

  Up to 2 miles return · Out-and-back

  Paved designated bicycle route; not Gavins Point natural footpath or Chalk Bluffs trail

  Follow the signed main path along the signed paved bicycle main path away from Gavins Point day-use trailhead. Turn after 1 outward mile or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.

• Mickelson Trail: short return from Deadwood

  Deadwood

  Up to 2 miles return · Out and back

  Improved crushed-limestone rail-trail

  Walk from the designated public lot to the signed Mickelson Trail. Ride south up to one mile and retrace, stopping before a difficult grade, crossing or work barrier. Stay on the improved main railbed.

• Yankton — Riverside paved waterfront: short bicycle return

  Yankton

  Up to 2 miles return · Out-and-back

  Concrete selected waterfront path

  Follow the signed main path east on the signed paved waterfront main path. Turn after 1 outward mile or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.