Spearfish Surprise 100k Permanent Populaire

 On July 1, I rode the Spearfish Surprise 100k Permanent Populaire, during our visit to Spearfish Canyon, in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

The route divides into three distinct parts: forested Spearfish Canyon, with cliffs and rockfaces; the wide open prairie heading into Wyoming; and the connector through the town of Spearfish. In some ways this is more varied and interesting than a 100k totally in the Black Hills.

We were actually staying at the north end of the route, at the pleasant Spearfish Canyon Inn.

Early morning sun catching the cliff faces

The Spearfish Recreation Path was easy to find, pleasant and shady.

On Hillsview Road (the steepest grades of the entire route),

a new abbreviation ("S/D" for "subdivision").

Hillsview Road does offer views of the Black Hills.

Then it's out onto Hwy. 14, through a bit more wooded terrain.

This parallels I-90, so it's pretty quiet ...

... and on into Wyoming!

There is actually a gas station / convenience store on this section.

The turnaround is through the NE Wyoming Visitors Center,

guarded by the only cattle guards on the route.

It's a nice, new structure ...

... with drinks, brochures, and restrooms.

Open landscape with reddish terrain

Nearby is the Vore Buffalo Jump,

an archeology site only discovered in the 1970's

when I-90 was being built.

The small town of Beulah is also an interesting surprise ...

... boasting multiple establishments.

And back up the shallow grade of Spearfish Canyon

to the lodge.

Spearfish Canyon is indeed scenic, 

and the road is surprisingly quiet,

at least when I rode it.

There's more of Spearfish Canyon to explore, 

on up to Cheyenne Crossing

and more Black Hills scenery beyond that.

-jle

P.S. And yes, this was a new American Explorer state for me.