BLACK HILLS, S.D. (KELO) –Highway 385 between Deadwood and Hill City in the Black Hills has been under construction for a while. Now Phase 1 of the project is complete and ready for rally riders.
Thousands of riders drive on Highway 385 each day to get the most out of the Black Hills.
“It’s just, beautiful countryside. There’s just nothing prettier. The roads are challenging, a couple roads inexperienced people shouldn’t be going on. But other than that it’s the most beautiful ride you can do. That’s why I’ve been coming here for 28 years,” Missouri Rider Dave Blystone said.
For a few miles the roads aren’t fully complete, but still accessible for those riding through.
“The gravel was pretty packed, it wasn’t terrible. I mean you have to slow down for gravel but if you have to detour off Nemo Road, that way to Sturgis is beautiful as well so who cares, it’s gorgeous,” Wisconsin Rider Jennifer Melgosa said.
For rally goers, having Highway 385 fully open for them to experience the Black Hills in all areas is a huge benefit to having to find alternate routes to travel through the hills.
However some still wish conditions were better, especially for newer riders.
“They could’ve capped that in some way, other than being gravel, hard gravel, or whatever you want to call it. Especially for the inexperienced riders that are, you know, somebody could go down, somebody could get hurt and that’s just not necessary,” Blystone said.
While the road is open to all from Deadwood to Hill City, riders are advised to use caution when riding through the gravel road.
