The ride to Bear Butte State Park( left) and Iron Mountain Road( right) are iconic scenic routes.
Venture into Wyoming to visit Devils Tower National Monument or Thunder Basin National Grassland.
Riding to Sturgis is a rite of passage, and there are great routes to get there from neighboring states. If you’ re coming from the east, plan a route through southern Minnesota. In Austin, you’ ll find winding roads through farmland and river valleys, as well as a unique stop at the SPAM Museum. A little farther west, Albert Lea offers scenic lakeside roads, rolling countryside, and a welcoming small- town atmosphere.
From the west, check out Carbon County in southern Wyoming, where you’ ll find sweeping curves and mountain scenery on the Snowy Range Scenic Byway as well as wideopen vistas of high desert and sagebrush country. Historic towns, wide- open spaces, epic roads, and authentic Western character make Carbon County an ideal destination.
RESOURCES:
• Sturgis Motorcycle Rally: SturgisMotorcycleRally. com
• Buffalo Chip: BuffaloChip. com
• Austin, MN: AustinMN. com
• Albert Lea, MN: ExploreAlbertLea. com
• Carbon County, WY: WyomingCarbonCounty. com
12 / JULY 2026 / RIDERMAGAZINE. COM