Hey guys, I am planning on a long weekend with my boys. Would like to explore the french creek/cheyenne river area. Hunting turkeys is the excuse to go riding around. Has anybody ridden this area?
This is a route I have ridden a couple times... but it is all two-lane or gravel, no trails. Probably not what you're looking for. It's just a nice route to avoid most of the tourist traffic in the summer.
RC - Buffalo Gap (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=rapid+city,+sd&daddr=Co+Rd+T235%2FNeck+Yoke+Rd%2FS+Rockerville+Rd+to:Harney-Rockerville+Rd%2FS+Rockerville+Rd+to:N+Playhouse+Rd+to:S+Dakota+87+S+to:S+Dakota+36+E+to:N+Cobb+Rd+to:Cobb+Rd+to:Cobb+Rd+to:L+H+Rd+to:E+French+Creek+Rd+to:Ash+St+to:S+Fairburn+Rd+to:S+Fairburn+Rd+to:Main+St+to:7-11+Rd+to:7-11+Rd+to:7-11+Rd+to:43.497409,-103.461099&geocode=FZ-doAId2dHY-Sn7pbuepUJ9hzHHt5M-WmFxxA%3BFXqKngIdeDTX-Q%3BFQTAnQIdSmzW-Q%3BFSL4nAIdhHnW-Q%3BFXPYmwIdJF7V-Q%3BFS4QnAIduK3X-Q%3BFUaemwIdwMjX-Q%3BFZKdmwIdJ5rX-Q%3BFVJMmwIdXnvX-Q%3BFVe6mgIdGGfY-Q%3BFc6emgIdcGPY-Q%3BFeWTmgId8CjZ-Q%3BFToUmgIdmN3Y-Q%3BFc3ZlwIduIjZ-Q%3BFc6hlwIdypHX-Q%3BFaKwlwIdU3jX-Q%3BFRLUlwId-k_X-Q%3BFfcImAIdYAzX-Q%3B&hl=en&mra=mi&mrcr=17&mrsp=18&sz=14&sll=43.494526,-103.439369&sspn=0.044146,0.069866&ie=UTF8&ll=43.906798,-103.610687&spn=0.701488,1.117859&z=10)
There is an unmaintained road south of Hot Springs where you can cross the Cheyenne, although maybe not in the spring (water too high). I don't have GPS coords but search Google Maps for "Rocky Ford, SD" and you will find it.
A couple pics from that ride last July...
Looking back at the entrance to the world-famous Rocky Ford road.
(http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx177/photoquark/July%202010/P1000179.jpg)
Coffe Flats School House, recently restored.
(http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx177/photoquark/July%202010/P1000182.jpg)
If you crash on the way down to the river, these guys are waiting to pick your carcass.
(http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx177/photoquark/July%202010/P1000183.jpg)
Also, when I was wading out to check the depth, I saw a badger swimming across the Cheyenne. I'm pretty sure it was not a normal badger, it was a genetically-modified man-eating badger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_badger). So make this crossing at your own risk. Vultures, badgers, deep ruts, and deep water. ;D
flesh eating badgers... the worst kind!