Description:  The Bulldog mountain biking trail is actually a section of the Centennial trail (Trail 89).  This hiking trail wanders roughly from Sturgis to Custer. Although several sections of the 100+  mile trail do not make for quality mountain biking, you would be hard-pressed to find many riders that don’t think that the descent off bulldog isn’t one of the sweetest lines in the Black Hills.  As a matter of fact, probably the only thing that one could hold against this ride is that it’s an out and back ride on the same trail.   The trail starts off  on a relatively flat two track that crosses under the  interstate, passes across a short section of prairie, then begins a  low grade, windy ascent to the top  of the ridge.  At this point most riders turn around and enjoy the fruits of their labor and complete the voyage with 8 ½ miles under their belt.  This entire loop sports only 120 ft/mile, making it one of the gentler rides in the hills.  Another advantage is that it is technically one of the easier rides in the hills.  Compared to the other trails, the grade is not only more forgiving, but there are far less rocky technical sections.  If this is your first trip to the hills and you’re not certain of your ability, this is a great test piece to access and hone your skills.

Start:  Head north from Rapid City on Interstate 90 approximately 20 minutes to Exit 34.  Turn right at the stop sign and then take a quick left onto BLM Road.  This turns to gravel. Travel 0.3 miles  into the Ft. Meade Recreational Area and turn right into the Alkali Creek Trailhead parking lot.  The trail starts on the other side of BLM Road , across from the parking lot.

Getting lost:  Most of this section of the Centennial trail (Trail 89) is single track without many options to turn. This minimizes chances of getting lost.   There are both placards and signs placed periodically marking Trail 89.

Continuing on:  As previously mentioned, this is just a small part of the Centennial. There is some great riding beyond the turn around point.  The main deterrent for continuing further is two rocking climbs at about 7.5 miles.  The first is 100 yards.  The second is a few hundred yards.   For all but the hardiest of riders, these are hike-a-bike climbs.  Some find the riding well worth these two unpleasant climbs.

Another option for those with more time and two cars (or someone to shuttle) is to ride an entire section of Trail 89.  Starting at the Elk Creek Trailhead, one can ride north  to the Alkali Creek Trailhead. You thus finish on the Bulldog descent.   This is a very popular option for those riders with extra travel and sends you down the two previously described rocky climbs.  This ride is in the range of 10 miles. 

Also note that if you’re looking for additional mileage, this ride shares the same start as the Alkali Creek ride.