Reviewed by: Nate ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
If you want to talk about this trail ask me....I currently hold the record for completing this trail in 21h 45min with a good friend from Colorado, Fred (thanks for everything Fred)(We were the first people to ever totally ride all of the legal sections of this trail at one time)If you look above you will notice that I put that I ride this trail every few months that is because if you don't do it all at one time that is not riding the trail that is riding a section of the trail. But I do normally ride a section of this trail about every other week durring the season. Speaking of sections of this trail I don't want to tell you what sections to go ride because everybodys riding skill and preferance is differant from everybody elses. There are so many section to ride you could easily spend 4-5 days riding this trail and still not ride it all. Certain sections go from nasty loose rock covered trail, to steep rock inbeded trail, to open fast rolling trail, to hike a bike areas. If you can't notice there is a wide variation of trail and therefore no one section is better than the others depending on what you want to ride. If you have any question email me or stop in at Acme Bikes in Rapid City and I will be very happy to give you the low down on what you should ride and maybe even go with you if you don't mind.

Recommended Route:
My only reccomendation is come prepared especially if you want to do the whole thing and make sure if you are doing the whole thing at one time go from south to north there are less hike a bikes and more ridable sections therefore it is about 2-4hrs faster.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Other trail...o geez...how about this I will just list them and if one intrests you stop in at the best shop in town (acme Bikes) and they will let you know what it is like and where it is at and they might even go with you too.. so here they are Storm mtn. Hwy 44 trails including the bonecollector, M hill, St. Martins, Skyline, deerfield, silvercity, first thunder, nemo, Todds trails (make sure you have a guide that knows these trails or you just might die),and of course lots of sweet roadies too....

Reviewed by: flea , from saint paul, minnesota

Summary:
I would definately stop at two wheeler bike shop in rapid city and get a national geographic contour map. Park in Sturgis at the chamber of commerce building and ride a block up the street and under the expressway to the paved road to nemo. Ride up this road and it's hills for about 7 miles toward Nemo and take a left on Forest Road 139. Ride this hilly dirt road for a few miles, the Centennial trail runs into it and shares this road for about another mile then the trail cuts off to the right and becomes technical singletrack.Don't let the first few rockie downhills bum you out, after a level section and then a climb after crossing road 139 again you are rewarded with several miles of the most wonderful downhill singletrack imagininable, with banked switchbacks and some very smooth and scenic trail. After coming out of the hills and under I90 Alkali Creek trail or adjacent gravel road back to your vehicle in Sturgis.

Recommended Route:
A round trip from sturgis into the hills on paved road, then down on forest roads and the centennial trail for a 3-4 hour ride.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Centennial trail from just west of legion Lake near Custer north to the Needles Highway, six miles each way for a 12 mile roundtrip. very scenic with rolling hills.

Reviewed by: Karkus , from Boulder, CO

Summary:
The trail from there started with mostly uphill singletrack that wasn't too bumpy. However, it was challenging because some parts were steep, loose, and/or overgrown. After crossing highway 16A, the trail turned into an overgrown doubletrack that went slightly uphill (I don't like riding on grass). It became a little more interesting after that but stayed double track and went into a logging area. We heard lots of gunshots nearby there and decided to turn around since singletrack was nowhere to be found. It sounds like other parts of this trail are better. The trail south from Badger hole to French creek is supposed to be very technical, but it looked like more of a horse trail (and they tend to make trails loose and a pain to ride, so we didn't try it).

Recommended Route:
We rode in Custer State Park, from Badger Hole north.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Fishing area creek trail (I forgot name) a few miles east of above trail in Custer State Park - double track is easy riding, but lots of creek crossings are fun and challenging and I got my feet wet even when I made them.

Reviewed by: royce volker , from onida,s.d

Summary:
I road from Samelius Trailhead north to Sheridan lake.Then had the bad idea of riding the road back into Rapid City.The torential rain made the road ride in,nothing short of a death march.Now dont get me wrong the,the trail was very technical and as rock infested as I've seen the Centennial get.Plenty of tight switchbacks and plenty of downhill into Sheridan lake.The trail is the first part I've ridden that was 100% singletrack.The trail was in great shape,and should test anyones technical skills.The next time I'm there,I'm gonna head south towards Horsethief lake.A group of hikers thought the southern section would be unrideable,just the advice I need to give it a try.Well,till next time,Ride Like Hell!

Recommended Route:
take mount rushmore(hwy 16) road out of rapid city.Follow it up towards mount rushmore for about 10-12 miles until you see the brown Samelius Trailhead sign on the right side of the road.The trail starts right off the highway and is marked by the familiar trail 80 markers.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
trail 40 and 40L,paha sapa,the rest of the centennial,and the mickelson for the faint of heart.