Victoria Lake Trail Network: Victoria's Secret Loop

Victoria's Secret Loop is one of the best mountain-bike loops near Rapid City, a 5.3-mile singletrack ride that follows the limestone rim of Victoria Creek Canyon for world-class views of the canyon, the Black Hills, and the city below. Part of the user-built Victoria Lake Trail Network, it's rated black diamond, a difficult outing with multiple steep, rocky climbs and descents and roughly 950 feet of elevation gain. Most riders take it counterclockwise, accessing it from the parking area at the intersection of Sheridan Lake and Victoria Lake Roads, then following the Lower Cow Pie Trail a short distance before Victoria's Secret veers off to the right. The trails here are typical Black Hills singletrack: rocky, narrow, twisty, and occasionally steep, with sharp rocks that make tubeless tires wise and minimal signage that makes a downloaded map essential. Avoid riding it when wet, since the clay soils get soft, and watch for poison ivy along the way. Cell service is limited to the ridgetops.