Destinations

Wall, SD: The Town By the Badlands

Ile Kauppila

5 min read

Hitting a wall with a motorcycle rarely has a good outcome. Unless it’s Wall, SD, in which case you’re in for a great time riding in a unique prairie environment.

Wall was platted in 1907 and officially established in 1908 as a stop along the expanding Chicago and North Western Railroad. Its name in both English and the Lakota language is derived from Badlands National Park, which lies just south of the town.

To English speakers, the badlands represented a natural “wall,” particularly with the 80-mile-long ridge running through them. The Lakota, meanwhile, know it as Makȟóšiča Aglágla Otȟuŋwahe. Roughly translated to English, this means “the town by the badlands.”

Looking at the surrounding arid but beautiful scenery, the names seem accurate.

The awe-inspiring environs surrounding Wall feature vast, horizon-spanning grasslands with some rolling hills breaking up the monotony. You can just picture enormous herds of cattle roaming through the landscape, coaxed on by cowboys on horseback.

Look south, though, and you’ll be face to face with the majestic Badlands National Park. Buttes, mesas, rock spires, and needles rise to the sky, separated from each other by deep canyons and steep gullies.

There are many hiking paths in the area, but the loop road traversing the park is an excellent way to experience it from the saddle. This ragged and rugged, almost lunar landscape in the middle of a flat prairie makes this one of the most otherworldly places to ride in America.

Rolling into Wall, you’ll find another legend. The Wall Drug Store (or just Wall Drug to friends) was founded in 1931 by Ted Hustead as a—you guessed it—drugstore. It has since grown into a sprawling shopping center more akin to a mall.

It wasn’t always so successful, though. Initially, Hustead struggled to attract customers. The shop's fortunes turned around when his wife had the genius idea of advertising and serving free ice water to thirsty travelers crossing the plains to the then newly opened Mount Rushmore (which you should go see if you’re around these parts).

Wall Drug houses a variety of Wild West-themed stores, still including the original drugstore. You’ll also find historical displays, gift shops, restaurants, and the iconic 80-foot-tall brontosaurus in the yard.

For more recent history, visit the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, a short ride east on I-90 from Wall. This site preserves the last Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic system in a decommissioned museum state. You can learn about the Cold War and the nuclear arms race, tour missile silos (some of which still contain disarmed missiles), and visit the launch control facility. It’s a strange feeling sitting at a place where someone once held the ability to unleash nuclear devastation at their fingertips.

If that wasn’t enough military hardware for you, the nearby Ellsworth Air Force Base houses the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. The outdoor aircraft, missiles, and space equipment displays are a great excuse to stretch your legs.

Back in town, Dahl’s Chainsaw Art gives you a heaping helping of local culture and arts. The big draw at the place is the world’s largest jackalope sculpture. You can also commission a sculpture for yourself (although it will probably not fit in your panniers).

Another bizarre sculpture in the area is the Giant Prairie Dog Statue. This bug-eyed marmot stands by the Badlands Ranch Store on the Badlands Loop Road.

Hankering for a jaunt on gravel? Ride out to see the Silent Guide Monument, a tall stack of flat stones that can be reached along unpaved country roads. A local sheepherder built the landmark in 1900 to mark a watering hole that was usable all year round. The original spire was said to be visible over 35 miles away.

Wall is located on the way to Sturgis, so if you’re headed for the motorcycle bonanza over there, make sure to stop by. Yet, this wall is worth riding to for its own sake.

Facts & Info

Nearby Attractions

Badlands National Park
Wall Drug Store
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
South Dakota Air and Space Museum
Dahl’s Chainsaw Art
Silent Guide Monument

Nearby Roads

Most riders coming to Wall are there to ride the Badlands Loop Road (SR 240), with its one end conveniently in the town. This 38-mile, all-paved two-laner takes you to breathtaking lookouts and viewpoints from which to admire the outlandish vistas.

Besides the badlands, Wall’s immediate surroundings are admittedly flat with straight roads. Ride about an hour east, though, and you’ll find Custer State Park with twisty asphalt. The state park’s Wildlife Loop Rd is a popular ride, and it is paved, if a little rough. Make sure to give the beasts a wide berth.

Another excellent route in this area is US 16A/Peter Norbeck Scenic Highway. There’s also Needles Highway, a switchback-laden romp through exquisitely gorgeous rock formations.

Food & Dining

Wall has surprisingly many good restaurants for its size. There are so many, in fact, that I can’t list them all, but here’s a sampler of some rider favorites.

Salty Steer is a popular eatery among locals, motorcyclists, and general tourists alike. As the name might clue you in on, it prepares hearty American food from steaks to burgers. Find it at 600 Main St, Wall, SD.

For post-ride brews and pub grub, head over to Badlands Saloon and Grille. The taps dispense both local and non-local craft beers to whet your whistle. Find it at 509 Main St, Wall, SD.

Before you hop in the saddle, grab breakfast at Wakin’ Bacon. This food truck will get your day started right with top-notch breakfast sandwiches (and lunch, too). Find it at 606 Glenn St, Wall, SD.

Best Time to Travel

As with so many other places, late spring or early fall are the best times for motorcycling around Wall. The temperatures are comfortable (with daytime highs falling in the 60-80-degree range), and the tourist crowds are smaller (not that these roads are ever too busy). Spring brings vibrant badlands scenery, while in fall you can enjoy crisper air.

Summer in South Dakota is very hot, and there’s little shade, which can make heat management difficult. If you’re riding in the summer, try to limit your rides to morning and late afternoon. The Sturgis rally is in August, so the roads around Wall fill with motorcyclists around that time.