STURGIS - The City of Sturgis and Black Hills Trails have collaborated on a downhill biking trail that is now open for use.

The Downhill Optimized Bike Park, aka Flow Trail, is located on the city’s Barry Stadium property near the Fort Meade softball fields east of Sturgis. It is similar in nature to the project that Rapid City just approved on M-Hill - Thunderdog Trail.

Those participating in the Music on Main Mountain Bike Race Series on Wednesday, June 26, will traverse the trail as part of the race course. 

Sturgis Public Works Director Rick Bush said the city and Black Hills Trails have had a long-standing history of collaborating to provide a recreational trail system that is “second to none” in the Black Hills. 

“Black Hills Trails continues to address this ongoing need and ensuring that this trail system remains a premium asset to the Sturgis Community. This is done by countless hours of volunteer work to maintain the exiting trails and creating new and exciting additions to our system,” Bush said.

That newest addition comes in the form of a downhill flow trail.

“You can think of it like riding a roller coaster,” Bush said. “The turns are built up so that it's easy to go through the corners and you can carry more speed through them if you want to.”

The trail is for downhill bicycle traffic only, so no hiking and no riding up the wrong way, Bush said.

“This is to keep everyone safe while allowing a high level of speed and flow, creating the feeling of soaring like a bird going down the mountain,” he said.  

Black Hills Trails made a presentation to the City of Sturgis Park & Forestry Board on Feb. 13. This presentation included background information on the existing agreement between them and the city. It also included an addendum to the agreement to include improvements for the Buffalo Soldier Trailhead located to the south of the Fort Meade softball fields.

Bush said this project is a great addition to the current trail system and provides for another recreational opportunity on the city owned Barry Stadium property. 

The City of Sturgis Park & Forestry Board unanimously recommended approval of this addendum and then on March 4, it was approved by the Sturgis City Council. 

City staff helped Black Hills Trails complete the project by providing city resources of manpower and equipment. 

The land at Barry Stadium is mandated for use as recreational property, Bush said.