THE TOUR DE OAHE
Saturday, June 24, 2023
Enjoy the beauty of the Missouri River and the Oahe Dam in this classic road fondo! Three route distances will give you the right amount of fun and fantastic views.
Registration includes t-shirt, stocked aid stations, and post-ride meal.
Event information
The TdO will start and finish at Campground 3 Picnic Shelter at the Oahe Downstream Recreation Area (5 miles north of Ft. Pierre, SD - just off highway 1806).
Detailed information on the 3 routes is shown below, including GPX files for download.
Online registration is now open and closes on June 22. Same-day registration is available but shirts are not guaranteed.
22 mile Dam Fun Ride
The 22 mile Dam Fun Ride begins at the Campground 3 picnic shelter. You'll follow the stilling basin channel out of the recreation area and onto Highway 1806. Heading northwest, you'll have a moderate climb to the top of the dam. The view at the top makes it worth it!
You'll cross the dam to the northeast to find the aid station at the Oahe Dam Visitors Center / Oahe Chapel, complete with grand views perfect for photos. Taking a right onto Highway 1804 and heading southeast, you'll reach an intersection with Grey Goose Road. Take a left and head due north to reach the next aid station at the Grey Goose Store & Social Club for snacks and hydration.
From there, retrace your steps (pedal strokes) back to the Oahe Dam Visitors Center / Oahe Chapel, but this time take a left to ride down the face of the dam rather than crossing it. You'll finish with a nice loop tour of Campground 3 and back to the picnic shelter for the after-ride picnic.
37 mile Dam Nice Ride
The 37 mile Dam Nice Ride begins like the 22 mile route. You'll make your way to the top of and across the Oahe Dam and then to Grey Goose Road. Instead of turning back at the Grey Goose Store & Social Club, you'll keep going north until to reach the end of the pavement before returning.
Once you reach the Oahe Dam Visitors Center / Oahe Chapel on your return, you'll make a left to ride down the face of the dam rather than crossing it. You'll also get a bonus extended tour up close around the massive power plant and the iconic surge tank towers. You'll finish with a tour of all three sections of the downstream recreation area, ending up at the Campground 3 picnic shelter for lunch.
65 mile Dam Long Ride
We admire your spirit for the bonus miles and 2,000 feet of climbing you'll do on the 65 mile Dam Long Ride! Your ride begins like the others, but as you near the top of the dam, you'll take a left on Mission Ridge Road / Highway 1806 to enjoy some fantastic views of Lake Oahe. You'll also get some short punchy climbs as you come and go across the emergency spillway.
Once you reach the aid station at the Chantier Creek Resort store, you'll head back for that signature ride across the top of the Oahe Dam and to the end of the pavement on Grey Goose road and back. On your return to the Oahe Dam Visitors Center / Oahe Chapel, take the left to ride down the face of the dam and the up close tour around the massive power plant and the iconic surge tank towers. You'll finish with a tour of all three sections of the downstream recreation area, ending up at the Campground 3 picnic shelter for lunch.