The Saskatchewan government is warning motorcyclists heading down to a big annual rally in South Dakota to avoid a potentially hazardous stretch of highway.

Each year, the Sturgis, S.D. motorcycle rally — the largest of its kind in the world — attracts thousands of visitors from Saskatchewan and other parts of Canada. Sturgis is about 863 kilometres south of Regina.

Many of the Canadian visitors have traditionally taken Highway 35, which runs due south from Weyburn.

However, this year the province is telling riders to take a different route.

The problem is a two-kilometre section of highway near the Saskatchewan-North Dakota border, which is being rebuilt.

The road has a layer of loose gravel, which could make driving more difficult or cause motorcyclists to be hit by flying stones, the province said Friday. It hopes to finish rebuilding the section of road by mid-July.

Although the rally doesn't get under way until Aug. 4, the province says many bikers begin the trek on the July long weekend, so it has put out an early warning.

Instead of taking Highway 35, the province suggests people go to Regina, take Highway 6 south to Montana, then head east and south to Sturgis.

Highway 35 is considered safe for people in cars, the government says.