Biking the Black Hills: 5 Days on South Dakota’s Mickelson Trail

Completed in 1998, the trail – a converted Burlington Northern rail bed – was named in honor of a former South Dakota governor. Trail passes are required ($3 daily) and are available along the trail.

Before you get started, a few tips: You can rent gear or bring your own. Overnight camping on the trail is prohibited, so make arrangements with hotels and campgrounds in neighboring towns. Remember that you’ll be at elevation; climbs are typically an easy 4 percent grade but can be quite long. You’ll need plenty of food and water, as well as sunscreen and hats, as there are few opportunities once you’re on the trail. Be prepared: The weather can change in a heartbeat.

The trailhead is in Deadwood, where the crushed-gravel path leads to Dumont, about 18 kilometers away – mostly an uphill stretch. You’ll pass the famed gold-mining town of Lead on your way. Once you hit Dumont, this is one of the few sections of the trail where snowmobiling is permitted in the wintertime.

Downhill again from Dumont to Mystic, about 29 kilometers. Remnants of abandoned gold mines abound and you’ll pass through two tunnels – north and south of Rochford – and a long, tall bridge. At this point you’re about 14.5 kilometers from Rochford and the Moonshine Gulch Saloon.

Leaving the old ghost town of Mystic – site of a million-dollar failed experiment in gold mining at the beginning of the last century – you’ll pedal about 11 gentle kilometers uphill, followed by 11 kilometers downhill to Hill City.

Before heading to Pringle from Hill City, take a short side trip to Custer for a superb view of Crazy Horse Memorial. Along the Hill City-to-Pringle section (45 kilometers), which is known for its abundance of deer and turkey, the landscape changes from forest to meadow. Keep an eye peeled for bighorn sheep.

As you leave the sweet smells of Ponderosa pine forest and coast down the mountain and into the old uranium-mining town of Edgemont (51 kilometers), the temperature will warm noticeably. It’s time for a cool shower and a cold drink; you’ve earned it. 

Getting to South Dakota is easy and convenient via connecting flights from many international gateway airports including: Minneapolis-St. Paul in Minnesota, Denver in Colorado, Chicago O’Hare in Illinois, Salt Lake City in Utah, Dallas/Fort Worth in Texas and Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, Georgia.