In the distance, we saw an occasional odd-shaped white building that we later learned was an old goldmine. There's also additional shelters along the trail. Oops. I was very thankful for them this trip. There were soft spots on the trail but mostly hard pack with sand. On our first night, we stayed at the Carsten Cottages at around mile 16 of our ride between the Dumont and Rochford trailheads. WebA fantastic way to enjoy the rugged beauty of the Black Hills is to jump on your bike and head out on the Mickelson Trail. These are pandemic days, days that I usually spend baking cookies and doing puzzles at my kitchen table. Hope you liked the whole article and it will come handy to recognize and buy the best part of mickelson trail from the market. Low 14F. Thats why you need to be very careful whether you are choosing the right brand for your specific product or not. The grades are a little steeper than other rail trails but that means you can actually coast on the downhills. Buy the Trail Guide for the Mickelson Trail book before you go. It is amazing. The George S. Mickelson Trail is a rail trail in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. It is not just a trail but an opportunity to see the Black Hills in all its' splendor & beauty. They were great people. We also had a chase vehicle to drop and pick us up. South of Hill City most of the trail is beside a highway. There are 15 trailheads, all of which offer parking, self-sale trail pass stations, vault toilets, and tables. Enjoy the scenery, go at your own paceand take everything in as you pedal your way along. i would like to cycle one way from Sturgis to Edgemount. George S. Mickelson Trail Itinerary | TrailLink Adequate water stations were important since it was July. Either head north along the trailCuster to Rochfordand shuttle back, or shuttle to Rochford (about 35 miles; a 1-hour drive) in the morning and ride south to Custer (about 38 miles). The George S. Michelson Trail is a walkway that extends for 109 miles from Lead to Edgemont to Deadwood and through the Black Hills of South Dakota. You can take a walking tour of town, stopping by many more historical sites, including the Adams House and Adams Museum. The trails converge again at the bottom just south of Lead. 632' Down First time to the Black Hills and really did not know what to expect. It's probably the best non paved trail we have biked over the past 5 years. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The trail surpassed our expectations. The Best Way to See South Dakota? This Former Railroad Trail This was a great ride and we were well prepared for the journey. Get any items you may need here. There is talk of increasing the amount of riders to 2,000. Our guide took us via the backroads route to Dumont where she entertained us with trail stories and local history. My wife and I came up from Colorado over Memorial Day weekend (2006)and rode the entire length of the trail. Around the old Lein gravel quarry youll notice the white rock, indicating limestone, which was once mined here. An Adventure Projects staff member will review this and take an appropriate action, but we generally don't reply. Every producers produces products. WebA fantastic way to enjoy the rugged beauty of the Black Hills is to jump on your bike and head out on the Mickelson Trail. April may have been a little early for this trip. It's an easy route made of crushed gravel and limestone. The Trail from Minnekahta to Edgemont will be closed from October 3, 2022 toMay 21, 2023 for the Highway bridge replacement project bythe Department of Transportation. Well maintained with multiple rest stops inc. toilets and water. Located north of Custer in Hill City, they also offer shuttles to all the trailheads (4-person minimum). The Wild West shootouts are held daily (except Mondays) during summer. Again, a long climb awaited us, but we prefer to climb first and coast back rather than the reverse. Traffic noise not great. You can start your adventure anywhere along the route, at any trailhead, especially if you're exploring by foot or bike. The map published by the Department of Parks and Recreation is also very well done and provides good elevation information.There were good stops in Rochford, Hill City, and Custer, so food and water should not be a concern. More importantly, however, we got advice as to where to grab a bite to eat. If you no longer have access to the email address call our memberships department at (800) 755-2453 or email us at memberships@adventurecycling.org. So early one cool mid-July morning (after an overnight thunderstorm) we parked the car at Mystic trailhead and headed south toward Hill City, up a steady grade about 3 miles, mostly with good trail gravel pavement. It is dry, they need rain so is was dusty. George S. Mickelson Trail (Deadwood) - All You Need to Rt. The George S. Mickelson Trail South of Custer Sports and Recreation When the George S. Mickelson Trai l was formally dedicated in 1997, the project's many supporters decided an organized ride over the entire 109-mile length of the trail would be a good way to celebrate the achievement. My uncle worked as a machinist at Harley Davidson for 18 years and I sold T-shirts at Harleys 100th Anniversary when I was in college. We spent a while in Custer, firstly at Horatio's Homemade Ice Cream, right on main street, AWESOME homemade ice cream and waffle cones! Since the trail was completed in the fall of 1998 it has become one of the premier rail-trails in the West, rich with boom and bust history of gold mining, and challenging for bicyclists as it cuts through rugged mountain terrain.The George S. Mickelson Trail's northern section cuts a curving course through mountains and ponderosa pine forests, over creeks and through narrow valleys by the towns of Deadwood, Lead, Rochford and Mystic. First the pluses. The people there are super nice. Counties: Custer, Fall River, Lawrence, Pennington. The surface was great and the scenery was beautiful, "I ride the Mickelson Trail alot during the warmer months and love the central section between Hill City and Rochford the best. From there it was several long slow uphills and breezy downhills into Hill City. I did two sections, from Hill City to Crazy Horse, and from Deadwood to Englewood. Crazy Horse is just off of the trail, but Rushmore involves about twenty miles of riding off of the trail with some hills. Once at the pinnacle, we whooped and whooshed our way downhill, enjoying the wind in our faces, the golden fields whizzing by, and the knowledge that the hardest section of the trail was behind us. It doesn't seem like it on the trail brochure's topographical map, but I'd start at Mystic and go south if I had it to do again. Sure, Ive been hiking and biking here and there and have even done a few 60-mile rides, but I was nervous to attempt the Mickelson Trail in two daysthe only time left after Id spent the entire week visiting National and State Parks (how typical). The towns, with motels, are well spaced to do the ride in 2-4 days. This is a must ride. We rode on a windy day in late June, thinking the headwind might blow us all over the trail, but the beautiful surrounding Black Hills shielded us for the most part and we were able to enjoy a beautiful afternoon of riding and breathtaking scenery. Two water bottles on a hot day would be important because there are no water stops between the towns. The Mickelson Trail rolls for 114 miles through the scenic Black Hills in South Dakota from Deadwood to Edgemont. Continuing downhill we crossed the signature trestle over Rapid Creek but we knew the good times were going to end and it did at the Mystic TH. The only problem was that it didnt have a water bottle cage on it. We rented our hybrid bikes at the first-rate, family owned rental company in Hill City. At the end, we will suggest you to be careful to justify the value and the price of that part of mickelson trail that you are going to buy. We started out heading North from Custer to Mystic. We rode Hill City to Dumont one day and HillCity to Custer another with the Stockade Lake Spur. In all, a great experience and a great trail. We started in Deadwood which is very interesting and headed south. Dinner at Jacobs Brewery (nice ambiance, food ok). The Mickelson Trail through the Black Hills in South Dakota We did the 108 miles from Deadwood to Edgemont in 2 days the last week of September to experience the fall colors. Adventure Cycling Association inspires, empowers and connects people to travel by bicycle. ", "I have just finished the 2005 Mickelson Trial Trek, which was 109 miles from Edgemont to Deadwood and was very impressed with the ride and the organization of the ride. I pride myself on once having ridden 107 miles in a single day on a single speed (gearless) bicycleshout out to the New York City Century ride!but that was a couple years ago. Unique Gift IdeasGifts ideas bags suitable for mom, grandma, gigi, nana, aunt, auntie, daughter, sister, cousin, granddaughter, best friends, boss, employee, teacher, nurse,lawyer, doctor, wife, coworker, her, BFF, bestie, female, office, lover, family, etc. But the scenery and amenities allow any cyclist to be able to ride it. We stopped in Hill City and bought a replacement tube at Rabbit Bicycles. Our design is registered with the patent and trademark office. Just completed 28 miles backpacking this trail with a friend and my dog. One local rider I met (who admitted to originally being from Washington State), heard me mention that I live in New York City and told me not to tell anyone about the trail. There were 4 couples and two of our friends in a van who shuttled our gear. We departed Hill City at about 1:30 and kept a fairly steady, uninterrupted pace the rest of the way. Our itinerary calls for arranging a shuttle to Rochford in the morning and riding back to Deadwood. My wife was unable to ride bikes due to some injury so I studied the elevation chart and had her drop me off at the higher trail heads and pick me up at the low ones. I climbed up from Edgemont on a day when the mercury was in excess of 100 degrees, and had to turn around at the 16 mile mark because it was just too hot and there's NO shade on the southern bit of the trail. Slicing through mountains, the George S. Mickelson Trail honors the states former governor who crusaded for the trail before his tragic death in 1993. 1,471' Down Tom Hammerquist - Gillette, Wy. We stayed in Custer and got sagged to a couple of different starting points. Also, your cell phones and walky talkys won't always work in this mountainous area. Im currently sitting here in a rented cabin near Hill City, South Dakota in the United States. 192.61 m Down. Any suggestions on what are the best parts of the trail to ride and where might be some good places to camp are welcome. Up and down like this until last 43 miles where it mostly descends until one last big uphill at the 5-6 mile marker. Our itinerary heads south from Rochford to Custer. Among our group were those that had ridden many rail trails including the Sun Trail and trails in Italy and Europe. Finding a rental bikeelectric or otherwisenear the trail is much more difficult than youd expect. Through this task, one will get a little idea about quality also and make it easier to go ahead toward making our final verdict as well. What I would do differently next time: bring a different bike!! From then on, it was cinder and dirt, but well-maintained and lined with globe streetlamps for the next mile and a half. So what does this mean? The supervisor maintained the confused look on her face but we got our coffee and continued on. There were gates to open and close, but again, not a problem. The trail is between them. Highly recommend this trail. After the real summit, the trial runs downhill through prairie-like areas toward Hill City. Gorgeous and trail excellent. The Spearfish Recreational Trail travels for 5 miles through the heart of Spearfish, a town situated east of the South Dakota/Wyoming border and just Join TrailLink (a non-profit) to view more than 40,000 miles of trail maps and more! Have you been able to satisfied with that? This was the slowest bike ride weve ever taken it was only a standard 4% railroad incline but it was unrelenting. If yes, then you dont need to think twice. I'm certain that will be fixed before Spring, based on how well maintained this trail system is. Land Manager: South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks - Custer State Park, 8.3 mi Note: at the intersection of E. Main Street, cross the street and ride the Walnut Ave. sidewalk in front of the railroad museum until you re-enter the trail behind the Quality Inn. (Tried the other direction but it was harder we went in 23 miles it started to rain and we got stuck in the shelter over night, had to ride out through thick mud) anyway we went back shuttled to Deadwood and it was a bit easier. There is a 50's style restaurant where we all went to and enjoyed shakes with the extra helping that goes with it in the silver canester! the trail was VERY WELL supported and loved every second of the experience. Each person reserving a space is required to have a handicapped parking permit. Bison at a few points beside the trail and other wildlife to see. I hope that this does not happen becquse it will significantly decrease the desirability of this incredible ride. In places, the trail is remote, and cell phone coverage is poor at best; we recommend packing a basic first-aid kit. It was a great ride, no problem with the surface and I have 1.5" tires. The granite gives way to slabs of slate stacked haphazardly like tall, thin texts on a bookshelf. [CDATA[ Access road, SD 237, is a wide, hard packed, low dust level road and a good shortcut to Rochford and Mystic from US 385.September 4th, Best of our 3 days. ", "We rode this trail in early September 2003. In my opinion. 130.91 m Up Sure, my ride had two wheels but my bike was pedal powered; my destination, the George S. Mickelson Trail, a 109-mile car-free rail trail through the Black Hills region of South Dakota. The quaint mountain town of Lead is a wondrous place when the snow falls and the Black Hills are mystically turned to white. It's great to have a safe place to ride, with gentler grades, than the highways near my home midway between Rapid City and Deadwood.". We had no problem with water or facilities on the trail. ", "We rode the Mickelson Trail in its entirety in July. Length: 109 miles. The jersey has pockets in the back so I threw another water bottle in there so I didnt have to unstrap the toolbox every time I wanted a drink. We rode three days and used two trucks for our shuttles. I was very interested in the trail after watching videos, seeing pictures, and reading about it. South Dakota did it right by making this trail. Stop at the saloon in Rochford and have a burger and a beverage! Genuine product designed and handmade by BenShot in Appleton, WI. On Day One we planned to ride 16 miles to our first cabin, less mileage than planned for future days due to this section of the trail having the most elevation gain and it being our first day out. It is exceptionally well maintained. Your donation will help us to continue connecting more people to trails around the country. We popped into a gift shop in Custer that had a large sign offering free coffee for bikers, assuming our spandex shorts, cycling jerseys, and helmets made it clear that we arrived on bikes. Stayed at Cedarwood Inn (nice, clean, quiet, close to trail). We started at the northernmost point of this 108-mile trail, in the old Western town of Deadwood, South Dakota (aka a touristy casino town). Valleys stretch and cattle graze in the fields. Bridges, tunnels, wildlife, horses etc. A majority of the trail does not exceed a 4% grade, but parts of the trail are considered strenuous. Trail maintenance and facilities were excellent! Whatever the public is trying to say about this brand. Awesome trail! Id love to hear about your experience and any tips would be great. if (document.mmm_fo) document.write ("&mmm_fo=1"); If you cant swing an overnight trip, day trips are also possible. Know Before You Go. Rushmore/Crazy Horse. It seems that most of the time we get biased on some specifice products of specific brands. The 62.6 miles on the second day was my longest ride ever, although I have put on several 50 mile rides. There is no bike shop in Deadwood. We prioritized their utility, performance, durability, look, cost, and previous user experiences. Back on the trail after lunch, we fell into a quiet rhythm. WebBest of all, the Mickelson was 30 feet from the front door. The trail was in good to excellent condition and both of us will share this wonderful experience with our local bike shop so others can enjoy the joys and pleasures of biking without traffic. This 60 mile stretch is not for the faint of heart. 13.3 km Mornings were cold but afternoons were into the 60s. Black Hills, South Dakota, Sugarloaf Trailhead: 1 mile south of Lead on Hwy. We did this trail in sections, doing a 15 mile section out and back each day. Many adults take two days to ride the whole trail, while others pride themselves on riding the entire length in one day. The Mickelson Trail is an easy, but beautiful ride through the middle of the Black Hills. and geography that was starting to look more like short mtns rather than rolling hills and valleys, so the rest of the ride this day was more deer, slightly steeper trail sections, (still not hard thobut long). Not anything wrong yet. Saunter by Saloon #10 (622 Main St.) to witness the shooting of Wild Bill and the capture of Jack McCall, deadly perpetrator. Note: This developing route is not yet fully contiguous it is just over 50% complete. Day 1 - I spent the night in Edgemont (Cowboy Inn), then rode to Hill City. If you're in need of a rental, check out Black Hills Power Bikes, Rentals & Botiquelocated in the SouthernHills in Custer, or Rabbit Bicycle Rentals & Repair in Hill City - bothjust blocks from the Mickelson Trail and bothoffer bike rentalsfor adults as well as children. The Black Hills surround the trail with beautiful spruce and pine forests. It took us 7 days of out and backs, but we completed this trail from end to end and back again. Given that the majority of their fleet was made up of dusty hybrid cruiser-looking bikes that didnt seem suited for a 109-mile ride, I was surprised they were able to find me a shiny new Specialized e-bike. Rushmore is included. In the first hour out of Deadwood we were spread out over about a mile. Make sure you know how to fix a flat tire and have basic bike maintenance skills. A former rail line, the trail crosses more than 100 railroad bridges and goes through four tunnels. You may think of it as a proper evaluation guideline for you, as it will cover the upsides and downsides of your desired product, as well as its sustainability, affordability, functionalities, and practical advantages. Share Tweet BikeCowboyTrail.com is part of the TrailHub bike trail network Definitely would ride again. On Day Threewe rode approximately 37 miles, made possible by having a special birthday destination along the way lunch at the Purple Pie Place in Custer, a funky restaurant offering delicious milkshakes and pies. The main trail route extends 108.8 miles (175.1 km), from Edgemont to Deadwood, with approximately nine miles of additional branch trails, including a three-mile (5 km) paved link from Custer to the Custer State Park completed in 2007. If you like a more "quiet" way to discover the scenic beauty, put on a pair of cross-country skis or take your fat-tire bike! if (document.MAX_used != ',') document.write ("&exclude=" + document.MAX_used); There are 15 trailheads, all of which offer parking, self-sale trail pass stations, vault toilets, and tables. If you want to experience the trail during the winter, the best place to start is up in the Northern Hills. Soon we entered the green Ponderosa Pine Forest and continued until the trail took a sharp switchback and began circumnavigating one of the high Black Hills. ", "Our group of 6 adults and two children rode 35 miles of this breath-takingly beautiful trail. Over all the trail was in good shape, there were places where the gravel was a little loose, but nor bad. The bridge is one of the only two made of concrete on the Mickelson Trail, and youll see an original bridge number marker on the southeast side. Be aware that parts of the trail are over 6000 ft, give yourself a day to adjust before doing the steep grades. All Rights Reserved. WebGeorge S. Mickelson Trail 11361 Nevada Gulch Road Lead, SD 57754 605.584.3896 Email: MickelsonTrail@state.sd.us Show More Amenities Biking Trail(s) Group Picnic Shelter(s) Hiking Trail(s) Historical Site(s) Horse Trail(s) Picnic Tables Self-serve Entrance Kiosk(s) Vault Toilets (open year-round) Warming Shelter(s) Show More There are only two short segments (from the Pringle trailhead to the White Elephant trailhead and the first five miles North of Edgemont) that I would not repeat in a future ride of the trial. Then back to the car for a snack, then we headed north 5 miles on the trail through some beautiful scenery, some cabin neighborhoods, numerous bridges across creeks, even near a small waterfall. There are two kinds of people. GIVE THE GIFT OF LEARNING: Whether youre shopping for holidays, birthdays, or just because, toys from Learning Resources help you discover new learning fun every time you give a gift! Come back to Lead and settle in at the Blackstone Lodge. This was a 4 degree grade up hill. Our family hiked on the Mickelson Trail on our epic National Park vacation in July 2015. Husband said he would love to get electric bikes and do it. Along the trail, we had the opportunity to watch deer feeding, and observe the many wonders including Crazy Horse Memorial. Im obsessed with my New York City Cycling jersey, which depicts the Statue of Liberty in a bright red bicycle helmet, so I bring it on pretty much every trip I take. I highly recommend this stretch of the trail. I rode the Mickelson trail in mid August, while Custers and Hill Citys main streets were filled with motorcycles. Nice surface, well maintained with fairly good facilities for the whole trail. Those who live along the trail say that biking is better later rather than earlier in the summer when the moisture in the road base has dried out. Beautiful sights. Because of forest fire risk, smoking is strictly forbidden along the trail. Once you hit Red Fern, it's a welcome downhill all the way back. The trail was well maintained and the scenery beautiful. Enjoy!!! and you're never too far from town if the kids get tired. We chose to not ride the last 30 or so miles because we needed to get the kids back to school and sports. In Custer, you can take a 3-mile spur to reach Custer State Park, which offers camping opportunities, wildlife viewing, and a replica of an 1874 log fort. My wife and I rode this section at the end of June and it was absolutely gorgeous. I was on a steel Surly single speed, riding solo and carrying two panniers. Rent bikes from Two Wheeler Dealer in nearby Spearfish. Specification 10 PCS Stainless steel Hex Head Screws, Top head diameter:14mm, Screw length:18mm, Screw diameter:7mm, Serve We serve you 24 hours a day. This trail rocked and we rocked 84 miles of it. The George Mickelson Trail was one of my favorites. My wife and I along with my 80 year old father did trail in 3 days had a blast great trail will comeback and do it again. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Purchase them from bike shops or at trailhead kiosks. I first learned of it when I saw it feature as the tail of the month in the Convervancy magazine. My advice is to carry a lot of water and take lots of layers of clothes, including hats and gloves. Some of the most beautiful scenery ever. Overall there is quite a bit of elevation change, but being a rail trail there are no steep hills. Given the lack of info, the uphill grade and the gravel terrain, I decided it would be safest if I broke the North bound ride into two days. Leaving the trail to navigate a maze of dirt roads to get to our cabin for the night was the hardest part of the day. McCalls trial takes place at the Masonic Temple. The varied scenery was awesome.Summary: All the tunnels were very well maintained with wire screening preventing any rocks from falling on users. Then you can easily percieve the effectiveness of the part of mickelson trail. When in Hill City, visit Teddy Bear Town, a house packed to the brim with stuffed animals of every type, size, and from all over the world, most donated by visitors. Rabbit Bicycles or Mickelson Trail Adventures are two businesses that come to mind. I rode a 28 tire with no problem. Luckily, there is a "small of America" souvenir shop/snack place right next door. The tunnels were cut through the mountain and reinforced with wood timbers cut to form arches and water still seeped through the rock. We especially enjoyed Carsten Cottages for a group stay. ", "We rode most of the Mickelson from Custer to Deadwood the first week in October, 2004. Once you leave the Hill City outskirts, you're away from the highway and riding through some beautiful scenery. Beautiful hike in South Dakota Black Hills You get to ride a bit thru town, and are quickly along side a mountain pond. WebRe: best part of Mickelson bike trail for a family ride? Snowmobiling is allowed only - on the Deadwood to Dumont section of the Mickelson Trail. One will gain a better understanding of quality as a result of this task, making it easier to reach our final decision. A mile or so past this, we turned around and it was an exhilarating descent back to Deadwood, although at times a white-knuckled ride around hairpin turns onto dangerously soft surfaces. There are basically no bug or mousquitoes to deal with and the weather always seems to be cooperatative. The Mickelson Trail is terrific. There are facilities all along the way; we saw a Rails-To-Trails award posted at the Mystic trailhead. We rented bikes from Rabbit Bicycle and Black Hills Shuttle, who are located right next to the trail in Hill City. Check or FAQs for more common login questions. Do you have any suggestions for cabin rentals in the Black Hills? The terrain varies from high desert to forested hills and streams. At times, the Mickelson Trail hugs steep granite walls, crosses creeks via trestle bridges and even slips through timber-lined tunnels. The trail surface worked great for our hybrid bikes. The trail itself is very hard crushed gravel and even when I cycled it in a sudden rainstorm, it did not get mucky. Theyre also looking into opening a second shop in Hill City, approximately the midway point along the Mickelson Trail, to support trail riders. 2023 Search Google for BenShot Reviews to see our reviews and learn more about how we give back to our community. We took advantage of bars, coffee shops, and restaurants that had welcome signs for bikers. Even during a hot summer day, a cold storm could blow in unannounced; dress in layers, or at least pack extra ones. Please leave it better than you found it and clean up your own trash. 3,527' Down It is a steady incline for 8.5 miles, then a little bit steeper as you incline another 1.5 up to Crazy Horse (So 10 miles incline) After that down hill into Custer another 6.5 to the trailhead. We are confident that this list of the top ten best part of mickelson trail will help you select the one that best fits your needs. If altitude or hills are a problem the shuttles can help. Overall one of the best R2T rides I have done. But if not, then you must think about the second best option from that search list. The Harleys don't ride the trail, of course, but they do put a crunch on motels as well as pack restaurants to capacity. Well-maintained. However, there is no way to argue with the idea of relying on well-known brands. The southern part of the trail seems to be looser gravel than the northern section.