Cycling the George S. Mickelson Trail in South Dakota
TLDRJoin the adventure on the George S. Mickelson Trail in South Dakota, a 109-mile scenic rail trail from Deadwood to Edgemont. Experience the history of gold mining and cattle ranching, ride through tunnels and over trestles, and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Black Hills. Encounter wildlife, explore the geology, and visit iconic landmarks like Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. The trail offers a mix of uphill challenges and downhill thrills, with services and natural beauty around every bend.
Takeaways
- 🚴 The George S. Mickelson Trail is a 109-mile rail trail in South Dakota, offering a scenic ride through the Black Hills.
- 🏞️ The trail starts in Deadwood and ends in Edgemont, passing through historical mining towns and natural landscapes.
- 🛤️ Despite being a rail trail, the Mickelson has a variety of hills, including long gradual inclines and short steep ones, requiring good climbing gear.
- 🏔️ The Black Hills are sacred to Native Americans and known for the famous Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse carvings.
- 🛤️ The trail was established on a former railroad line and named in honor of George Mickelson, who was instrumental in its creation.
- 🌳 Much of the trail goes through the Black Hills National Forest, with some sections bordering private land, requiring respect for landowners.
- 🐂 Encounters with wildlife, such as cattle herds, are possible on the trail, and riders should be prepared to navigate around them.
- 🎟️ A trail pass is required for using the Mickelson Trail, with options for a daily or seasonal pass to support trail maintenance.
- 🛤️ The trail surface is crushed stone and well-maintained, though riders should be cautious of loose gravel on downhill sections.
- 🏞️ The trail offers a range of experiences, from tunnels and trestles to active gold mines and encounters with deer and bighorn sheep.
- 🌲 The vegetation along the trail varies from pine and spruce forests to open grasslands, with changing scenery as elevation decreases.
Q & A
What is the George S. Mickelson Trail?
-The George S. Mickelson Trail is a 109-mile rail trail that goes through the Black Hills of South Dakota, starting from Deadwood and extending to Edgemont.
What is the significance of the Black Hills to Native Americans?
-The Black Hills are considered sacred by Native Americans due to their cultural and spiritual importance.
Why are Deadwood and Lead known as mining towns?
-Deadwood and Lead became known as mining towns after gold was discovered in the Black Hills in 1874, leading to a mining boom and the establishment of these towns.
What is the historical significance of Mount Rushmore?
-Mount Rushmore is a famous carving of four US presidents and is well-known as a symbol of American history and the Black Hills region.
How did the George S. Mickelson Trail come into existence?
-The trail was created after the Burlington Northern railroad line was abandoned in 1983. With the support of then-Governor George Mickelson, the first section of the trail was completed in 1991, and the entire trail was finished in 1998, later named in his honor.
What is the condition of the trail surface on the George S. Mickelson Trail?
-The trail surface is crushed stone and is in excellent condition, well-maintained with a few soft spots and loose gravel to be cautious of, especially when going downhill.
What is the significance of the Dead Man's Hand in Deadwood?
-The Dead Man's Hand refers to the poker hand Wild Bill Hickcock was holding when he was shot dead in Deadwood, which was a Full House consisting of Aces and Eights.
What is the highest point on the George S. Mickelson Trail?
-The high point on the trail is just north of Dumont, with an elevation of just over 5,700 feet.
What are some of the natural features and attractions along the trail?
-The trail features a variety of natural attractions, including the Black Hills National Forest, creeks, waterfalls, active gold mines, and wildlife such as deer and big horn sheep.
What type of geological formations can be found in the Black Hills?
-The Black Hills are characterized by granite formations, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks, with features like the central crystalline core, concentric circles of granite, and limestone caves.
What is the significance of Crazy Horse in the context of the Black Hills?
-Crazy Horse is the largest rock carving in the world, located in the Black Hills, and represents a significant cultural and historical attraction, although it is still under construction.
What advice would you give to someone planning to cycle the entire George S. Mickelson Trail?
-Cycling the entire trail would be a challenging day ride, but it could also make an excellent bikepacking trip, with recommended stops in towns like Edgemont, Deadwood, and Kuster for services and accommodations.
Outlines
🚲 Exploring the Melson Trail in Deadwood
The script introduces the Melson Trail, a 109-mile rail trail in the Black Hills of South Dakota, starting in Deadwood and extending to Edgemont. It discusses the history of the area, including the gold rush and the establishment of mining towns like Deadwood and Lead. The trail, which features both gradual and steep inclines, offers stunning views of the sacred Black Hills and passes by notable landmarks such as Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. The script also mentions the trail's history, from a Burlington Northern railroad line to its transformation into a rail trail, named in honor of George Melson, and its induction into the Rail Trail Hall of Fame in 2010. The narrator advises respect for private land and shares an anecdote about navigating through a herd of cattle on the trail.
🛤️ The Melson Trail Experience and Safety Tips
This paragraph delves into the experience of riding the Melson Trail, highlighting the trail's crushed stone surface in excellent condition, with a few cautionary notes about loose gravel sections. It introduces Ernie, a member of the Trail Patrol ensuring rider safety. The script suggests a stop at the Moonshine Gulch Saloon in Rochford for an 1800's experience and describes the scenic route from Rochford to Mystic, featuring a tunnel, high trestles, and active gold mines. The narrator shares a personal accident, emphasizing the importance of safety, and notes the wildlife and vegetation along the trail, including deer, big horn sheep, and various tree species. It also touches on the history of forest fires and current forest management efforts in the area.
🏞️ Geological Wonders and Scenery of the Black Hills
The script explores the geological formation of the Black Hills, explaining how the area's granite was formed by cooled magma and how the landscape has been shaped over millions of years. It describes the concentric circles of rock formations around the crystalline core and the presence of metamorphic rock and limestone. The paragraph also discusses the northern section of the Melson Trail, which is more trafficked and scenic, with tunnels, trestles, and proximity to attractions like Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. The availability of services in towns along the trail is noted, as well as the charm of the southern section, which is quieter but still offers beautiful scenery.
🗿 Discovering Art and History Along the Melson Trail
This section of the script focuses on the cultural and historical attractions near the Melson Trail, such as the Crazy Horse monument, the largest rock carving in the world, and the services available in the town of Custer. It mentions the changing landscape and elevation as the trail progresses, with the northern section being more forested and the southern section transitioning to open grasslands. The script also describes the experience of riding through Sheep's Canyon, a highlight of the trail, and the overall natural beauty of the Black Hills.
🌅 Completing the Journey on the Melson Trail
The final paragraph summarizes the experience of completing the Melson Trail, from the initial uphill climb out of Deadwood to the downhill ride into Edgemont. The script emphasizes the trail's status as a Hall of Fame rail trail, with its rich Western history, scenic views, and diverse activities available in the Black Hills area. The narrator suggests the Melson Trail as an excellent choice for bikepacking, recommending a four-day journey with stops in various towns. The script concludes with a personal note about the narrator's wife and their shared experience of riding the trail, and an invitation to viewers to explore the trail themselves.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡George S. Mickelson Trail
💡Black Hills
💡Deadwood
💡Mount Rushmore
💡Crazy Horse
💡Rail Trail
💡Burlington Northern
💡Bikepacking
💡Tunnels and Trestles
💡Elevation
💡Sheep's Canyon
Highlights
The George S. Mickelson Trail is a 109-mile rail trail in South Dakota.
The trail starts in Deadwood and extends to Edgemont, passing through the Black Hills.
Deadwood and Lead are old mining towns with a rich history of gold mining.
The trail features long gradual inclines and short steep hills, requiring good climbing gear.
The Black Hills are considered sacred by Native Americans and are known for Mount Rushmore.
The trail was named in honor of George Mickelson, the former governor of South Dakota.
The trail was inducted into the Rail Trail Hall of Fame in 2010.
Much of the trail goes through the Black Hills National Forest with private land on both sides.
Deadwood is known for its colorful history, including the death of Wild Bill Hickcock.
The high point of the trail is just north of Dumont, at over 5,700 feet.
Cyclists may encounter cattle on the trail and are advised to navigate carefully.
A trail pass costs $4 a day or $15 for a season to support trail maintenance.
The trail surface is crushed stone and is well-maintained with some soft spots.
The Moonshine Gulch Saloon in Rochford offers an 1800's experience.
The trail offers scenic views, including active gold mines and a waterfall.
Cyclists should be aware of deer and big horn sheep along the trail.
The trail showcases the geology of the Black Hills, including granite formations.
The northern section of the trail is more trafficked and scenic with services.
The southern section has its charm but fewer services and is less trafficked.
Sheep's Canyon near Edgemont is a highlight of the trail with rugged landscapes.
The trail is suitable for bikepacking with a suggested 4-day trip from Edgemont to Deadwood.
The Mickelson Trail is considered one of the most scenic rail trails in America.