Mickelson Trail Forum

Website says 0.2 miles from the trail but I can't tell from the map how you get there from the trail. Is there a path or do you have to ride on highway or bushwack?

I used google maps, then used street view to figure your problem out. By the looks of that guardrail I would not trailblaze. You can access the highway and ride on the paved shoulder a short distance but it may be uphill depending on your direction of travel. On the south end the trail accesses the highway at “bear gulch” although there appears to be a private driveway that would cut your short highway travel in about half. Calling the campground might get better local info.

Are there places close to trail for renting bikes either for several days or daily.

I apologize if this has been covered elsewhere in the forum, but I couldn't find anything about it:

Is there a trail that takes you from the Mickelson Trail to Mount Rushmore?

If so, where is it.

If not, is there a recommended way to get to Mount Rushmore from Mickelson Trail by bicycle (or by foot, if necessary)?

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide.

I have done the Cowboy Trail in Nebraska and the Katy Trail in Missouri, and your websites for those trails were super helpful. Thank you for providing all of this information, including the forums that are very helpful when there are trail closures, and for fielding questions from people like me.

You'll probably get better information from the locals, but this is my two cents:

There are no "trails" as such to get from the Mickelson Trail to Mt. Rushmore. There are 3 highways and all will originate from Hill City as the Mickelson goes right through downtown HC.
1. You can go north on US 385 out of Hill City to US 16 over to Keystone and then 3 miles south on SD 244 to Mount Rushmore. 14 miles. Lots of cars in the summer and many like to go fast. I see bikers doing it every time I'm there, but I wouldn't.
2. You can go south on US 385 to SD 244 into Mount Rushmore. About 14 miles also. Lots of traffic going to and returning from Mount Rushmore. Not a road I would feel safe on.
3. You can bike or hike Old Hill City Road out of Hill City. About 10 miles to Keystone and 3.5 more (uphill grade) to Mount Rushmore. Traffic not too bad until you get to Keystone. 1.5 hours on a bike maybe 5-6 hiking that road. If I was determined to bike or hike, Old Hill City Road is really the only route I would consider.

You could also consider a local taxi to take you to Mt. Rushmore, explore the entire day, and then taxi back. Not cheap, but something to consider. As I said, locals will probably give you a lot better information than I can give you based upon my many trips to the area. But most likely Hill City will be your starting point.

By the way, I lived in Sacramento 2006-2009 on a work assignment. Loved Sacramento. Rode the Jedediah Smith Memorial trail along the American River several times each week from downtown 32 miles to Folsom Prison and it was one of my all-time favorite trails. Reading the reviews at ALLTRAiLS.com, it seems like it's not a safe place to ride 15 years later. Homeless encampments, drug use, and lots of trash along the river. Is that true? I hope that's an exaggeration as I was looking forward to taking our bikes on our next trip to San Fran and Sacramento. Thanks.

Thank you for the detailed answer! I definitely don't want to ride on roads that are sketchy, vehicle-wise, so I appreciate your focus on staying off the busy roads as much as possible. I'm traveling all the way from Sacramento just to be able to ride a long trail without having to deal with cars, so you know where I stand on this issue!

I have been to Mount Rushmore a few times by car, and spent a lot of time in the visitor center, watching the lighting ceremony, and all of that kind of thing, so my main goal this year is to try to reach it by bicycle, just for the sake of it.

After doing an up-and-back on the Mickelson, I will return home for short layover before heading to North Dakota for the CANDAK -- a totally different experience from a solo trail ride, but a lot of fun.

Regarding the American River Bike Trail, I still ride it all the time, and I think it is safe if you exercise a normal amount of caution and ride during daylight hours. There are homeless encampments near the beginning of the trail at Discovery Park, but after a few miles it is okay. There are a lot of rangers patrolling the trail, and a lot of other cyclists, joggers and hikers around.

Part of the American River trail was underwater a few weeks ago, as Discovery Park basically turned into a giant lake due to some major storms, but it was back to being ridable last weekend. There are some detour areas near Cal Expo and Sac State University where they have been repaving the trail, but they are well-marked and the detour route is only about 20 feet away from the trail itself, so it's not a big deal. When the weather is nice and I'm getting ready for a big ride, my favorite route is to ride from my house to Folsom Lake and back, which is an 85-mile round trip. I usually stuff my jersey pockets with enough food to take a decent lunch break in the picnic area by the lake, then enjoy a few miles of descending after lunch.

If you are going to San Francisco, I advise caution. Mostly, don't leave anything in your vehicle, because the area is plagued with thieves, and cars get broken into at an alarming rate. In the Oakland area, there have even been smash-and-grab vehicle robberies while people are stopping at a traffic signal, or in line for fast food. It is out of control. I have only ridden there a couple times, and it was in a year that started with "198," so I don't have any useful information about the actual cycling part.

Thanks again for your answer.

Enjoy your trips Dave! Thanks for the updates on the American River Trail. Such a fun ride up to Folsom Lake and back. I know SF/Oak is something we really need to think about. I've always wanted to ride across the Golden Gate Bridge but we might need to cross that off our list.

I've never heard of CaNDak. I found this link. https://candak.net/about. That sounds REALLY interesting. May have to put that on the future list for sure. We're planning a bikepacking tour on the 142-mile Maah Daah Hey Trail in North Dakota's Theodore Roosevelt National Park this summer. Thanks again and stay safe.

I rode across the Golden Gate Bridge about 38 years ago, and it was spectacular. Lots of people walking, jogging and riding, but it really is a one-of-a-kind experience.

While I stand by my comments about the vehicle break-ins being a big problem and the need to exercise caution in the area, I would recommend researching your options and finding a way to ride across the bridge. There is a fort below the bridge that is a great place to visit, too. Just don't let any of your belongings out of your sight.

We're riding the trail in mid-June, staying in hotels and carrying our 5-yr old son on the back of our tern ebike. It's the bike my wife rides most days with our son. We intend to take this bike and my gravelish touring bike. We've run into some rail-trails with deeper gravel and are concerned about the tern in these conditions.

The trail appears almost all hard-packed, or limestone but are there any softer areas? Especially prolonged areas (over 3-5 miles)

Thanks!

There were a few soft spots but they would be measured in yards, not miles. One section was undergoing maintenance and was probably hard packed days later. I found the trail easy to ride from end to end other than that long stretch coming out of Deadwood, but that is because it’s uphill, not a surface issue. I rode it in a day and a half. I hired Bill from Black Hills Discovery Tours to drive my truck from Deadwood to Edgemont. It was a little expensive for me as a single rider but less money and time for a couple plus child to take a shuttle back. I’m going to cut/paste my itinerary below followed by my Strava if day one. Don’t miss Purples Pie Place, I went there directly from trail, then motel which was very clean and comfortable. Sage Creek was excellent. Great reviews for Mickelson on Facebook Rails to Trails and Mickelson Trail pages.

South Dakota: Mickelson Trail 109 miles

Wednesday, August 23
Sioux Falls, lunch at Capriotti’s or Jersey Mike’s
Rapid City, stop at Acme Bicycles
Spearfish, stop at Two Wheeler Dealer
Deadwood, stay at Cedar Wood Inn, dinner at Jacob’s Brewhouse

Thursday, August 24
Breakfast at Lou Lou’s Bombdiggity
8 am Meet Bill from Black Hills Discovery Tours at trailhead 605-920-1020
Depart Deadwood for Custer, about 64 miles
Hill City, Stop at Granite Sports shop, if hungry Box Car Eats & Treats
Crazy Horse
Custer, stay at Chalet Motel, dinner Sage Creek Grill or Mt Rushmore Brewing Co,
Dessert from Purple Pie Place, if time allows South Dakota Outdoor Shop 730am-700pm

Friday, August 25
Breakfast from Miners Cup
Ride to Edgemont, about 45 miles
Drive home
https://strava.app.link/mVlHC530wIb

Is camping allowed at this trailhead?

Looking for a luggage shuttle to transport luggage from overnight stop to overnight stop. Do the bike shuttle services also offer this service. Post names, phones, etc. Group of 5 of us plan on doing the trail in late May - early June. Thanks.

Hi ,

My wife and I are visiting the Black Hills in mid June this year and want to bike the trail over 5 days, stopping in different towns alomgbthe way and taking our time.
Question:
Where is the best place to hire a regular, not e, bike, with panniers etc for luggage? Plan to leave bulk of suitcase contents in car at start point then get a shuttle bus? back to car with bikes.
Hoping to do the whole route but doesnt have to start from Deadwood...could start halfway, do one section south, shuttle up to Deadwood then cycle back to our start point. Ideas?

Here is a link to a group of local businesses that are trail related. I commuted from Kansas City with my bike, so I don’t have rental experience. I did use Black Hills Discovery Tours, but not as a shuttle. I hired them to drive/move my truck from Deadwood to Edgemont where it was waiting for me when I finished the trail. The owner, Bill, has been doing shuttles and regional tours for decades and if you call him he will be glad to give you good advice/options. In the link I noted that the rental place Bicycles & Boats may be a good option. It appears they are affiliated with Acme Bicycles in Rapid City where I stopped while driving from home to Deadwood. They had a supply of Bike Jerseys that were trail related ( it was a shop shirt with the addition of a trail map imprinted on a topo map of the area plus listed the trail heads) I called a bunch of places trying to find a Mickelson Trail bike jersey and theirs was the closest I could find. They were helpful on the phone and even texted me pictures of the jersey. Coincidentally the cross street adjacent to their shop was Kansas City Road which I didn’t realize until I arrived. Small world! You might talk to them about bike rentals also.
I rode the whole trail over 1 1/2 days starting in Deadwood and riding to Custer day one, 66 miles. I stopped at Crazy Horse Memorial which is a really easy detour because the trail goes under the road up to the memorial. Be prepared for a short climb via paved road to the toll gate ($10 per bicycle rider) then another short climb to the visitor center. There is a bike rack in the parking lot.
Day two was Custer to Edgemont, 45 miles, and took me almost 3 1/2 hours. It was pretty easy and I enjoyed the change in landscape from the Black Hills into more of a prairie landscape. Dead Horse Canyon was very scenic to the north of Edgemont.
Back to Bill and his advice: He said some people hire him for a ride to/from Dumont, depending on where they park or stay. This allows riders to avoid the steepest part of the trail which is uphill all the way from Deadwood to Dumont. By riding that section northbound they are riding downhill. Then they start the next day at Dumont and ride south, which is predominantly downhill for the rest of the trail. I’m going to include links to my Strava so you can see pictures and feedback from my recent experience. Also if you are on Facebook I suggest joining group “Mickelson Trail Black Hills SD” then search for my name Eric McCollom. Another good facebook group is Rails to Trails.
If you wanted to go to Mt Rushmore it is generally not a bicycle safe route due to narrow highways with distracted drivers. I will ride on highways myself if it can be done without too much risk of being run over.
https://www.mickelsontrailaffiliates.com/
https://strava.app.link/4uN2rGFgtGb
https://strava.app.link/HTmq1uHgtGb
Good luck!

What is the best direction when doing the whole trail?

Most people do southbound, because it is predominantly a gradual downhill route. The exception is the first 16 miles are uphill out of Deadwood and then crests before Dumont. I hired Bill from Black Hills Discovery Tours. Bill drove my truck to Edgemont where it was waiting for me when I finished riding the trail. This was a little expensive, but less than two shuttle tickets for you, your partner and your bikes. Plus, I didn’t have to ride the shuttle two hours back to Deadwood (if I had parked there) Bill said he has some clients who hire him for a ride to or from Dumont where they ride downhill to Deadwood then the next day start the southbound trek from Dumont to ride the rest of the trail.
https://www.mickelsontrailaffiliates.com/bike-shops

HI Mary! My brother and I did Deadwood to Edgemont last September (2023), spread over three days. That uphill climb out of Deadwood was brutal and we had other factors against us (cold temps and rain + our overnight packs added extra weight). We ended up not making it to our intended destination (Hill City) and instead called a shuttle to pick us up in Rochford. We had no problems the rest of the ride (day 2 was Hill City to Custer and day 3 was Custer to Edgemont).

When I do it again (and I will because it was so much fun and such a beautiful area!), I will not start in Deadwood, lol!

For reference, my brother and I are casual cyclists and we did not do anything special training-wise before our ride. During spring/summer/fall, I typically ride a couple times a week on trails near my home.

I found a post 2-3 pages back from 2022 but didn’t see the answer I’m looking for. It mentioned there are maps at each trail head. How can I get a map before I arrive for our summer trip? I sent an email to SD State Parks but haven’t got an answer yet. TIA
If anyone is coming to MO for the Katy Trail, I just completed the entire trail out-and-back in September and can offer plenty of tips. There were two of us and we camped.

Hi Mitch! There's a PDF map on the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks website here:
https://gfp.sd.gov/userdocs/mickelson-trail-map.pdf

This is the map we initially used when my brother and I rode the Mickelson Trail this past September.

Hopefully that is helpful for now. We got a nice brochure with map from our shuttle driver that we ended up using instead of this one from the GFP's site because it was larger and had a lot more info.

The Katry Trail is on my list of trails to ride someday!! :)

Just got back from my trip up to the Trail. Poor management of the trail. E-Bikes going way over Class 1 or 2 speeds and even a MOPED near Deadwood. I showed the rider the sign where motorized bikes aren't allowed. He said his moped was approved by the Deadwood police as long as it didn't exceed E-Bike speeds. SMH if that's true. During my 3 days on the trail, I never saw a single trail steward asking for passes or telling people to slow down. If you are considering taking young children on the trail, I would advise against that. 80% of the bikes I saw in my 3 days were E-Bikes (and the one moped) and most were going way too fast. The non-policing of E-Bikes is ruining this trail for hikers and traditional bikers. I realize E-Bikes are the future (even for otherwise young, healthy riders). But someone is going to get seriously injured by a 60-70# e-bike going 25-30mph (or faster). Trail stewards need to do better.

Bill, you are absolutely correct!
This e- bike thing is quickly getting out of control. It's bad around here also. "No Motorized Vehicles Allowed" reads the signage on nearly all bike trails. Law makers have ok'd these e-bikes on trails-there beholden to bikes dealers, etc. Someone should have educated the law makers of the definition> "Motors run on electricity".

I don't have an E-Bike --I have a ME-Bike-I make it go.

DandyDon, I've been up to the Mickelson and the Black Hills 3 times. A beautiful trail for sure. But each time gets a bit worse. Most likely, I won't be going back. I realize that more people can ride the trail with the assistance of an e-bike. Riding our "ME-Bikes" takes too much effort. E-bikes get the trail more sold passes and that's the bottom line. But if they don't control the speed better than they are doing now, people will get hurt. I am going to contact the Deadwood police department to see if they actually approved Mopeds on the trail. I will post their reply here. Keep riding!

Bill, I bikepacked Mickelson about 5 years ago and it's unique and beautiful. I do hope the local authorities govern the trail effectively. Bike On brother.

I spoke to John at the Deadwood PD today and he wasn't aware that mopeds on the trail have been approved by his department. So, I don't know if the grandfather with his grandson on the moped was told something else by a different person at the PD, or if he was just giving me a made-up excuse for being on the trail with a moped. Hopefully, the Deadwood PD would post something more specific to clear up this matter.

The Deadwood Police Department does not have jurisdiction over the Mickelson Trail therefore cannot approve mopeds for the Mickelson.

South Dakota Game and Parks does need to do something about abuse of the trail by e bikes.

Seriously an e-bike on the Mickelson? But I guess they are here to stay with the amount of lazy folks out there.

I agree with the comment that an electric bike is still a motorized bike.

Proud of all those who still enjoy the Mickelson with a real bike.

Yes, I figured the gentleman was making it up. He claimed the PD had jurisdiction within the Deadwood city limits, but I doubted him.

During my 3 days on the trail (mid-week), I'd estimate that 80% of the riders were on E-Bikes. Very disappointing but I think the Trail likes the added revenue, so they aren't going away unfortunately.

My real concern is that many are Class 3 bikes, or Class 1 or 2 converted to Class 3 speeds. Very dangerous, especially if you have young children riding with you on the trail. Unless the Trail stewards crack down on E-Bikes, I probably won't go back and wouldn't recommend the trail to others if they have young children riding.

Finding nice bike trails that prohibit E-Bikes is getting harder to find coast to coast. Sadly.

Agree that class 3 and any type of moped, motorcycle should not be allowed. However for people who physical limitations I think that Class 1 & 2 e-bikes are fine. agree the class 3 should not be allowed. I do know that the trail does have people that monitor however i do not know if they have enough. I am pretty sure it is a volunteer position. trial is open to anyone to hike bike or ride horse back. guess you feel that bikes should be the only mode of transportation on the trail. i suppose a hiker that gets hit by a 30# mountain bike with a 175 pound person on it going 40 downhill or run over by a horse would not suffer any serious injury. personally I do think the trail could be monitored better. I also think that they should limit the number of passes. if ya don't come back we wont miss ya

really depressed by this report of so much motorized traffic...was going to visit from eastern Canada and also do Route of the Hiawatha but if both are plugged with sandal wearing helmet missing clowns on "motorcycles" there is no point...I'm 72 and ride high tempo gravel race bike and will do so into my 80's god willing...will stick to my local road rides of solitude.

E-Bikes are always the topic of conversation no matter the trail. I easily recognize the frustrations people feel and I do understand them. Most societies of the world contain some selfish people who ruin whatever the activity for the many, and that is sad. Most E-bikers I know complain of the "Spandex Brigade" who speed by with not a single "On Your Left." I wonder how many of the e-bike complainers are these same people? I hope not! My wife and I are soon to be in our 70's and I am type 1 diabetic. I wouldn't get 10 miles without my e-bike, but I'm reasonable sure the offenders are few. Regarding the "No motorized vehicles" signs, our government tries to protect the weakest, such as myself, with definitions such as defining any e-bike not greater than 750W motors as non-motorized. Federal law, the ADA, sets these guidelines. My E-bike is sometimes defined by them as a personal mobility device. I won't say we would never speed if there was a good reason, but I can tell you that we rarely exceed 10-12 mph. IMO, for every vehicle on the trail, the most important restriction is 15 mph, regardless of equipment, but weight should be considered to protect the trail surface. I regret that a few selfish people give the rest of us black eyes.

Are there any shuttle service that could take bicyckes and gear from Edgemont to Deadwood?

Thank you!

This link has several companies that may be able to help you. I personally used Black Hills Discovery Tours and was pleased with the result. I hired Bill to drive my truck from Deadwood to Edgemont. It was waiting for me when I arrived. This was expensive for me as a single rider, but would be cheaper for several people. Give him a call, he’s been doing this for decades. Also, do not miss Purple Pie Place in Custer.

https://www.mickelsontrailaffiliates.com/bike-shops

Thanks, Eric!

Looking for an e trike rental to ride the Mickelson Trail in 2024.
Are there any bike shops that rent e trikes or recumbent bikes?

Hmmm...some of those e-trikes are kinda WIDE. I say let's be more inclusive and open up the Mickelson Bike Trail to include mopeds, small to medium horsepower motorcycles, ATVs, golf carts, and sub-compact automobiles.

I think you are on to something. During my recent trip, I already saw a moped running two miles south of Deadwood. Class 3 e-bikes too.
Might as well go to the extreme and ruin the trail for all traditional bikers and hikers. The trail stewards don't seem to care. They sure aren't policing their own policy. When someone gets severely hurt by a 70# ebike or moped going 30mph, maybe they will do something.

Anyone familiar with the classic musical comedy movie The Blues Brothers? I don’t know what made me think of Illinois nazis, but here’s a description of one of the movie scenes. For those not familiar, John Belushi plays Jake. Dan Akroyd is Elwood.

In the 1980 cult classic film “The Blues Brothers,” Jake and Elwood are stuck in traffic as a Nazi rally blocks the bridge they need to cross. When they ask a nearby police officer about what’s going on, the officer shrugs, “Ah, those bums won their court case, so they’re marching today.” Jake replies, “What bums?” The officer shoots back, “The f**ckin’ Nazi party.”

“Illinois Nazis,” Elwood mutters, to which Jake groans, “I hate Illinois Nazis.” The duo then pushes the gas pedal to the floor, veering towards the Nazis, forcing them to jump off the bridge and into the river to avoid being hit.

So, anyone who has an opinion different from yours is a Nazi. Got it. How progressive of you. Maybe if you or someone you care about ever gets injured by an 80# e-trike, you might wise up. But I'm not betting that you will. Maybe go for a few walks around the block and you won't need help to ride a bike. Seems like you are soft in more ways than one.

As for me, if the stewards don't care and there are guys like you on this forum calling others Nazis, I'll find a more civil place to talk about the Mick.

Right on, Bill. Bicycle "A vehicle composed of two wheels held in a frame one behind another, propelled by pedals and steered with handlebars attached to the front wheel." (From Oxford Languages)

(Just Sayin)

Maybe a Stripes reference would be better? “Lighten up Francis”
I’m not an e-bike rider, although I did rent one last year and rode from Johnston Canyon within Banff National Park, down the Bow Valley Parkway then the Legacy Trail to Canmore. Total 50 km. You should look up this trial seasonal closure and I will include a link below for you and others, so you get something out of this conversation. The e-bike was kind of fun, but I don’t think of it as the real exercise I get on my own power. There is no doubt that it is an activity and light exercise depending on the assist level used plus it is getting people out of the house and off the couch. I personally ride a gravel bike, it’s called a Cutthroat. It’s powered by me. E-bikes are here to stay and they are responsible for a tremendous increase in people out there on the trails. Those people want more trails and are going to help that happen and I welcome that. Are there some that ride too fast? Definitely, but that goes for streets and highways too. Do gas motorized vehicles belong on the trails? No, we can agree on that. Perhaps more people can learn trail manners/etiquette and speed limits….and remember these are shared use trails.
.
https://www.travelbanffcanada.com/cycling-bow-valley-parkway-banff/

BBHugs I don’t think anyone in this thread is from South Dakota and none have answered your question. Here is a link to companies that offer trail related services. I took a few minutes browsing the rental companies and didn’t see trikes or recumbents offered as rentals…..it was basic e-bikes. I used Black Hills Discovery Tours to shuttle my personal vehicle to trails end. Perhaps give them a call….Bill is a good resource of all sorts of trail related information.
https://www.mickelsontrailaffiliates.com/bike-shops

Hey! I'm going to bike the trail this Tues-Wed (10/17-18). I know there was snow earlier. Is the trail open? What condition is it in?

Any info on visiting Crazy Horse by bicycle from the trail? I know it’s about a half mile from the trail and it’s currently $10/rider, but their website doesn’t have any info about bike racks or storage….hopefully no one would mess with my bike or bags. I would like a few good pictures, a few minutes walking around and an Indian taco.

I just did the Volksmarch there. Although I was not eyeballing anything for a bike, there is a few structures there like a Welcome Center that I'm sure has something to secure your bike to. Wish I was quick to think about that while I was there.

I was there in August and there is a bicycle rack located in the parking lot and adjacent to the handicap parking spaces. The rack is clearly visible from the front entrance to the museum and clearly visible from the tram stop for those buying the pass to the mountain site….what I’m saying is bikes are in plain site if anyone is concerned about their bike being tampered with which seems unlikely.

Has anyone backpacked the whole trail?
I really want to try it & wondering how long it took to hike it? I know people have different walking speeds. Just trying to get an idea.

I backpacked it last October SOBO and it took me 4.5 days. I am headed out again soon to do it NOBO but I am going to take 6 days this time to enjoy it a bit more. It was a great trip but I failed to deconflict with the Crazy Horse Marathon last year and had a miserable trip through Hill City up to Crazy Horse. Hundreds or thousands of runners took over the trail during that section. You should also be weary about water in the south portions. The cisterns get locked up depending on weather but last year it was around October 10th. I barely made it through the trek before they were locked. Up north there are plenty of creeks to filter water from.

I lost my riding gloves on 9/8 in a pull out between Kirk Trailhead and Deadwood. They are red & black and I was wearing them over grey fingered gloves (cold mornings). They have special meaning to me, so I'm reaching out in case someone finds them. Thanks!

9-2-23 , I lost my wedding ring between mile marker 89 & 90. The ring is white gold with 3 diamonds. Thank you. If you have found it please contact me.
Leon Gillespie
P.O. Box 711
Hill City, SD

Is there day parking for vehicles while riding the Mickelson Trail ?

Yes, if there’s a lot, there’s parking. My truck was parked for 24 hours on the street in Edgemont at the city park for example.

Has anybody cycled north to south and back north? Is it boring or does the changed perspective make it enjoyable still?
Are there any good roads for side trips along the Mickelson trail?

I'll be bikepacking north to south starting in Deadwood in late August. We're taking our time, focused on getting a few nights of great Black Hills camping, so traveling heavier. The guidebook indicates a 17% grade, more singletrack like section between Kirk and Englewood. However between the guidebook and other sites, I'm seeing conflicting information on which direction to go from Kirk to avoid the heavy hike a bike. To avoid the steep section, do we go toward the Sugarloaf trailhead or straight on to Englewood? Are there any similar gotchas we might want to know about? Many thanks for info

I want to know too! If it’s more scenic maybe a little hike a bike will be worth it……or ride the fantail then turn back north and ride both sections. Would that make the steep part generally downhill? I’m riding the 24th and 25th. Looking forward to replacing many calories at the Purple Pie Place in Custer.

Ok, it looks like taking the fantail avoids that section. As for doubling back north to hit it, you couldn't pay me to ride fully loaded down a 17% grassy grade. Maybe if I were running from from fire or zombies.

Hi!
Myself and three other woman are coming out to ride soon. We are trying to navigate degree of diffiulty and mileage per day. What are the hardest areas(elevation climbs)? We are planning north to south.
Anyone have any valuable insights? Tips? Recommendations? Thanks so very much for any input!

North to South direction is a good plan.
That said, I would recommend riding from Englewood to Deadwood since it is the most "difficult" section. By riding that section in that direction you will be mostly coasting on a downhill grade for about 8 miles. Once you finish that section, shuttle from Deadwood to Englewood and continue your ride south to eventually Edgemont.

I'm assuming you've seen the elevation map (link here: https://gfp.sd.gov/userdocs/mickelson-trail-map.pdf) that gives a pretty good description of the entire 109 miles. The first 5.9 miles out of Deadwood are probably the most difficult. After that it's mostly downhill into Hill City (approximate mid-point of the trail).

You'll have a slight climb out of Hill City for about 4 miles and then it's mostly downhill (or flat) all the way to Edgemont.

Since this is a former railroad line, the steepest gradient can't be more than 4% -somewhat like riding into a moderate wind. Of course, those climbing miles are offset by downhills on the other side.

Again, the link to the elevation map I included might be of help, if you haven't already seen it. Enjoy the ride.

Thank you so much Jaydee and Bill! I really appreicate your input. Great information!!!!!!!

If riding peddle-assist bikes, Deadwood to Englewood is not "difficult".

We will be riding Mountain bikes and Gravel bikes! Appreciate the tips!