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MICKELSON TRAIL OPENS BLACK HILLS TO HIKERS, BIKERS

By Tom Adkinson

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DEADWOOD, S.D.edge of the storied Black Hills to Edgemont down below the southern edge requires you to make a meandering drive on several state and federal highways.

It¹s a pretty drive, but there¹s a far different way to explore this region

of pine-covered ridges and craggy mountains if you¹re willing to lace up

your hiking boots or hop on a bicycle to experience the 114-mile-long

Mickelson Trail.

That¹s not as unlikely as it sounds because the Mickelson Trail is a gentle

route that follows what used to be the Burlington Northern rail line. This

is a classic rails-to-trails project that opens an entire region for easy

exploration. For most of the route, grades do not exceed four percent.

Most of the crushed limestone and gravel trail is through the Black Hills

National Forest. If you cover the whole distance, you cross 100 converted

railroad bridges and travel through four hardrock tunnels.

Along the way, you see patches of prairie grass, towering ponderosa pines

(which when seen from a distance appear black, giving the hills their name),

mountain streams and wide vistas. Near the town of Custer, the trail

affords you a view of Thunderhead Mountain, which is being transformed into

the largest sculpture in the world

Most trail users don¹t go 114 miles, of course. Most enjoys shorter hikes

or rent bicycles for day trips. Several outfitters along the route rent

bicycles and offer information about distances and travel times.

Thirty interpretive panels along the trail tell of the region¹s wildlife and

the logging, mining and railroad history. (If you participate in the

Mickelson Trail Scavenger Hunt, an everyday game whose questions are posted

on the trail¹s website, answers are on the interpretive panels. Winners of

scavenger hunt drawings receive trail T-shirts and caps.)

Burlington Northern abandoned the line in 1983, and a campaign quickly began

to convert the route for hikers, bikers and horseback riders. The trail¹s

first six miles were dedicated in 1991 with the support of then-Gov. George

Mickelson. After Mickelson¹s death in a 1993 plane crash, the trail was

named in his honor.

If you want company while traversing the full 114 miles, you can do that

every September during the Mickelson Trail Trek, which draws hikers and

bikers from across the U.S. and Canada. The 2003 trek is Sept. 19-21.

Trail passes ($2 a day or $10 a year) are required for trail users age 12

and older except on trail sections that are within city limits. Passes are

available at trailheads, at self-service stations along the trail and

various vendors. Trail maps, information about bike rentals and other

details are available at www.MickelsonTrail.com.

If You Go . . .

Fly/drive package vacations through Rapid City offer options for the

Mickelson Trail and other Black Hills activities. Check

www.TravelBlackHills.com or call toll-free to 866-329-7566.

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	Flag of South Dakota MICKELSON TRAIL OPENS BLACK HILLS TO HIKERS, BIKERS By Tom Adkinson Send this Page to a Friend Peace for Everyone DEADWOOD, S.D.edge of the storied Black Hills to Edgemont down below the southern edge requires you to make a meandering drive on several state and federal highways. It¹s a pretty drive, but there¹s a far different way to explore this region of pine-covered ridges and craggy mountains if you¹re willing to lace up your hiking boots or hop on a bicycle to experience the 114-mile-long Mickelson Trail. That¹s not as unlikely as it sounds because the Mickelson Trail is a gentle route that follows what used to be the Burlington Northern rail line. This is a classic rails-to-trails project that opens an entire region for easy exploration. For most of the route, grades do not exceed four percent. Most of the crushed limestone and gravel trail is through the Black Hills National Forest. If you cover the whole distance, you cross 100 converted railroad bridges and travel through four hardrock tunnels. Along the way, you see patches of prairie grass, towering ponderosa pines (which when seen from a distance appear black, giving the hills their name), mountain streams and wide vistas. Near the town of Custer, the trail affords you a view of Thunderhead Mountain, which is being transformed into the largest sculpture in the world Most trail users don¹t go 114 miles, of course. Most enjoys shorter hikes or rent bicycles for day trips. Several outfitters along the route rent bicycles and offer information about distances and travel times. Thirty interpretive panels along the trail tell of the region¹s wildlife and the logging, mining and railroad history. (If you participate in the Mickelson Trail Scavenger Hunt, an everyday game whose questions are posted on the trail¹s website, answers are on the interpretive panels. Winners of scavenger hunt drawings receive trail T-shirts and caps.) Burlington Northern abandoned the line in 1983, and a campaign quickly began to convert the route for hikers, bikers and horseback riders. The trail¹s first six miles were dedicated in 1991 with the support of then-Gov. George Mickelson. After Mickelson¹s death in a 1993 plane crash, the trail was named in his honor. If you want company while traversing the full 114 miles, you can do that every September during the Mickelson Trail Trek, which draws hikers and bikers from across the U.S. and Canada. The 2003 trek is Sept. 19-21. Trail passes ($2 a day or $10 a year) are required for trail users age 12 and older except on trail sections that are within city limits. Passes are available at trailheads, at self-service stations along the trail and various vendors. Trail maps, information about bike rentals and other details are available at www.MickelsonTrail.com. If You Go . . . Fly/drive package vacations through Rapid City offer options for the Mickelson Trail and other Black Hills activities. Check www.TravelBlackHills.com or call toll-free to 866-329-7566. Subscribe Real Travel Adventures Web Magazine Thanks for visiting us! Add to Bookmarks \ _____________________ Home Previous Page Next Page ________________________ If any links don't work PLEASE NOTIFY US.