Name: Mickelson Trail: End-to-End #40
Brand: Independent Tourist
SKU: 1
Price: 975
Availability: InStock

Mickelson Trail

Deadwood to Edgemont

Our Mickelson Trail tour is on one of the first “rail to trail” trails developed in the U.S. Discover unrivaled natural beauty, geologic wonders and an abundance of wildlife in combination with historic ghost towns, train trestles, bridges and tunnels, reminders of a bygone era.

4 Days – 109 miles

Start Dates:
June 1 through Mid July – Start Day: SUN or MON
Mid August to the end of September – Start Day: SUN or MON

Note: NO departures from Mid July to Mid August due to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Add a day! Break up the 50-mile day from Deadwood to Hill City. See details below!

$975 per person/double occupancy

Deadwood to Edgemont

Independent Tourist is excited to introduce our newest self-guided bike tour!! Nestled in the heart of the Black Hills of South Dakota, one of the nation’s most scenic, historic and memorable cycling adventures awaits, the 109 mile Mickelson Trail. This converted “Rail to Trail” once provided the booming “Wild West” mining community of Deadwood with a means to transport ore, supplies and people along its rugged path. As you cycle this well maintained, but challenging trail, you will discover unrivaled natural beauty, geologic wonders and an abundance of wildlife in combination with historic ghost towns, train trestles, bridges and tunnels, reminders of a bygone era.

This is a short, 4 day end to end tour on the Mickelson Trail. It is considered solidly intermediate due to long continuous grades and higher elevations than most are used to.

Add a day! The 50 miles of the Mickelson trail from Deadwood to Hill City contains many points of interest, tunnels and is arguably the most beautiful section of the trail. This section also contains sustained climbs totaling 2,750′ and 2,300 of downhill! If you’d like more time to soak it in and/or prefer to break the climbing into two days and even traverse portions downhill instead, we offer 2 distinct options. Pricing includes an extra night lodging and additional shuttle.

Option #1: We’ll pick you up in Deadwood and deliver you to the Rochford Trailhead. You ride 26 miles, partly downhill, back to your lodging in Deadwood. Day 2, we’ll take you back to Rochford where you’ll continue riding south to Hill City. $150 per person/double occupancy

Option #2: Leaving Deadwood, you’ll ride 20 miles south to a secluded Airbnb (pending availability) along the trail in Nahant. Luggage and pre-arranged groceries are shuttled to your destination. Day 2, continue riding from Nahant, south to Hill City. $175 per person/double occupancy

OPTIONAL ADD-ONS – The Black Hills area has so much to offer that it is easy for us to customize your trip with an added day or two, during, before or at the end of this tour.

Examples include:

A: Add an extra day of cycling from Deadwood to Spearfish via Spearfish Canyon.

B: From Hill City or Custer, take a full day guided driving tour of the Needles Highway/Iron Mountain/Custer State Park loop.

C: From Hill City, take the 1880 train to Keystone for the day.

D: In Custer, take a beginner or other level rock climbing class with Sylvan Rocks Climbing School.

Price Includes

3 days of cycling
1 shuttle dayfrom Edgemont to Deadwood at the end of day 4
4 nights in Bed & Breakfast, hotel or small inn
Lodging near trail and evening restaurants
4 mornings with breakfast
Parking at Deadwood hotel
Daily luggage transfers to the next inn
Maps and daily route directions
Emergency assistance**see below for non-emergency shuttle information
Our one-of-a-kind quality swag bag

Price Excludes

Bike Rental
Any Private Expenses

Discounts

10% discount for returning customer

What to Expect

4 Days –109 miles— Rating: Solid intermediate—due to regional elevations of 3500’ to as high as 6500’, extended climbs (though no steeper than 4% grade) and some longer days in the saddle.

**The trip price includes one shuttle at the end of the trail back to Deadwood. Any non-emergency shuttling will be at the cyclist’s own expense. We will provide phone numbers and contact names for several of the local shuttle companies.

June 1 to Mid July
Mid August to Sept 30
Start SUN or MON
NO departures from Mid July to Mid August due to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Itinerary

Day 1Meeting Day: Explore the town of Deadwood – elevation 4,530’

Our tour begins and ends in the historic town of Deadwood, South Dakota. Known for its rough and tumble past, this popular destination now offers, ghost tours, historic hotels, casinos, and gourmet dining along with beautiful hiking opportunities. Easily accessed from I-90, Deadwood is an hour drive west of Rapid City Regional Airport or 45 mins from downtown Rapid City. Overnight parking is available for our cyclists. Touring bike or E-bike rental is available in Deadwood.

Lodging: Historic hotel, modern chain hotel or fabulous B&B upon request (limited availability: 3 rooms with private baths – 2 rooms with shared bath)

Day 2Cycling Day: 50 miles-Deadwood to Hill City – elevation 5,160’

Today is your first cycling day. Leave luggage with your host. We will transfer it for you to this evening’s destination and each day on your tour.

Ride from your hotel to the trailhead (MM 109) which is the northern end of the MickelsonTrail. This is our most challenging day of the tour with a 50 mile ride to the village of Hill City. Though the 8’ wide, crushed limestone, Mickelson Trail never exceeds a 4% grade, the 1800’ elevation gain from Deadwood to Dumont is not the only climb of the day. We are well rewarded for our efforts as this is arguably the most beautiful stretch of the Mickelson with its 4 famous tunnels, mountain like vistas and multiple bridges.

Lodging: Modern chain hotel or small historic hotel (limited availability)

Day 3Cycling Day: 16 miles-Hill City to Custer – elevation 5,315’

Today we enjoy a shorter day from Hill City to Custer. The first 13 miles consist of a gradual climb to Crazy Horse Monument. Located right off the Mickelson Trail, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to take a closer look at this extraordinary mountain and its museum dedicated to Native American Culture ($10 entry fee per bicycle – not included in package), well worth it! The shorter day allows for time to explore both Hill City and Custer as well.

Lodging: Western log style hotel/cabins or modern chain hotel

Day 4Cycling Day: 44 miles-Custer to Edgemont – elevation 3,460’ includes 2 hour shuttle back to Deadwood

The cycle to Edgemont from Custer rewards us with a predominately downhill ride! The landscape changes dramatically from the previous days but is no less beautiful with its sandstone canyons and sweeping prairie views. The ride ends at mile 0.0 in Edgemont where a shuttle will take us back to Deadwood 2 hours to the north.

Lodging: Historic hotel, modern chain hotel or fabulous B&B upon request (limited availability: 3 rooms with private baths – 2 rooms with shared bath)