Riding the Mickelson Trail in the Black Hills

South Dakota

Total length: 109 miles

Deadwood SD to Edgemont SD

Railroad abandoned in 1983

Trail established in 1991. Completed 1998

Destination 300 miles from home

We will cross up and over several river drainages before we get to South Dakota

Drive Billings to Hardin then to Hwy 212 Bighorn Battlefield turnoff. Crossing the Bighorn River and Little Bighorn Rivers

Drive through Crow Indian Reservation until it meets the Cheyenne Indian Reservation MT

Little towns along the way include Busby and Lame Deer MT, both on the Cheyenne Reservation.

Then Ashland MT and the Tongue River valley. Before Ashland you climb into a stretch of Custer National Forest.

Then you drop into Broadus MT on the Powder River.

It’s amazing how forested this drive was until we dropped into Powder River valley. Then it was rangeland and farmland to Alzada.

Alzada MT located in farthest southeastern corner of Montana.

Next you drive through a tiny corner of Wyoming which actually has oak trees growing in a small section along the highway. We climbed back up into forested hills.

Upon entering South Dakota you enter Belle Fourche SD

It’s a quick 10 miles on divided highway to Spearfish SD. Spearfish is where the Black Hills begin on this trip.

The Mickelson Trail begins on the north end in Deadwood and ends 109 miles later on the southern end in Edgemont SD.

Our purpose of this trip is two-fold. We wanted to ride this trail before the busy summer tourist traffic season began and also test out our new Ram ProMaster “adventure van”. This marks our maiden adventure trip with our bicycles. We need to learn the ins and outs of living within the van. We have a bed and cabinets over the “gear-age” where our bikes, gear boxes and a cooler are stored. In the middle we have our kitchen. It has a one burner induction stove, sink, 7 gal water tank, 7 gallon gray tank, refrigerator, compost toilet/seat combo and 2 box storage cabinets with padded seat cushions. It’s fairly roomy but cozy. 

Our plan is to park at trailheads and ride “out and backs” each day. If all goes well we will complete the entire trail in both directions in 5 days. 

We’re camped the first night at the Hanna Campgroumd on forest service property. It’s a first come-first served basis. Nice little 14 site campground on Spearfish creek. Quiet and remote.

Tomorrow we drive to the Dumont Trailhead for day 1 riding! Follow along to discover this beautiful area in the United States from our bicycle saddles. We are really looking forward to the amazing scenery we get to enjoy.