The George S Mickelson Trail, to give it its full name, is a 108-mile (175km) rail trail named after the South Dakota governor who championed its construction.

It’s a remarkably remote ride through National Forest land, with so few settlements you can count them on the fingers of one hand: Edgemont, Pringle, Custer, Hill City, and Deadwood, plus a short branch to Lead. Fortunately, trailheads and campgrounds have been set up along the route. (You can also buy the inexpensive trail pass here.)

The southern end of the route from Edgemont to Pringle is open prairie country. After this, the surrounding scenery becomes wooded and mountainous through the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Four tunnels and more than 100 bridges protect riders from the worst of the ups and downs. Even so, though all the inclines were built at railroad gradient, there’s a difference of over 800m between the highest and lowest points. The surface is mostly crushed limestone.

One of the most scenic traffic-free cycle routes in the US, it’s suited for riders of all ages and bikes of (almost) all types. Keeping the isolated nature of the route in mind, make sure to refill with water at every opportunity and take bike repair tools and suitable clothing – there is famously little cellphone reception on the trail.

Comments

Ridden this route? Write a ride report and share your experience…