Black Hills Tour - South Dakota
3 and 4-Day Self-Guided Tours through the Black Hills
We offer 3 and 4-day Self-Guided tours of the Mickelson Trail. Ride the 108 mile Mickelson Rail-Trail through the Black Hills.
3-day tour is Deadwood > Hill City > Custer > Edgemont
4-day tour is Rochford > Deadwood > Rochford > Hill City > Custer > Edgemont
Tours run June - September
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. From Deadwood to Pringle, the trail follows meandering creeks, winds around towering rock formations, past sprawling meadows and through dense forest. South of Pringle and into Edgemont, the terrain opens into prairie and ranch land, providing splendid views of the horizon.
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, 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.
Experience the history and excitement of the Wild West in the charming town of Deadwood. You will find casinos, mining history, and a downtown strip that will look very familiar from Movies such as Deadwood, Wild Bill to TV shows such as Little House on the Prairie. The trail moves you past Crazy Horse Monument with the option to see Mount Rushmore on all of our tours. Even with this shorter distance trail, Mickelson is challenging as you have steady climbs and descents. Our tours go North to South which provides the most descending ride available on this crushed limestone trail.
Your tour includes your hotels, shuttle, tour map, Ride with GPS mapping and breakfast each lodging day. Our lodging is near the trail with restaurants and stores to restock your needs Water is available at all trailheads along with restrooms on the trail.
Extras for your tour include luggage shuttle, bike rentals and extra hotel nights before or after your tour.
New this year is the option to purchase a full day Black Hills Bus Tour covering all the sites - Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Needles Highway, Sylvan Lake and Custer State Park. Tour is lead by local guide who will fill you with history, legends and stories of how the Black Hills became famous.
Not included are your lunches and dinners, your $15 Trailhead Fee and Fees getting into Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore (if visiting).
We cannot support Trikes or Recumbents on our tours due to the shuttle company's capabilities.
See itinerary for each day's ride for more details.
Your self-guided tour includes your lodging, breakfasts, transportation back to your car, trail map, Ride with GPS and t-shirt.
EXTRAS - Bike Rentals, Extra Night Lodging and Luggage Shuttle
New this year is the option to purchase a full day Black Hills Bus Tour covering all the sites - Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Needles Highway, Sylvan Lake and Custer State Park. Bus tour is led by local guide who will fill you with history, legends and stories of how the Black Hills became famous. We will pick you up from hotel in Deadwood to start your tour. Includes entrance fees into Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monuments. Stop for Lunch (guest pays) and other stops for photos and views and by back before 5:00pm.
Cost is $190/Person - Purchased as an Extra with Tour
Below are the elevations (altitudes) for towns along the Mickelson Trail. As you can see, there is gradual rising and descending on this trail.