“ The very basic core of a man’ s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”
ENDLESS
ADVENTURES
“ The very basic core of a man’ s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”
~ Christopher McCandless photo courtesy of Travel South Dakota
Mickelson Trail
This 109milelong trail, honored as one of the“ Best of the Midwest,” runs the length of the Black Hills, from Deadwood to Edgemont. There are 15 trailheads. It follows an abandoned railroad bed and climbs gently into jagged cliffs and pine forests. It tops out at 6,100 feet, but never exceeds a 4 percent grade. Trestle bridges and railroad tunnels add to the trail’ s charm. A spur goes into Custer State Park. There are more than 100 converted railroad bridges and four hard rock tunnels along the trail. A trail pass is required.
22 Black Hills Adventure Guide 2025