People who live here will tell you the Mickelson Trail is mostly for tourists, then admit they rode it last weekend. That’s about right.
The George S. Mickelson Trail runs 109 miles through the Black Hills, converting an old Burlington Northern rail line into a packed-gravel path that threads through tunnels, across trestles, and past enough ponderosa pine to make you forget you’re in a state that’s mostly flat. Rapid City isn’t the trailhead—the official north end is in Deadwood—but the Dumont trailhead near Hill City is a reasonable two-hour drive for a day ride, and locals treat sections between Custer and Hill City as a standard Saturday outing.
The grade is the point. Because it follows an old rail bed, nothing on this trail exceeds a four-percent incline. That sounds like a small thing until you’ve done it and realized you just rode 15 miles into the Hills without once feeling like you were going to die. It’s why you see everyone from serious cyclists to families towing kids in trailers. The trail genuinely accommodates both without lying to either.
What to bring: water, more than you think. The tunnels—there are four of them—drop the temperature fast, so a light layer helps even in July. Trail passes are required: $5 per person per day, or $15 for an annual pass. Kids 12 and under are free. You can buy passes at self-service stations at most trailheads or online through the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks site.
If you’re renting bikes, Rabbit Bicycles in Hill City is the closest outfitter to the southern stretches. Expect to pay somewhere in the $40–$60 range for a half-day rental depending on the bike type. They know the trail well and can point you toward the Crazy Horse trestle section if you want a specific landmark to aim for.
The trestles, by the way, are legitimately impressive. There are 100 bridges total. Most are unremarkable creek crossings. A few are long enough that you slow down, look out over the canyon, and take stock of things. That sounds sentimental but it happens.
Fall is when the trail earns its reputation. The aspens turn in late September and the crowds thin out just enough. Summer weekends on the Hill City-to-Custer stretch can feel busy—not unpleasantly so, but busy. If a quiet ride matters to you, go on a weekday or push into October and accept that it might be cold in the tunnels.
One practical note: the trail is point-to-point, not a loop, so either arrange a shuttle or plan to ride back the way you came. Some people drop a car at each end. Others ride out and back. The Rabbit Bicycles folks can help with logistics if you ask.
The Mickelson Trail doesn’t need a hard sell. It’s a good trail through good country at a price that doesn’t sting. If you’ve been in Rapid City more than a week and haven’t found a reason to get on it, this is the reason.
