George S. Mickelson Trail (full or segment)

The George S. Mickelson Trail is a 109-mile (175 km) multi-use trail running the full length of the Black Hills in South Dakota, from Deadwood in the north to Edgemont in the south. Converted from the Deadwood-Edgemont railroad corridor and managed by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, the trail passes through historic gold-mining towns, open meadows, dense ponderosa pine forest, and dramatic limestone canyon sections across a continuous route through the heart of the Black Hills.

Day hikers typically choose a 5–20 mile segment between two of the 15 official trailheads. The Hill City Trailhead at 23900 SD-385 in Hill City is one of the most popular starting points; others include the Deadwood, Rochford, and Pringle trailheads. A trail pass is required: $5 USD per person per day, purchased at self-serve kiosks at all major trailheads or online at sd.gov. Annual passes are also available. Parking is provided at all 15 trailheads.

Because the trail follows a converted railroad bed, the gradient is exceptionally gentle — a maximum of 4% grade throughout the entire 109-mile corridor — making it accessible to hikers, mountain cyclists, equestrians, and families with children. The trail surface varies by segment: some sections are crushed limestone gravel, others compacted dirt; the route incorporates more than 100 historic trestle bridges and 4 original railroad tunnels, many of which are highlights in their own right.

Key segments include the Black Hills Central Railroad ghost town sections near Keystone, the limestone canyon crossings north of Custer, and the dense spruce and aspen corridors near Rochford. The Hill City to Custer segment (approximately 12 miles) is widely considered the most scenic for first-time visitors. Fall foliage along the trail is among the most colorful in South Dakota, with peak color typically between Custer and Hill City in early to mid-October.

Water is available at some trailheads but not reliably along the route; carrying adequate water is recommended for segments longer than 10 miles. No shelters exist along the trail itself, though the towns of Hill City, Deadwood, and Custer are accessible from various trailhead points for resupply.