Mickelson Trail Bicycle Ride - Day 5

I was up before sunrise and back on I-90 east heading towards Altoona. I arrived home at noon and spent the afternoon putting away my gear and washing/waxing the van so I could turn it back over to Susi in at least as good a condition as when I left last Sunday.

This trip was great. The trail conditions were overall very good and I was glad to be able to ride my touring bike for most of the ride. A hardtail mountain bike would really have been the best choice for this trip but I don't own one. Of the 108.8 miles of the trail, I rode 80 miles give or take, but the miles I rode were done in both directions for a total of 160 miles. Hopefully someday I'll be back in the area and can ride the 3.6 miles between Pringle and White Elephant trailheads, the 3 or 4 miles between Custer south to the highway crossing, the 10.5 miles between The Mountain and Hill City trailheads and the 10 mile section between Rochford and Dumont trailheads.

Mickelson Trail Bicycle Ride - Day 4

I was up at daybreak and headed for the Sugarloaf Trailhead. It was a pretty cool morning. The first mile was a pretty steep uphill then the trail leveled off most of the rest of the way to the Englewood Trailhead. A bridge is being replaced just south of this trailhead but there is a plywood walking bridge to carry the bike across. The trail then again climbed until about 1.5 from the Dumont Trailhead. This is the highest point on the Mickelson Trail at 6,200'. I met the young couple from Cedar Rapids one last time just as I approached the Dumont Trailhead. They had spent the night at a nearby B&B and both said they were ready for the trip to be over with. I pedaled across the highway to the Dumont Trailhead and had some refreshments before heading back north to the van. It was a great morning of riding - spectacular scenery, clear skies, cool temperatures! I was back at the van by around 10:00 am. After changing clothes and loading the bike, I was on the road up to Sturgis then onto I-90 east to Mitchell where I had a motel reservation for the night. Between Deadwood and Sturgis, there were many, many late model Ford Mustangs. I continued to see lots of them while traveling east on I-90 and asked one driver when I stopped for gas what was going on. He said there is a Mustang rally in Sturgis every year the first weekend in September. I'll have to remember that for next year.

A few photos from the day.

Homestake Gold Mine in Lead, SD

Homestake Gold Mine in Lead, SD

Scenic creek along the trail - there are actually quite a few really nice houses nearby

Englewood Trailhead (TH#4, MP-98.5)

Dumont Trailhead (TH#5, MP-92.6)

Dumont Trailhead (TH#5, MP-92.6) This is a big snowmobile area in the winter

Glad I decided to quit riding in the morning - 102 degrees outside

Mickelson Trail Bicycle Ride - Day 3

I was up early again and ate a quick continental breakfast at the motel before driving a few blocks to the Burlington Northern Hill City Trailhead (TH#8, MP-60.1). I had skipped the 10.5 mile section between Hill City Trailhead south to The Mountain Trailhead thinking that I would return if time allowed later in the week. I paid the $3 daily trail fee and headed north towards the Mystic Trailhead (TH#7, MP-74.7) then on Rochford Trailhead (TH#6, MP-82.6). The first  9 miles of the ride were a gently uphill followed by a 5 mile white-knuckle downhill to the Mystic Trailhead. I knew from the downhill speed that this would be a grind going back up on the return trip. There were two tunnels on this section - very cool! From the Mystic Trailhead the trail was relatively flat for a mile or so then uphill along a creek to the Rochford Trailhead. I met a young couple on loaded touring bikes stopped at the one tunnel on this section. They had started in San Francisco and pedaled north along the California and Oregon coasts then inland across Oregon, Idaho the down through Yellowstone NP and across Wyoming to Deadwood where they got on the Mickelson Trail. Their ultimate destination is somewhere on the east coast. Nice couple to talk to. I continued on up to the Rochford Trailhead and ate a breakfast bar and drank some Gatorade at the trailside shelter. It was getting pretty warm by then. I headed back down toward the Mystic Trailhead then up the steep section that had been so much fun going down earlier. It was a bit of a grind but I eventually reached the top followed by a fast downhill 8 miles back to Hill City. It was after 2:00 PM by the time I arrived at the van. I loaded the bike and headed for Deadwood to ride the northern two sections before calling it a day. The first thing I did in Deadwood was get a camping spot at an RV park that had showers. It was in the upper 90's in Deadwood and close to 4:00 PM by the time I made my camping arrangements and I headed for the Deadwood Trailhead (TH#1, MP-108.8). Due to road construction, I parked nearly a mile uphill from the start then cycled down to find the actual trailhead. I headed up to the Kirk Trailhead (TH#2, MP-105.3) then on to the Lead Trailhead (TH#2A, MP-103.7) before turning around to return to the van. I stopped at a Taco John's for dinner on the way back to the RV park. The sun was setting as I arrived at the RV park and it was nearly dark by the time I got cleaned up. Great day of cycling! Total bike miles for the day was 58.5. I also skipped the 10 mile section between the Rochford and Dumont trailheads - just ran out of time for the day. Tomorrow I'm going to cycle at least from the Sugarloaf Traihead (TH#3, MP-103.3) to the Englewood Trailhead (TH#4, MP-98.5) then on to the Dumont Trailhead (TH#5, MP-92.6). Depending on time, temperature, how I feel, I may also complete the 10 mile section between Dumont and Rochford that I skipped today. It is nearly all up hill to Dumont and will take me over the high point of the entire trail just north of the Dumont Trailhead - 6,200'. Dumont to Rochford is all downhill but then I'll have to ride back up so I''m a little doubtful that I'll actually do it.

Some photos from the day.

Saw lots of wild turkeys each day

Tunnel - the cool air was refreshing especially on the way back when it was hot

Trestle

Soothing sound of the water while slowly cycling uphill

Rochford Trailhead shelter (TH#6, MP-82.6)

Cool building near the Mystic Trailhead

Deadwood Trailhead (TH#1, MP-108.8)

Deadwood Trailhead (TH#1, MP-108.8)

Old powerhouse that supplied power to the Lead gold mine operation

Mickelson Trail Bicycle Ride - Day 2

I was out of the motel at daybreak and had a nice breakfast at Our Place in Custer, SD. I then headed back towards Edgemont to complete the 3 mile section between mileposts (MP) 6 and 9 that I missed the day before. I drove first to the Minnekahta Trailhead to pay my $3 daily use fee then drove to where the map shows the trail crosses highway 18S. 18S is a blacktop road that says it is Old Hwy 18. When I got to where the trail crosses the road I found that the road is on a trestle about 30 feet above the trail. When I parked, I could see a cowpath down to the trail. I also saw my first (and only) rattlesnake of the trip. The section of the Mickelson south of Custer is known to have rattlesnakes.

Rattlesnake - the only good kind (dead ones)

I walked my bike down to the trail making plenty of noise so as not to surprise a snake. I headed south towards MP-6. Between MP-6 and MP-7 is an overlook of the Cheyenne River and near MP-7 is a trestle across Sheep Canyon (where I heard most of the rattlesnakes are found - luckily, I didn't find any). I passed a young couple pedaling north but they didn't stop to talk. After I reached the point where I had my flat the day before I turned around and headed north (uphill). I came upon the couple that I had just passed who had stopped to take photos of each other on a trestle across Sheep Canyon. I offered to take a photo of the two of them after which I found out they were from Cedar Rapids, IA which is only about 100 miles from Des Moines. They had started in Deadwood at the north end of the trail and cycled 3 days to Edgemont and were on their way back to Deadwood. I saw them at least once again each of the days of my trip.

Old Hwy 18 over Mickelson Trail - I'm parked next to the tree on the left.

Overlook of the Cheyenne River and near MP-6

Sheep Canyon from the Sheep Canyon Trestle near MP-7

After returning to the spot where I had parked the van (which must have been around MP-8), I cycled to MP-9 where I had reached from the north the day before. I made it back to the van without seeing any snakes and only saw two small snakes (not rattlers I don't think) the rest of the trip.

I drove back to the Minnekahta Trailhead (TH #13) and cycled north towards the Pringle Trailhead (TH #12). The first few miles of this section were very open.

Mickelson Trail near Minnekahta Trailhead

I cycled uphill for 10 miles to MP-26. The treeline started at about MP-20 and the scenery was more enjoyable than the open trail I had been cycling. I passed a number of other cyclists on this section and talked to a few of them. I also stopped to talk to a lady walking the trail and who had been out gathering wild plumbs. The 10 miles downhill back to the van were a lot of fun and the mileposts went by quickly. I loaded the bike and drove to Pringle where I had a late lunch at a biker bar. After lunch I drove a couple of blocks to the Pringle Trailhead (TH#12, MP-32.1) and found a large group of Adventure Cycling Association riders doing a week long Black Hills fully-supported ride. It was getting hot and many of their riders were SAGGING the rest of the afternoon. Only about a dozen continued riding from this point. I rode south to MP-26 and back. There is an abandoned saw mill on this section.

Old saw mill near MP-32

Once back at the Pringle Trailhead, I had completed all of the first 32.1 miles of the trail in each direction. While driving the highway between Custer and Edgemont at the start of the day, I noticed that the next 3.6 mile section between the Pringle Trailhead (TH#12) and White Elephant Trailhead (TH#11) was right next to the highway and decided to skip this section. I parked at the White Elephant Trailhead (TH#11, MP-35.7) and cycled north towards Custer to the point where the trail crossed under US-385 (about MP-41.5).

Rock formation near Sanator - where the South Dakota state tuberculosis sanatorium once operated

Just before reaching the crossing, I happened upon an older gentleman with a flat front tire. He did not have a spare tire tube and had packed the tire full of grass thinking that if he packed enough grass inside, he might be able to ride his bike the 4 miles back downhill to Custer where his car was parked. I had a spare tube and we fixed the tire and I rode with him 1/2 mile to the highway crossing. The man's tire was holding up and by now it was after 4:00 pm so I needed to get back to the van to drive to the Harbach Park Trailhead in Custer (TH#10) to get in the last section of riding for today then drive to Hill City where I had a motel reservation. The downhill ride went quickly. I arrived at TH#10 in Custer around 4:45 pm, unloaded the bike and started cycling north up the 5.1 mile section between Custer (TH#10, MP-44.5) and The Mountain Trailhead (TH#9, MP-49.6). I have to say this was probably the most scenic section of the trip for me. In addition to the 3.6 miles between TH#12 and #11, I also skipped the section from Custer south to the US-385 crossing which is about another 4 miles. All total so far I had skipped 7.6 miles of the first 49.6 miles of the trail - all south of Custer. The total miles on my bike odometer for the day was 60.3.

Custer Trailhead (TH#10)

Between Custer and The Mountain trailheads (MP-44.5 to MP-49.6)

Between Custer and The Mountain trailheads (MP-44.5 to MP-49.6)

The Mountain Trailhead (TH#9, MP-49.6). Supposedly one can see the Crazy Horse monument from here but I didn't see it

The shadows were getting long by the time I made it back to Custer. I loaded the bike and drove to Hill City. After checking in to the motel and cleaning up I had a delicious burger at Desperados Cowboy Restaurant.

Mickelson Trail Bicycle Ride - Day 1

I was up very early on Monday, August 31, and arrived at the Edgemont Trailhead (TH#14, milepost (MP)-0) around noon. After changing into my bicycle clothes and filling my Camelback, I was riding by 12:30 pm. There is trail construction at the beginning with a detour back out to US-18 and over the existing railroad tracks to a point about a mile up the trail. It was a gradual uphill and I stopped several times to make adjustment to my mountain bike seat and handlebar grips. At about MP-4  I noticed that I left my seat bag, which contained my spare tire tubes and CO2 cartridges, in the van. I haven't had many flats so I figured what are the odds of having one in the 32 miles to and from the Minnekahta Trailhead (TH#13, MP-16.2). With two more miles of some considerable climbing, I looked down and my rear tire was nearly flat. I at least remember to put my hand pump in the Camelback so I pumped up the tire and pedaled back downhill as fast as I could towards Edgemont. I made it back after stopping three more times to pump up the tire. Once back at the trailhead I fixed the flat and decided to drive to the Minnekahta Trailhead (TH#13, MP-16.2) and cycle south back towards Edgemont to the point where I had the flat. After pedaling downhill to MP-9 (6 is where I had the flat), the sun angle was starting to get low. Not wanting to get caught up to 7 miles from the Minnekahta Trailhead should there be any more bike problems, I decided to head back to the van and return to finish this first section on Tuesday. I made it back without any bike problems, but the uphill getting back to the van took its toll. I was bushed by the time I got back and loaded the bike. I had a motel reservation in Custer, SD and arrived there at about 6:30 pm. After a pizza dinner, I decided that the trail surface conditions should allow me to ride my touring bike the next day so I switched the bikes around on the car bike rack and switched all the gear from the Camelback into one of my panniers. A few photos from day one are included below.

Smoke haze as I approached the south end of the Black Hills

Ready to go at the Edgemont Trailhead - Milepost 0

Minnekahta Trailhead - Milepost 16.2

Middle of Section 1 between Edgemont and Minnekahta trailheads

Mickelson Trail Bicyle Ride - Introduction and Day 0

Between August 30 and September 4, I drove to the Black Hills of South Dakota to spent a few days bicycling the Mickelson Trail. This is a 108.8 mile crushed-rock surfaced trail on a converted railroad line between Deadwood and Edgemont, SD. The trail is maintained by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.

I took my mountain bike and touring bike as the recommended bicycle type for this trail is a mountain bike. However, I've ridden my touring bike on gravel in the past (Katy Trail in Missouri twice) and did not have any problems and it is more comfortable to ride than my mountain bike. I figured I'd start with the mountain bike and see what the trail surface was like then decide which to ride for the remainder of the trip.

Since I had the van, I decided to SAG for myself starting at the southern end of the trail in Edgemont by parking at a trailhead then riding one or more sections then turning around and riding back to the van. Once back at the van, I would load up the bike and drive to another section and repeat the process until I had covered as much of the entire 108.8 miles of the trail as I could and still be back in Iowa Friday for the start of the Labor Day weekend.

I left Altoona Sunday morning, August 30, with a plan of camping at Randall Creek Recreation Area campground on the Missouri River the first night then driving to Edgemont on Monday morning and bicycle as much as I could on Monday afternoon.

After reaching I-29 in western Iowa, I followed what I could remember of the Adventure Cycling Association Lewis and Clark bicycle route to see what the road conditions are like for a future ride on this route. I visited Lewis and Clark SP just outside of Onawa, IA and walked through the small museum building. A few photos are included below.

Dugout canoe

 

I reached Randall Creek Recreation Area just before 6:00 PM and checked in to get a shady camping spot. This campground is immediately downstream of the Fort Randall Dam on the Missouri River. After setting up camp (got the lawn chair out and inflated my air matress in the back of the van) I made a few adjustments to my mountain bike then rode it around the campground. A couple of photos of the downstream view of the dam and the bluff along the eastern bank of the river are included below. I wasn't there long, but really enjoyed the campground and conversation with a couple of families camping nearby.