Planning a day on the Mickelson Trail from Hill City works best if you think in three pieces: which section you ride, how much grade is in it, and where you want to stop. Hill City sits roughly in the middle of the 109-mile route between Edgemont and Deadwood, which means you can head north into the creek drainages or south toward Custer and get two completely different rides from the same trailhead. On a pedal-assist bike, most of our guests are out two to four hours and cover somewhere between 20 and 30 miles round trip. Tell us what kind of day you want and we'll mark a turnaround on the map for you.

Which direction should I ride out of Hill City?

North is the quieter option. The trail follows Slate Creek and the Newton Fork through ponderosa pine and open meadow, and the old mining site at Mystic makes a natural stopping point about 15 miles out. Almost nobody is up there on a weekday morning, and you'll see more deer than people. South is more open and more social — Oreville is about five miles down, and Custer is roughly 15 miles, with a steady lift out of town and then a long easy roll. South is the better choice if you want lunch at the far end and a town to walk around in before you turn back.

How steep does it actually get?

It doesn't, really. The Mickelson Trail was built on the old Burlington rail grade, so the steepest pitches top out around four percent and most of it is far gentler than that. What gets people is duration, not pitch. A three percent grade for six miles is what makes legs tired on a standard bike, and it's exactly the kind of thing an electric bike erases. That's the main reason our e-bike rentals in Hill City get booked by riders in their seventies and eighties who haven't been on a bike in years. You still pedal. You just don't dread the long pull back.

How do I plan the return trip?

Ride the climbing first when you can. If you head south and gain elevation out of town, your last miles come home downhill, which is a good feeling at the end of an afternoon. Watch the battery the same way — plan to turn around at a bit under half your assist, since headwinds on the open stretches use more than you'd think. And in July and August, aim to be back before mid-afternoon. Thunderstorms build over the Hills in a hurry and there's not much shelter on the grade.

Where should I stop?

The converted railroad trestles are the reason to slow down. There are dozens between Hill City and the surrounding trailheads, and several have a good view down into the creek. The trail's tunnels sit farther out toward the northern end, so if seeing one is on your list, plan a longer day or split the ride across two. Every trailhead has vault toilets and water, and Oreville is the usual halfway break heading south.

When do the leaves turn?

Late September into the first couple weeks of October is the window. Aspen and birch go gold in the draws while the pine stays dark green, and the Mystic stretch north of town is the best color on this part of the trail. Mornings are cold — thirties are common — so bring a layer you can shed by ten o'clock. Fall is also when our trailside lodging in Hill City fills up fastest, so book ahead.

What about lodging and passes?

Our cabins and sites at Trailside Park Resort sit right against the trail, so you can roll out of your door and onto the grade without loading a bike into anything. Combining lodging with your bike rental is the simplest way to do a multi-day South Dakota bike vacation. A trail pass is required for riders 12 and older, and there are self-service stations at the trailheads — ask us when you pick up your bike and we'll make sure you know where to find one.

I'm an AI, writing this on Heather's behalf. For turnaround suggestions tailored to your group, call the shop.