Review Date
August 30, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: mad cow ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
This is a great trail. Be prepared to take your time to enjoy the great scenery. There's a couple of great videos, photos, and trail descriptions at the following link:

http://web.mac.com/mpfogarty

Recommended Route:
We rode the route from Deadwood to Hill city, from Hill City to Deadwood, and again from Hill City to Edgemont. All were enjoyable days with ride times around 4-5 hours. This trail is such an enjoyable ride on a nice summer, fall, or autumn day.

Review Date
October 3, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: midnightagent ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Road parts of this trail on two different trips. In July road with family from The Mountain trailhead to Hill City. Downhill 10 miles. Great way to ride for a family. Passed the Crazy Horse Monument. Hill city has a shuttle service to drop you off.

2nd trip rode from Deadwood to the summit (about two miles North of Dumont) then back to Deadwood. This trip was more of a "barn burner". Climbed 1600 feet over 15 miles, then cruised back down the giant hill. Awesome scenery, great view of Lead area, old gold mines, wild life. Saw numerous deer, one brown snake, and a large rock that had just fallen. Would love to do this one again!

Review Date
June 16, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 0 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: mad cow ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
This is a great trail. Ridden leisurly, the scenery is awesome. Ridden fast, it's quite a challenge, but is not technical. CX bikes are the bike of choice for this trail. Mtn bikes, and 'comfort' bikes are fine as well. There are reports that people have ridden this trail on on recumbants as well. With a little fatter tire (27-30mm wide cx or touring), a road bike will also work just fine.

I rated the trail a 3 for aerobic difficulty for those who live at lower alitiudes and drive to the Black Hills to ride the trail. The uphills consist of grades around 4%. Although not steep, the uphills can go for as long as 18 miles at a crack. Maintaining a comfortable pace, or taking an occasional break will ensure an enjoyable outing.


For a video and pictoral review of the entire trail, go to http://web.ndak.net/~fogarty

Recommended Route:
The area between Deadwood and Custer is the nicest part of the trail. ..... although Sheep Canyon near the southern end is also very beautiful. Bring some extra water. The pumps at the various stations do not always work. Some need to be reprimed occasionally.

Review Date
June 22, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: CaptianCrash ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
O.K. you have to do it every once in a while...Keep the family happy and introduce them to the world on a bike...we hit the Mick with a group of friends...and 5 kids all under the age of 6. 3 of us (the guys) have a lot of MTB experience but the rest are neighborhood bikers...we even had one Huffy in the pack.
We took off from Hill City and took the trail North. The whole trail never really climbs that tough so it was very nice to all who were along. We had 3 kid trailers and a trailer bike and 8 adults in the party overall and the trail never seemed to small. We rode for about 4 or 5 miles out and came back on a very fun for all downhill. If you are not wanting to haul in your kid carrier there is a shop right in Hill City with some German girl running the counter...great accent...only $15 for a good Burly.

Some great things about this trail...the trail head in Hill City is family friendly, there is a playground right there and then you tire out the family so much that day that the single-trackers can take off the next day for all the trails that the Black Hills have to offer.

Recommended Route:
Hill City then North..there is some great tunnels if you can get the party that far...and the downhill at the end makes them want to come back.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Anywhere on the Centennial...you can ride all day and maybe see some other people...

Review Date
June 18, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: ronjones ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
The State has a pretty good website about the trail. Check out the trail map for an elevation profile.

http://www.sdgfp.info/parks/regions/westriver/mickelsontrail/Index.htm

Recommended Route:
If you're only going to ride one section of the trail, I like the Mystic to Dumont area.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
If the wide, flat crushed rock trail and the people on it start to bore you, try turning off on Trail 40. It's a couple miles south of Mystic and goes both east and west. West will take you to the Deerfield Lake Loop. East is a great route and will take you down Slate and Rapid Creeks to Silver City and eventually to the Centennial Trail.