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Mickelson Trail & Black Hills Bike Tour

  • Rock formation Badlands National Park
  • Deer cross river South Dakota
  • Badlands with colorful hills
  • Devil's tower and bike
  • Bison in South Dakota
  • Deadwood South Dakota
  • Mt. Rushmore
  • Biking in the Badlands, South Dakota
  • Wildlife in the road South Dakota
  • View by the lake with mountains in back
  • Bison with babies South Dakota
  • Animals in South Dakota
  • Mickelson Trail
DURATION
6 Day(s)
DAILY BIKING
16 to 36 miles
TRIP DIFFICULTY
3-Intermediate
REVIEWS
STARTING FROM
$3095
SINGLES ADD FROM
$800

Trip Overview

This South Dakota bike tour from Badlands National Park, through the Black Hills, along the Mickelson Trail and up to Devils Tower will take you through a diverse and unique landscape that is rich in both Native American culture and iconic North American wildlife.

You pedal along the Wildlife Loop viewing some of the largest herds of American bison (informally called buffalo) in existence today. Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park are also home to pronghorn antelope, elk, prairie dogs, deer, mountain lions and bighorn sheep. The area you ride through on this tour is one of the most geologically unique and diverse areas in North America.

Visit Mount Rushmore, the famous mountainside sculpture depicting our U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Your route takes you to the Crazy Horse Memorial, currently being constructed, depicting the Oglala Lakota warrior, Crazy Horse. Toward the end of the tour, you ride across the Wyoming border and up to Devils Tower National Monument.

During the course of the week, you visit some of our favorite restaurants in the Black Hills area. The lunch spots chosen on this tour serve pleasing and healthy meals with locally sourced ingredients.

Surfaces for this tour: 70% Paved and 30% Gravel.

Itinerary

From start to finish, check out the route.

DAY 1 - Arrival Day
Distance: 23 miles | Terrain: Easier/Intermediate | Cedar Pass Lodge
The trip begins with an 8:30 a.m. meeting at a hotel in Rapid City. Bring your luggage and be ride-ready. After brief introductions, take the van and trailer and shuttle for a brief stop and orientation at the legendary Wall Drug before heading on to start the ride at the Pinnacles Entrance Station in Badlands National Park. Cycle through the rugged, dramatic landscapes of Badlands National Park — known as one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Dinner is at the Cedar Pass Restaurant. Off-bike activities: Badlands is known for sunsets and sunrises, stargazing, hiking.
DAY 2 - Wind Cave National Park | Custer State Park
Distance: 32 miles | Terrain: Intermediate | Custer State Game Lodge
Today's route begins in Wind Cave National Park. Start by exploring the Visitor Center there (depending on whether they have completed repairs). Then, you have the option for a 1-hour guided tour of the cave. After the cave tour, you shuttle to start your ride in Custer State Game Park ... to view herds of bison, prairie dog town, donkeys, and herds of antelope! The route takes you along the Wildlife Loop — 18 miles of open grasslands and hills, appropriately named for its plentiful wildlife. Guests love the rolling nature of these roads and the stunning scenery. Dinner is at the Custer State Game Lodge Restaurant. Optional off- bike activities: Custer State Game Park Visitor Center or an off-road Jeep safari. Dinner is at the Custer State Game Lodge Restaurant.
DAY 3 - Mount Rushmore
Distance: 21 miles | Terrain: Intermediate | Custer State Game Lodge
Two of the main roads today were built for the sole purpose of enjoyment. You start directly from our lodging, riding through Custer State Game Park, to Iron Mountain Road, noted as one of the most unusual and captivating roads in America. Iron Mt. Road is home to the famed “pigtail bridges,” … log-built bridges that spiral down, multiple tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore, and sections of rolling single lane pavement through the woods that’s sure to leave you grinning ear to ear. Your lunch destination today is Lakota Lake Picnic area. From here, you can ride or shuttle the hills, tunnels and switchbacks to Mount Rushmore. Dinner is at the Custer State Game Lodge Restaurant. Optional off-bike activities: Custer State Game Park Visitor Center or an off-road Jeep safari.
DAY 4 - Devil’s Tower
Distance: 10 to 36 miles | Terrain: Intermediate | DoubleTree by Hilton Deadwood at Cadillac Jack's
This is a beautiful day of riding through buttes and red sandstone cliffs up to the majestic Devils Tower National Monument. Shuttle to Aladin for a look at a fun general store and then on to Hulett for the ride to Devils Tower. You have the option for a short hike near Devils Tower and then ride to Hulett for lunch. Next, shuttle to Deadwood in the afternoon. Dinner is on your own at the Six String or Santana’s. Optional off-bike activities: Deadwood trolley car shuttle, Wild Bill Hickok shooting and legendary trial of Jack McCall (street re-enactment), shopping, Broken Boot Gold Mine tour.

Optional off-bike activities: Deadwood trolley car shuttle, Wild Bill Hickok shooting and legendary trial of Jack McCall (street re-enactment), shopping, Broken Boot Gold Mine tour.
DAY 5 - George S. Mickelson Trail
Distance: 35 miles | Terrain: Easier | Best Western Golden Spike Inn and Suites
One of the premiere Rail-to-trails in the U.S., the Mickelson is a 109-mile trail that uses the old Black Hills Railroad line, which used to supply the Homestake Mine for many years. Today you ride the trail from Deadwood, a town known for its gold rush history, to the ghost town of Mystic. This section of the trail includes numerous bridges and tunnels and runs through one of the most beautiful areas of the Black Hills. Dinner is at Alpine Inn.
DAY 6 - Departure Day
Distance: 16 to 20 miles | Terrain: Easier
Your final day of cycling features a section of the Mickelson Trail from Hill City to Custer, where you will find decorative painted buffalo statues all through the downtown. Today you ride near the Crazy Horse Memorial with a great view of the monument. In the afternoon we offer a shuttle back to Rapid City.

Map

Dates & Pricing

Prices are per person based on double occupancy (2 people in one room). Single supplement for private room is listed at the top of this page. A deposit of $500 holds your reservation for most tours. For weekend tours, the deposit is $300.

Start End Cost Availability
Jun 09, 2024 Jun 14, 2024 $3095.00 Date SOLD OUT Sold Out Sold Out
Sep 01, 2024 Sep 06, 2024 $3095.00 Available! Reserve Reserve
Sep 08, 2024 Sep 13, 2024 $3095.00 Hurry! Filling up! Reserve Reserve

What’s Included

5 nights’ lodging, 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners (you are on your own for 1 dinner). National Park entrance fees, Wind Cave tour, and amphitheater night sky ranger talk. We also include detailed maps and itineraries, experienced guides, full van support — plus use of a bike and helmet. Airfare is not included.

Dates & Pricing

Prices are per person based on double occupancy (2 people in one room). Single supplement for private room is listed at the top of this page. A deposit of $500 holds your reservation for most tours. For weekend tours, the deposit is $300.

Start: Jun 09, 2024
End: Jun 14, 2024
Cost: $3095.00
Availability: Date SOLD OUT
Sold Out
Start: Sep 01, 2024
End: Sep 06, 2024
Cost: $3095.00
Availability: Available!
Reserve
Start: Sep 08, 2024
End: Sep 13, 2024
Cost: $3095.00
Availability: Hurry! Filling up!
Reserve

What’s Included

5 nights’ lodging, 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners (you are on your own for 1 dinner). National Park entrance fees, Wind Cave tour, and amphitheater night sky ranger talk. We also include detailed maps and itineraries, experienced guides, full van support — plus use of a bike and helmet. Airfare is not included.

Inns

Where you stay along the way.

Cedar Pass Lodge
Cedar Pass Lodge provides comfortable eco-friendly cabins for an authentic western experience.
Custer State Game Lodge
Nestled in a tranquil forest, the State Game Lodge at Custer State Park is a stately lodge with a stone foundation surrounded by cabins. It was the “Summer White House” for president Calvin Coolidge.
DoubleTree by Hilton Deadwood at Cadillac Jack's
Located less than a mile from the center of Deadwood, this hotel offers access to an indoor infinity pool and hot tub, and is connected to a casino. Also, receive a warm chocolate chip cookie on arrival.
Best Western Golden Spike
This family owned and operated hotel is located in the heart of Hill City, South Dakota. It offers convenient access to many area activities including sightseeing, hiking, and biking on Michelson Trail, rock climbing, fishing, boating and golf at Custer's Golf Course. Stay at this 3 Diamond Hotel located minutes from Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park and Crazy Horse Memorial.

Guests say …

Quotes from guests about this tour:


“Very well organized. Guides were very gracious and knowledgeable. Great selection of hotels … "
 
— Pattie & Bob W. 
 
 

“The lodge was really beautiful and quaint and the staff worked hard to make us happy."
 
— Lori & Ted G.
 
 

“Loved how the scenery was so different! ... Awesome experience overall that I really enjoyed!! I will be back!"
 
— Madeline S.
 
 

“Truly a remarkable tour. And the cost was very affordable for what was provided and the services provided."
 
— Martha W.
 
 

Gallery

Images from this tour. Click each to see it larger.

Rock formation Badlands National Park Deer cross river South Dakota Badlands with colorful hills Devil's tower and bike Bison in South Dakota Deadwood South Dakota Mt. Rushmore Biking in the Badlands, South Dakota Wildlife in the road South Dakota View by the lake with mountains in back Bison with babies South Dakota Animals in South Dakota Mickelson Trail