loading spinner
South Dakota

A Cycling Journey: The Black Hills & the Mickelson Trail

Program No. 23723RJ
Cycle along an abandoned railroad line through the beautiful Black Hills, as you conquer the 109 miles of the Mickelson Trail. Learn about geology and human history along the way.

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Jun 2 - Jun 7, 2024
Starting at
2,499
Jun 16 - Jun 21, 2024
Starting at
2,499
Aug 25 - Aug 30, 2024
Starting at
2,499
Sep 8 - Sep 13, 2024
Starting at
2,499
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Jun 2 - Jun 7, 2024
Starting at
2,959
Jun 16 - Jun 21, 2024
Starting at
2,959
Aug 25 - Aug 30, 2024
Starting at
2,959
Sep 8 - Sep 13, 2024
Starting at
2,959

At a Glance

Former South Dakota Governor George S. Mickelson envisioned a bike trail that would follow an abandoned railroad line through the beautiful Black Hills. Though the governor died before it was completed, his legacy lives on along the Mickelson Trail, completed in 1998. Traverse the entire 109 miles of the trail, from Edgemont to Deadwood, cutting through rugged mountain terrain, towering evergreen forests and grassy prairies. Cycle along the trail’s easy grades and crushed limestone surface through three plant ecosystems. Your cycling instructors double as local historians and naturalists, as they share with you stories of the Black Hills Gold Rush and the ghost towns that line the trail and point out geologic structures, flora and fauna.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
This program is designed for intermediate to experienced cyclists. Cycling 16-35 miles daily on wide trail of crushed gravel and limestone. Trail grades up to 4% and trail elevation gains/losses up to 1,000 feet while cycling. Elevation range 3,450 to 6,300 feet during program. Walking one mile on uneven terrain, standing for up to two hours and climbing stairs. Expertly fitted mountain bikes and helmets included.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Conquer the entire Mickelson Trail on a cycling journey through the stunning Black Hills, learning about local native and settler history along the way.
  • Ride to the world’s largest sculpture, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
  • Take a field trip to the Mammoth Site to observe an active paleontological excavation site, boasting the largest concentration of mammoth remains in the world.

General Notes

Due to trails and distances covered, this program uses mountain bikes (no hybrid bikes offered).
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Stephen Yellowhawk
Stephen Yellowhawk was born on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. He was first inspired to dance by his uncle, Jim Yellowhawk, and has been sharing his talents for traditional dance since he was 14 years old. He is actively pursuing a master’s degree in leadership and management in becoming a leader in Indian education. He is currently employed at the Okiciyapi Wellness Center as a health technician to Native American diabetic patients and serves as the board president for the Black Hills Powwow Association.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Stephen Yellowhawk
Stephen Yellowhawk View biography
Stephen Yellowhawk was born on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. He was first inspired to dance by his uncle, Jim Yellowhawk, and has been sharing his talents for traditional dance since he was 14 years old. He is actively pursuing a master’s degree in leadership and management in becoming a leader in Indian education. He is currently employed at the Okiciyapi Wellness Center as a health technician to Native American diabetic patients and serves as the board president for the Black Hills Powwow Association.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Heartland Legacy The Art of Jon Crane
by Gail Crane
Dust jacket notes: "Acclaimed artist Jon Crane has spent thirty-one years creating Heartland Legacy - Art That Takes You Home. In Heartland Legacy: The Art of Jon Crane, admirers can at last enjoy his work in book form. They can also meet the person behind the paintbrush through the story of Jon's life, told as only his wife Gail can tell it. Through Gail's shared insights and observations, readers will get to know a man who is straightforward, honest, and realistic, both in daily life and in the magnificent watercolors that have earned him a national reputation - a man who is a builder, an explorer, and a recorder of the world as he sees it. Jon and Gail Crane have embarked together on numerous adventures - traveling the United States and Mexico, building a unique home in an idyllic natural setting. But the most satisfying adventure of them all, the one that never ends, is art. Within these pages, Jon Crane's art will take you on a faraway adventure to a simpler time - and a place called home."
The Carving of Mount Rushmore
by Rex Alan Smith
This entertaining and very readable book tells the fascinating stories of the people of Mt. Rushmore. Included are first person accounts of not only the carvers, the politicians and Borglum, but an almost unbelievable host of others who became part of the tumult and triumph that make this history read like a novel. If you’re only going to read one book about Rushmore, this is the one.
Pioneer Days in the Black Hills
by John S. McClintock
A rough-and-tumble account of the early days of Deadwood and the Dakota Territory written by early day pioneer John S.McClintock. He provides material on the gold rush, skirmishes with Indians, exploits of road agents and outlaws, and appearances of celebrities such as Wild Bill Hickok and Deadwood Dick.
Roadside History of South Dakota
by Linda Hasselstrom
Reading Roadside History of South Dakota is like having a knowledgeable friend explain the most fascinating and pertinent tidbits of the state's past without reciting a lot of boring details. The book's comfortable, conversational style guides readers smoothly along the state's highways and byways. Even those who think they already know South Dakota will can anticipate learning new things from this insightful, informative, yet thoroughly readable and entertaining roadside history. The material is rich, and Linda Hasselstrom reveals it in an exciting way by focusing on the people who made South Dakota what it is today.
Exploring with Custer: The 1874 Black Hills Expedition
by Ernest Grafe & Paul Horsted
General George Armstrong Custer's Journey to the Black Hills in 1874 was better documented than any other military expedition of the Old West. Not only did William H. Illingworth record superb views of the landscape and several camps, but at least fifteen men wrote diaries, reports or newspaper dispatches brimming with vivid detail. This book blends the Illingworth photos and their present-day counterparts with selections from all known accounts to paint a unique portrait of everyday life along the trail. Please order through Paul Horsted at www.dakotaphoto.com or 1.800.248.2194
A Trail Guide for the Mickelson Trail
by Aleen Golis
From the Edgemont Trailhead at Mile Marker 0 to the Deadwood Trailhead, 109 unforgettable miles to the north, this guide provides a comprehensive overview of the Mickelson Trail, the fascinating history of the current towns and ghost towns it glides through, flora, fauna and geological information to make the experience both interesting and educational.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.