The George S. Mickelson Trail.

We wanted to take a bicycle ride yesterday but the wind was blowing so we stayed in Spearfish and walked on their multiuse trail; things looked good for today so we drove out through Deadwood and Lead to the George S. Mickelson Trail. The trail is just short of 109 miles in length but today we were only interested in seeing about 10 miles of it so we drove to the Englewood Trailhead at Mile Post 98.5. Our plan was to ride north to the Deadwood Trailhead (MP 108.8), and then return to Englewood.

We unloaded and set up the bicycles, paid $6.00 for both of our trail passes and were off toward Deadwood. The trail is built on an old railroad bed so the grades are moderate but they can be long (as we learned today). The surface of the trail is gravel which is packed and stable but we did find a few spots of loose stones and small washouts that were tricky; the scenery was great as the trail wound it’s way through the Black Hills and down into Leads and Deadwood.

 

Setting up at the Englewood Trailhead.

 

 

For the first 4 miles the trail rolled through the hills and forest and then along a valley, the views looking down were great and up on the ridge the daises were in bloom along the trail. At about mile 4 the trail started down toward the Sugarloaf Trailhead and we found ourselves coasting for about a mile.

 

 

Near Englewood the trail was in open country.

 

 

We were soon riding along this ridge with an occasional view of the valley below.

 

 

This little Monarch floated along beside John for a bit then passed him, those little guys can move (or John is slower than he thinks he is).

 

 

Looking down on Lead and the Homestake Gold Mine.

 

The start of our 5 mile coast down to Deadwood.

 

Down we go.

 

 

We slowed for the turn at the Sugarloaf Trailhead and then continued coasting down into and through Lead and then into Deadwood. We coasted for about 5 miles which was great, but we knew we would have to pay for it on the way back.; we got into Deadwood and did not stop at the main trailhead as we were rested and ready to start cranking back toward the Englewood Trailhead.

 

We continue coasting toward Deadwood.

 

The scenery was great.

 

The daises were in bloom.

 

 

From Deadwood, up we went, but it was a tortoise and hare thing with Sandy as the hare and John as the tortoise. Sandy has a faster pace than John so she would crank ahead for a mile or so then stop for a break until John caught up, then it would start again. Sandy took a break at Sugarloaf and when John got there he was ready for a break so we ate our lunch before cranking up the last mile or so, then on to the Englewood Trailhead and the CRV.

 

Off went the hare with turtle John following.

 

Take a break honey, I’ll catch up.

 

Above the Sugarloaf Trailhead you could look down on Lead and the trail we had just ridden; it is on the nearside of both roads in this image, partially hidden by the trees.

 

More daisies along the trail.

 

 

Back at Englewood, we loaded the bicycles then drove down into Lead to fuel up the CRV; then we headed back for Spearfish. We decided to take the long way home so we drove out State Highway 14A through Icebox Canyon and Spearfish Canyon on our way home. It’s going to be a warm one tomorrow so we may take another walk here in Spearfish then decide what else we need to do before we leave for the Custer City area on Sunday.

 

 

Icebox Canyon.