Mickelson Trail

The railroad through the Black Hills quit running in 1986. By 1991, the first segment of what had been the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy corridor was open to foot traffic and bicycles. The full 108.8 miles — Deadwood to Edgemont, four rock tunnels, more than 100 converted railroad bridges, crushed limestone underfoot — finished in 1998. Governor George Mickelson pushed the project into existence; he died in a plane crash in 1993 and never saw it complete. The trail bears his name.