• Biking
• Birdwatching
• Cross country skiing
• Hiking
• Historical interest
• Horse Trail
• Horseback Riding
• Snowmobiling
• Snowshoeing

• Daily: $4 daily (required per person ages 12 and over)
• Annual: $15 (required per person ages 12 and over)

Open: Year-round, from dawn to dusk

Park Size: Length of Trail: 109 miles with 15 trailheads, from Edgemont to Deadwood

• Trail Guide

• Drinking water
• Picnic Tables
• Vault toilets
• Warming shelter

Day-use park; no camping

All wildlife can be dangerous.  Stay on the trail for better safety.

Rattlesnakes

The prairie rattlesnake is found on the southern end of the  trail, but is rarely found above 5000 feet elevation.  They can be found in a variety of habitats including rocky areas, grassland, and stream banks.

Mountain Lions

Be alert for wildlife at all times.  If you encounter a lion up close, DO NOT RUN, maintain eye contact with the lion, talk and yell at it, gather children close to you, make yourself appear as large as possible, and become aggressive by throwing objects or waving sticks.

Cattle

As you travel the trail, you may see cattle nearby.  Their grazing helps maintain meadows that are needed for wild animal habitat.  If you come to an area where cattle are on the trail, DO NOT spook them, speak in a calm voice and slowly work your way around them.

Poison ivy

Identified by its three pointed leaves that are typically shiny, in the spring and summer the leaves are green, changing to yellow and red in the fall.  The oil on the plant can cause a severe rash when it comes in contact with human skin.

Horses and Pets

If you are traveling from a state orther than South Dakota and intend to bring horses to ride on the trail or a pet to accompany you on the trail, please check with the South Dakota Animal Industry Board for important requirements, at or call 605-773-3321

Foreign Travelers

If you are traveling to South Dakota from a country where Foot and Mouth Disease of livestock or other foreign animal disases are known to exist, you must avoid contact with livestock, wildlife, and the areas they inhabit for a minimum of five days after arrival.

• All trail users age 12 and older are required to have a trail pass (except on the trail within the city limits). Passes must be located on the person or the bicycle: trail users who are unable to show a trail pass will be subject to a fine.
• Trail Traffic: The trail is open to hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail. Exception: section of the trail is open to snowmobiles between Deadwood and Dumont.
• Avoid disturbing wildlife.
• Refrain from defacing natural features
• All pets must be leashed.
• Camping is prohibited on the trail and trailheads.
• No campfires allowed.
• Smoking is not allowed on or adjacent to the trail.
• Discharging firearms or fireworks from or across the trail is strictly prohibited
• Air guns and slingshots are not allowed on the trail.
•  The trail is closed to all users from ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise.
• Obey all traffic signs.
• Remain to the right except to pass. Be sure to give a clear warning before passing others and do not pass others in the tunnels.
• Bicycles must yield to pedestrians and everyone must yield to horses.
• Keep children near adults
•  Travel with a buddy or in a group in case of an emergency.
• Open range areas are where cattle roam freely. If you come to an area where cattle are on the trail, DO NOT spook them, speak in a calm voice and slowly work your way around them.
• Respect Landowners
• Stay on the trail and be considerate of other users
• Emergency Assistance dial 911

Click here to register for the 21st Annual Mickelson Trail Trek on September 14-16, 2018.