This tour explores the heart of South Dakota Black Hills featuring Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Needles Highway and Custer State Park as well as the grandeur of the Black Hills themselves. We even get a good taste of the central section of the Mickelson Trail, a world class Rails to Trails path going north and south through the Black Hills. This tour's accommodations or also splendid with two nights at Palmer Gulch Resort's Palmer Lodge (6 miles from Mt. Rushmore), and one night at Sylvan Lake Lodge in Custer State Park. This tour is challenging unless the rider gets in the van at least once each day of the tour.

Northern Hills Fall Foliage Tour
(3 days, 2 nights - Friday through Sunday)
September 17 - 19
East to Moderate, rider's choice
On Road (except Mickelson Trail)
Bike Rentals Available

This tour explores the best of the Northern Black Hills in South Dakota during the changing of the fall colors. We will stay at the Black Hills Hideaway Bed and Breakfast (7 miles south of the historic town of Deadwood) nestled on 67 wooded acres of peace and solitude surrounded by Black Hills National Forest. The tour will include going "down" Spearfish Canyon, dinner at the historical town of Deadwood, and riding one of the most popular sections of the Mickelson Trail, a world class Rails to Trails path going north and south through the Black Hills.

The Badlands National Park Tour
(3 days, 2 nights - Friday through Sunday)

         September 10 - 12
         Easy to Moderate, rider's choice
         On Road
         Bike Rentals Available

MICKELSON TRAIL CATERED CAMPING

The George S. Mickelson Trail is a converted rail-to-rail 109 mile bicycle corridor through the heart of the Black Hills of South Dakota from historical Deadwood to Edgemont South Dakota. It is surfaced with hard crushed limestone that can be ridden with tri-cross or hybrid bikes of 32c tire size or larger and with mountain bikes. With its gentle slopes of no more than 3% grade, it is highly suitable for people of all ages. The trail's scenery is very diverse with granite out-croppings, rolling prairie, meandering streams, deep forests, and lovely mountain meadows. For 2010, Dakota Bike Tours will support 3 lengths of tours during the same time period for all ages and abilities with 3 designated catered camping sites along the trail with dining, shelters, and hot showers. Our basic service will include all meals, shuttles to and from Hill City, luggage transfer, trail pass, camping, showers, tour guide support on trail, and sag support at designated trail heads. For additional costs, we will provide bike rental, tent rental and porter service; and cabin rental on a first come first serve basis. The 3 camp facilities are: Carsten's Cabins (17 miles from start); Crooked Creek Resort (34.1 miles from Carsten's Cabin); and Charms Campground (32 miles from Crooked Creek). It is 26 miles from Charms Campground to Edgemont.

Mick Family Adventure
(4 days, 3 nights - Friday through Monday)

This 4-day tour was successfully tested in 2009 with a family of 8 children from ages 3-19. They completed the entire trail with the 3 year old being pulled by the dad in a Burley trailer and the 6 year old peddling (all but 10 miles) a 7 speed half-bike attached to her mother's bike. The rest of the kids, ages 9-19, road their own bikes the entire 109 miles. This was an unusual family and in that they were all active in sports, shared a belief that failure was not an option, stayed together on the trail, and picked each other up when spirits got low. This full tour length is not recommended as the first adventure or outing for a family.

The tour starts on a Friday in Hill City at 8:00 a.m. where guests & their gear are shuffled to Deadwood for the start of the trail. The first leg is 17 miles including two 6 mile uphill sections. With the altitude gain of over 1600 feet, ending at an altitude of over 6,000 ft., this is a strenuous day for most families. Our first campsite is at Carsen's Cabins, where 2 other tours starting Saturday, will join us for camping meals, showers, and a campfire. Saturday's leg is 34 miles, but only has 7 miles of uphill with plenty of rest stops and support along the way. We stay at the Crooked Creek Resort south of Hill City with swimming pool, pavilion, and hot showers. Sunday's leg is 32 miles, with 9 miles uphill, with camping at Charms Country Cabins 6 miles south of Pringle. You will be shuttled in the van 2 miles from the trail to this campground. On Monday, you will be returned to the Mickelson Trail, for a 26 mile downhill ride to Edgemont. Following lunch, we will shuttle you and your gear back to Hill City to complete the tour. Learn more about Mick Family Adventure

Mick Classic
3 days of riding, 3 nights - Friday through Monday)

At 3 days of riding, this tour is the standard for doing the entire trail in one outing and promises to be a world class experience. You and your gear will be picked up by our van at 4:00 p.m. in Hill City on a Friday and shuttled to Carsten's Cabins (approximately a 50 minute drive north) for a catered dinner, tour orientation, camping and fellowship. After breakfast on Saturday, we will transport you 20 minutes in the van to the start of the trail in Deadwood for your first leg of 38 miles including 14 miles of uphill. This section includes incredible views, tunnels, creeks and an historic mining town. For Saturday night, you will be transported in our van 8 miles to the Crooked Creek Campground just 2 miles south of Hill City and returned Sunday to Saturday's ending point, to help even out the mileage and climbing for the first two days. Sunday's leg is 44 miles with 13 miles of uphill and includes an incredible view of Crazy Horse Memorial, giant granite out-croppings, and open meadows with grand vistas. You will get off the trail 6 miles south of Pringle, where you will be shuttled 2 miles on a gravel road to Charm's Country Cabins for dinner, camping, hot showers and tall tales. You will be returned to the trail Monday morning to finish a pleasant 26 mile mostly downhill ride through incredible canyons to Edgemont where lunch will be served prior to being shuttled back to Hill City where your car was parked during the tour.

Mick Central
2 days of riding, 2 nights - Friday through Sunday)

BIKE TOUR LEVELS