A Foggy Day on the Mickelson Trail – Sugarloaf to Englewood
Hiking the 5-mile section of the George S. Mickelson Trail from the Sugarloaf Trailhead to the Englewood Trailhead during a heavy fog was an amazing experience. Weather in the Black Hills can sometimes be unpredictable, especially during the spring and fall. The skies were mostly clear when I started driving towards Lead, but by the time I got there everything was shrouded in white mist. You can’t always count on having lots of sunshine, so I decided to embrace the weather and enjoy the unique beauty it created. And I was grateful that at least it wasn’t raining.
The Sugarloaf Trailhead for the George S. Mickelson Trail is located about a mile and a half south of Lead on Highway 14A. You will see a sign for the Mickelson Trail on the left and the trailhead parking lot is just a short distance off the highway. The large parking area has room for plenty of cars even on a busy day and there is a public toilet at the far end of the parking lot. Close to the trail is the self-service fee station where you can pick up your Mickelson Trail pass. It is $4 per person for a one-day pass or $15 per person for a one-year pass. You can pay cash here and leave your payment in the drop box after you fill out your pass.
Starting out on the trail, I could tell right away that this was going to be different from the previous section I had hiked between Sugarloaf and Deadwood. From the parking lot, the trail began a steady incline that lasted at least a mile. It wasn’t steep, but I could certainly tell I was walking uphill. And while there was a certain amount of traffic noise from the nearby highway, it gradually diminished the further I went. Before long, I felt secluded and surrounded by nature. Of course, the thick fog also added to the isolation.
As I walked the first two miles, I noticed that there were a lot of aspens along the trail. This late in the fall the trees had all lost their leaves, but I imagine this would be a stunning hike to make during the peak autumn season. I’ll have to remember this for next year. I also saw a couple of different logs that looked like someone had cut into makeshift stools, although they didn’t exactly look like comfortable seats.
There are several real benches, however, scattered throughout this 5-mile hike for anyone who might need to stop and catch their breath, or just enjoy the solitude of the forest for a few extra moments. There are also some picnic benches where you can stop for a snack or bring a picnic lunch. As the trail continued to rise, I saw places that probably offered beautiful views of the surrounding Black Hills, but I could only imagine because of the thick fog.
At about 2.8 miles, I came to the first intersection in the trail. From this spot, an alternate route goes directly to the Kirk Trailhead on the Mickelson Trail. I remember seeing a sign for this when I passed the Kirk Trailhead on my previous hike, but seeing it from this end made more sense. I guess if someone were biking the Mickelson to or from Deadwood and wanted to bypass Lead, this would be a more direct route.
Following this intersection, the trees became mostly pine instead of aspen. After winding through the forests, the trail eventually began to slope downward, descending into a mountain valley. I started to see a few homes and cross a couple of dirt roads. Not far from the trail, a mountain stream ran through the valley. After the silence of the woods, it was nice to hear the sound of rushing water again. By this point, I had gotten ahead of the fog and the air looked a lot clearer, so I could see much more of the beautiful surroundings.
The final stretch for this section of the Mickelson Trail crossed a mostly open area and ran beside a dirt road. Then, at last, I reached the Englewood Trailhead, marked by the unique railroad-crossing-style signposts at each stop. I took a quick break here, then turned to head back to where I started. On the way back I was surprised that the fog had only gotten thicker, which made the trail feel even spookier. Perfect for an afternoon hike in the Black Hills in late October.
The hike from Sugarloaf to Englewood ended up being almost exactly 10 miles round trip and it took me about 3.5 hours to complete. Like the previous section that I hiked, this path is very easy to walk. With all the fog, I did miss out on some of the views this time, so I will definitely plan on walking this route again. And I am more curious than ever to see what the other sections of the George S. Mickelson Trail are like.
