Exploring the Mickelson Trail – Englewood to Dumont
The winter months are a wonderful time to explore the Black Hills. You probably wouldn’t want to be caught outside on the trail in the middle of a snowstorm, but the days following the storm can be a great time for getting outdoors. When the sun comes out and the white snow glistens in the sunlight, these fresh landscapes really are beautiful to see. One of the best ways to see the undisturbed beauty is by going on a winter hike.
However, winter hiking in the Black Hills, especially with lots of snow on the ground, can be intimidating. It’s hard to know if the roads to certain trailheads in the mountains will be passable, especially for someone without four-wheel drive like me. And I have almost gotten stuck more than once just trying to get out of a parking lot that is at the bottom of a steep hill covered in ice and snow.
It’s not just getting to the trailhead that can be difficult in winter, either. Staying on the trail while hiking after a snowfall can pose its own problems. Some trails in the Black Hills are not well marked or easy to follow even when they are clear, so trying to stay on the path when it’s hidden under a blanket of snow can be tricky. If you’re really lucky, an experienced hiker or two will have walked the trail ahead of you and you can follow their footprints. But if you are staring at a white field of snow on the ground ahead of you covering an unfamiliar trail, it might be tough to decide which direction to go.
This is why the George S. Mickelson Trail is such a great trail to explore over the winter months. The trailhead parking areas all seem to be easy to reach from maintained roads that are relatively level. There are always lots of signs at the trailheads and at any intersections along the trail, plus markers every mile on the trail, so you always know where you are while you’re on the Mickelson. And the trail itself is wide enough and clear enough that you never have to worry about accidentally wandering off the path.
I recently had my first snowy hike of the season while exploring the Mickelson Trail going south from the Englewood Trailhead. This is the fourth official trailhead from the starting point in Deadwood and is about 5 miles south of Lead. Taking Highway 14A south out of town, you will first pass the Sugarloaf Trailhead and then a little further on see the sign for the Englewood Trailhead. From the highway you will turn left onto North Rochford Road and then left again onto Brownsville Road. The trailhead will on the left side of the road.
Like the other trailheads on the Mickelson Trail, there is a restroom and a self-service station for purchasing a trail pass. Each person must have a pass with them while on the trail. They are $4 per person for a single day or $15 for a year. The Englewood Trailhead also has a nice shelter with a picnic table where you can enjoy a snack before or after your hike. It is also a good reminder that this trail system was once the rail line that brought passengers north to Deadwood since it does look a little like a train depot. There is even a poster that explains some of the history of this stop in Englewood going back to when it was used by stagecoaches even before the trains.
Since I had already come south from the Sugarloaf Trailhead, I now walked south towards the Dumont Trailhead. At 5.9 miles, this was about the furthest I wanted to go on an afternoon hike, making this a nearly 12-mile round-trip hike. Because Englewood sits in a natural valley, the trail starts off level before turning into a gradual uphill climb. Since this is an old rail line, though, it never really gets to be very steep.
With the trees lining each side of the path, the bends in the trail, and the occasional rocky outcroppings on the side of the hills, I really enjoyed this secluded walk in nature. The fact that most of the landscape was also frosted with snow only added to the beauty of the surroundings. It was only when the occasional car or truck drove by that I was reminded that much of this section of the trail runs just above and to the side of North Rochford Road. Otherwise, the trail felt much more remote than it actually is.
When I finally reached the Dumont Trailhead, I discovered that it was actually across the road from the Mickelson Trail. So, rather go the extra short distance, I turned around on the trail and headed back to the Englewood Trailhead to complete my 12-mile trek. Besides, I would see Dumont soon enough when I hike the next section of this 109-mile trail. In the end, it took me just about 4 hours for this round-trip hike.
Each time I hike a part of the George S. Mickelson Trail, it feels like a unique and different landscape within the Black Hills. It also makes me eager to explore the next section of the trail to find out what is around the next bend. And knowing how easily accessible the Mickelson is for everyone to enjoy makes this amazing trail even more special.
