Route: Searching for Paha Sapa - South Dakota Black Hills

Paha Sapa, The Black Hills, was the center of the world, the place of gods and holy mountains, where warriors went to speak to the great spirits and await visions. In 1868, the Great Father considered the hills worthless and gave them to the Indians by treaty. Four years later, white miners were violating the treaty. They invade Paha Sapa, searching for the rocky passes and clear running streams for the yellow metal that drove white men crazy

- Dee Brown, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

On this route we circumnavigate the center of the world, starting in the Old West town of Deadwood, where Wild Bill Hickock was shot in saloon poker match, past birch tree archways, through old mountain tunnels on a dedicated Rail to Trail with a detour to Crazy Horse monument. We complete most of the Mickelson Trail and veer off in the tiny one-saloon outpost of Pringle, complete with eccentric bike sculpture, before heading into Wind Cave National Park, where, according to Lakota legend, humanity was created. We climb up the first section of twisting Iron Mountain Road where we meet a section of crossroads - here we have optional detours a plunge pool formed by an old mine, a rough trail through a ghost town to a cemetary with views of Mount Rushmore, or a twisting road ride up to Mount Rushmore itself. Veer East for a multi-day detour through the Badlands, or circle back to the Mickelson Trail by riding along the still-running 1880 train as it whistles its way through the hills.

Route Map on Gaia GPS
  • Day One - Deadwood/Lead to Hill City / Orenville Campground
  • Day Two - Orenville Campground to Wind Cave National Park
  • Day Three - Wind Cave to Spokane/ Hippie Hole
  • Day Four - Spokane / Hippie Hole to Black Fox Camp
  • Day Five - Black Fox to Deadwood / Lead
  • Optional - Badlands Loop
  • Optional - Spearfish Canyon Loop

Reading / Listening List:

Trip Report:

  • Part I
  • Part II

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