Why the Mickelson Trail Turns Machines Away
The Mickelson Trail is a tempting shortcut when you’re exploring the Black Hills by ATV or UTV, especially when its route passes near towns, campgrounds, and popular riding areas. But it is not a motorized trail, and a trail permit or road-legal plate does not make it one. This guide explains why machines are turned away and how to plan a nearby ride instead.
Why the Mickelson Trail is closed to ATVs and UTVs
It was created for a different kind of travel
The George S. Mickelson Trail follows a former railroad corridor through the Black Hills. Its long, relatively gentle route, historic rail features, and connections between communities make it appealing to hikers, bicyclists, and horseback riders. It is managed as a nonmotorized recreation trail, not as an ATV or UTV route.
That distinction matters even where the trail looks wide enough for a side-by-side. Width alone does not determine whether a machine is allowed. A trail’s designated use, posted rules, land-management decisions, and local restrictions do. A vehicle that fits between the edges of the path can still be prohibited.
The trail’s bridges, tunnels, compacted surface, and shared-use character are also part of the experience it was designed to provide. Motorized traffic would change how people use the corridor and could create conflicts with walkers, cyclists, and equestrians. For the broader background, see [Why the Mickelson Trail Turns Machines Away] and [Why the Mickelson Was Built for Bicycles, Not Quads].
A plate or permit does not override the trail’s rules
It is easy to mix up different kinds of permission. A street-legal ATV may be allowed on certain roads under the rules that apply to that road. A trail permit may authorize riding on designated motorized routes. Neither permission turns a nonmotorized trail into an open ATV route.
The same applies to a machine registered in another state. Registration, a road-use plate, and a motorized-trail permit each serve a different purpose. Before riding, identify the specific route and confirm that it is open to your vehicle type. [South Dakota Rules for Riding a State Trail] offers more context on how designated trail rules differ from general road permissions.
A practical rule: if a route is signed as the Mickelson Trail, do not ride onto it unless the posted information specifically allows your type of machine in that location and circumstance. Don’t rely on a GPS line, a social-media post, or the fact that another vehicle is already there.
Shared use makes motorized traffic a safety concern
The Mickelson’s users move at very different speeds. A cyclist may be climbing steadily, a family may be walking several people abreast, and a horse may react unpredictably to a motor and sudden approach. Even a careful rider can create a stressful or unsafe situation on a narrow, busy shared-use path.
The issue is not simply whether a particular rider promises to go slowly. Trail managers need rules that work consistently for all visitors, including people who cannot see around a bend or hear a quiet machine approaching. A predictable nonmotorized environment is part of what makes the trail usable for its intended visitors.
What the restrictions mean in practice
Treat the trail and nearby motorized routes as separate systems
The Black Hills have extensive riding opportunities, but they are not all connected into one continuous motorized network. A route may run near the Mickelson without being part of it, and a trailhead or parking area can serve more than one type of recreation without making every adjacent route open to ATVs.
When planning, separate your day into two questions: where can your group legally ride, and where can you walk, bike, or horseback ride? If you want to visit a stretch of the Mickelson, park and use it according to its rules. If you want to ride a machine, choose a route specifically designated for motorized use.
That distinction is especially useful around Hill City, Custer, Deadwood, and other Black Hills communities where recreation routes and road networks can be close together. For possible riding alternatives in the region, start with [South Dakota ATV Trails Near Hill City] or [South Dakota ATV Trails Near Custer], then verify the route’s access and current status before heading out.
Understand the limited exceptions without assuming they apply to you
Motorized vehicles may be used for authorized management, maintenance, emergency response, or other specific official purposes. Those exceptions do not create general public riding access. Seeing a maintenance vehicle or an agency worker on the corridor is not evidence that recreational ATVs and UTVs can use the trail.
Snowmobiles are another source of confusion. Their access may be handled differently from ATV and UTV access and can depend on designated sections, conditions, and posted rules. A winter route that allows snowmobile use does not mean the corridor is open to side-by-sides or quads. Check [Why Snowmobiles Use Part of the Mickelson] for that distinction, and follow local signs rather than assuming a seasonal exception applies everywhere.
If signs are missing, unclear, or appear inconsistent with a map, pause and check with the responsible trail or land-management office before entering. A little clarification at the start is easier than turning around after traveling several miles.
Fees and permits do not change the allowed vehicle type
Some visitors assume that paying a recreation fee or buying a motorized permit makes them eligible to use any trail in the area. That is not how permits work. A pass or permit applies to the activity and locations it covers; it does not grant access to a route that is closed to that vehicle type.
The Mickelson may have its own use requirements for visitors, separate from permits for motorized trails. If you’re planning to use the trail on foot, bicycle, or horseback, check its specific access information. [The Mickelson Trail's Day Pass in South Dakota] explains why that requirement should not be confused with an ATV or UTV permit.
| What you have | What it generally allows | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
| ATV or UTV registration | Identifies or registers the machine under applicable rules | Open a nonmotorized trail to motorized use |
| Road-legal plate | May allow use on certain roads when all conditions are met | Authorize riding on every public route |
| Motorized trail permit | Covers eligible riding on designated motorized routes | Replace the Mickelson Trail’s use rules |
| Mickelson Trail pass or fee | Applies to permitted use of the Mickelson under its rules | Grant ATV or UTV access |
How to plan a Black Hills ride without using the Mickelson
Confirm the route before loading the machine
Start with a route map that identifies motorized trails and roads, then verify the route with the agency or land manager responsible for it. A line on a consumer map can be useful for orientation, but it does not necessarily show current closures, seasonal restrictions, private land boundaries, or vehicle-width limits.
Tools such as onX Offroad can help you compare route lines, identify nearby access points, and understand how a proposed ride fits into the surrounding area. Use it as a planning aid rather than as the final authority: check official maps, signs, and notices before riding. That extra step is particularly worthwhile where a route passes near a nonmotorized corridor or crosses between different types of public and private land.
For National Forest routes, consult the relevant travel information and motor vehicle use maps. [South Dakota Trail Maps and MVUMs] is a useful starting point for understanding why map layers and official designations matter. Save the relevant information before leaving town, since cell service can be limited in parts of the Hills.
Match the route to your machine and your group
A trail that is open to motorized use may still have restrictions based on width, season, surface, or vehicle type. Measure your machine from the outside of one tire to the outside of the other if width limits apply; do not assume the advertised model width is the measurement used by the route manager.
Also think about your group’s experience. A novice rider may be more comfortable on a broad, well-marked route than on rough, rocky terrain. Families should factor in the length of the ride, weather, fuel range, and the time it will take to return to the staging area. In the Black Hills, elevation, loose gravel, sudden weather changes, and busy summer recreation periods can all affect a day’s plan.
A second map review can prevent an avoidable detour. Compare your intended route with onX Offroad, then verify the access rules and closures through official channels. If the route appears to run along or cross the Mickelson, make sure you know exactly where the motorized route goes and where the nonmotorized trail begins.
Build a backup plan for closures and confusing junctions
A gate, sign, or closure notice should end the plan for that route, even if the trail looked open on your phone earlier. Closures can be seasonal, weather-related, or put in place for maintenance and public safety. Do not ride around a barrier or take an unmarked path to reconnect with a route.
Before setting out, identify a legal alternative in the same general area. If a chosen route is closed, return to a designated road or trail rather than improvising through a path that might be private, nonmotorized, or environmentally sensitive. Keep enough fuel and daylight in reserve to make that change safely.
For a more detailed look at ride options and route planning, [South Dakota ATV Trails Near Custer] and [South Dakota ATV Trails Near Hill City] can help you explore nearby possibilities. Check both the route designation and access conditions; a nearby trail is not automatically open simply because it appears on the same map.
Common mistakes to avoid near the Mickelson Trail
Following a map line straight onto the trail
A navigation app may show the Mickelson as a continuous path, but that line often represents the trail’s location, not permission for every vehicle type. A machine icon or an apparently connected route can also be misleading if map layers are not set to show the intended activity.
Before riding, zoom in at junctions and access points. Compare what the app shows with signs on the ground and official motorized-use information. If the route changes surface or enters a signed trail corridor, stop and confirm rather than assuming the line continues to allow motorized travel.
Assuming a short distance makes the rule less important
A rider may think that crossing a small section, using the trail to reach a road, or riding only to the next junction is harmless. But a short unauthorized segment is still motorized use of a nonmotorized trail. It can also put riders in the middle of a busy shared-use area with limited room to turn around.
Plan the legal connection before the ride. If no permitted connection exists, trailer or transport the machine to a suitable motorized starting point, or choose a different route. Do not use the Mickelson as an informal connector between motorized areas.
Treating an exception as general public access
A snowmobile, work vehicle, or emergency vehicle on the trail may have permission that does not apply to recreational ATV or UTV riders. Conditions may also differ by section or season. If you cannot confirm that your particular machine and planned use are allowed, do not enter.
When in doubt, ask the relevant office a direct question: “Can this ATV or UTV use this exact section of route today?” That is much more useful than asking whether “machines” are allowed somewhere in the area. The answer can depend on vehicle type, location, and the purpose of the trip.
The Mickelson Trail is a valuable Black Hills route precisely because it offers a different experience from motorized riding. Keep it on your itinerary for walking, cycling, or horseback use when permitted, and plan ATV and UTV time on routes designated for machines. Checking maps, signs, and land-manager information before you unload can save a frustrating turnaround—and help preserve a pleasant shared trail for everyone.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
