Why the Mickelson Was Built for Bicycles, Not Quads
When planning a ride in the Black Hills, it is easy to mistake the Mickelson Trail’s long, open path for an ATV or UTV route. It isn’t: the trail was created for nonmotorized recreation, and taking a quad onto it can put you in conflict with its rules and other users. This guide explains why the route is different and where to look for legal motorized riding nearby.
Why the Mickelson Trail is not an ATV route
A former railroad corridor became a shared nonmotorized trail
The George S. Mickelson Trail follows a former railroad route through the Black Hills, connecting places such as Deadwood, Lead, Hill City, Custer, and Edgemont. After rail use ended, the corridor was adapted for recreation. Its purpose is to give people a way to travel through the landscape on foot, by bicycle, and on horseback—not to create another motorized trail system.
That history helps explain the route’s character. The trail runs through communities and rural areas, crosses bridges, and passes through scenery that attracts visitors looking for a quieter outing. A family cycling between trailheads, a hiker walking near Hill City, and a horseback rider coming around a bend all expect a route where motorized traffic is generally absent.
The old rail grade may look inviting to someone used to riding forest roads. It can be relatively gradual, and its long stretches may seem suitable for a side-by-side. But a wide, smooth-looking path is not automatically open to every kind of vehicle. Its intended use and posted rules matter more than whether a machine can physically travel along it.
Trail design supports a different kind of trip
Rail trails often follow a corridor shaped by the needs of trains: they connect towns, cross valleys, and keep grades manageable. Once converted for public recreation, those same features can make the route appealing for long bicycle rides and walks. They do not, by themselves, make it an ATV route.
The experience also depends on sharing a confined corridor. On a narrow trail, a UTV can take up much of the usable width, while an ATV can approach other visitors much faster than they expect on a nonmotorized path. Dust, noise, and the possibility of an unexpected encounter are practical concerns, especially near trailheads, bridges, and busy sections close to towns.
Even riding slowly does not resolve the basic issue. A considerate pace cannot replace permission, and a machine’s small size does not make it appropriate on a route designated for other uses. For the same reason, a vehicle’s registration or a permit for a different riding area does not automatically authorize using the Mickelson Trail.
The rule is about trail use, not just vehicle capability
A common source of confusion is the word “trail.” Riders may hear about motorized routes in the Black Hills and reasonably assume that any named trail in the area might be open to ATVs. In practice, different trail systems have different land managers, access rules, and permitted uses.
The Mickelson Trail is distinct from nearby motorized routes in the Black Hills National Forest and from designated OHV areas. A valid permit for one of those places should not be treated as a pass for the Mickelson. Likewise, a machine with a plate or registration still needs to be on a route where that kind of riding is allowed.
For a quick comparison, keep the trail’s use designation in view:
| Question | Mickelson Trail | Designated motorized route |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Nonmotorized recreation | Authorized motorized riding |
| Typical users | Walkers, cyclists, and horseback riders | Riders using vehicles allowed on that route |
| Does a plate make an ATV eligible? | No, not by itself | It depends on the route’s rules |
| Does a motorized-area permit automatically apply? | No | Follow the specific area’s permit requirements |
| What should you check? | Posted signs and trail rules | Current route maps, closures, and permit rules |
For more context, [Why the Mickelson Trail Turns Machines Away] explains the restriction from another angle, while [South Dakota's Mickelson Trail Bans Machines] covers the broader rule for motorized use.
What visitors often misunderstand about access
A snowmobile exception is not an ATV invitation
Some riders have heard that snowmobiles use a portion of the Mickelson Trail under particular winter conditions. That can lead to a natural but mistaken conclusion: if one kind of motorized vehicle is allowed at some point, perhaps ATVs and UTVs are allowed too.
Those permissions are not interchangeable. A seasonal or route-specific provision for snowmobiles does not create general motorized access for quads, dirt bikes, or side-by-sides. Snow conditions, designated segments, timing, signs, and other rules may all affect where snowmobiles can travel. The details should be checked before heading out, rather than inferred from a passing conversation or an old trip report.
This distinction matters even if you are visiting in winter. A snow-covered trail does not become an open ATV route simply because the ground looks firm or because you see tracks. For the specific snowmobile context, see [Why Snowmobiles Use Part of the Mickelson] and [Snowmobiles From Deadwood to Dumont]. Neither title should be taken as evidence that an ATV or UTV can use the same section.
A trailhead, parking area, or nearby road does not change the trail rule
People sometimes arrive at a trailhead with a machine on a trailer, unload nearby, and assume the path ahead is open because there is room to stage. Others may see a road or a forest route running near the Mickelson and confuse the two corridors. These are understandable mistakes in a region where several kinds of recreation overlap.
A trailhead is a place to access the trail for its authorized users; it does not turn the trail itself into a motorized route. Similarly, being close to a public road or forest road does not mean you can ride from that road onto the Mickelson. Follow the signs at the access point and make sure your planned route stays on roads or trails that specifically allow your machine.
If you are unsure where one system ends and another begins, stop and check before unloading. A map can help you see the larger layout, but posted closures and land-manager rules should guide your decision. A short check at the trailhead is much easier than discovering after the fact that a route crosses into a prohibited corridor.
Permits and plates do not override a route restriction
South Dakota has several different requirements that can apply to ATV and UTV riding, including vehicle paperwork and permits for particular areas. These serve different purposes. A title or plate concerns the machine; a trail permit concerns access to a designated riding area. Neither should be treated as blanket permission to use every public trail.
That distinction can be especially confusing for visitors. A rider may have a machine registered at home, buy a South Dakota permit, and still need to confirm that the exact route is open to that vehicle type. If you are planning to ride in the Black Hills, review [South Dakota Trail Permits Explained] and [Why a Plate Does Not Replace a Trail Permit] before you go. Then check whether the trail or road you intend to use permits your machine.
For the Mickelson itself, the safest planning assumption is straightforward: do not ride an ATV or UTV on it unless official, current information specifically authorizes the use in the exact location and circumstances. Do not rely on a permit for another area, a vehicle plate, or another rider’s recollection.
Where to ride instead near the Mickelson Trail
Look for designated motorized routes in the Black Hills
If your main goal is to ride a quad or side-by-side, plan around routes specifically designated for motorized use rather than trying to adapt a nonmotorized trail to your trip. The Black Hills include motorized roads and trails, but access can vary by vehicle width, season, surface conditions, and closures. A route that is open to one machine may not be open to another.
Start with the official maps and travel information for the land manager responsible for the area. In the Black Hills National Forest, motorized route information and Motor Vehicle Use Maps are important tools for understanding where a vehicle may travel. Check the map for the route itself, not just the general area. Also look for temporary closures, seasonal restrictions, and signs at the entrance.
A mapping app such as onX Offroad can help you organize a trip and explore route options, particularly when you are trying to distinguish a motorized road from a nearby recreation trail. Treat it as a planning aid, not as final permission: compare the route with official maps and obey signs on the ground. A route line on a screen cannot authorize travel where the land manager has closed or restricted access.
Match the route to your machine and the day’s conditions
Before you leave a staging area, check the machine’s width and make sure the chosen route allows it. Some Black Hills trails have width limits, and a vehicle that is only slightly wider than a posted threshold may not fit the route’s rules. Measuring your machine from outside tire to outside tire can help you avoid relying on a model name or guess.
Weather can change the ride as well. A route that is normally open may be closed because of wet conditions, fire danger, maintenance, or seasonal rules. After a storm, loose gravel and muddy sections can make a route harder to manage. In dry periods, dust and fire restrictions may affect the trip. Plan a backup route rather than assuming the first choice will remain available.
This is where onX Offroad can be useful for comparing possible route options and keeping your planned ride organized, but confirm the rules through the relevant agency before setting out. If your map and a posted closure sign disagree, follow the sign and seek clarification from the managing office. When trip details are uncertain, it is better to change the route than to ride into a restricted area.
Keep the Mickelson Trail in your itinerary for the right activity
The Mickelson can still be a wonderful part of a Black Hills visit, even if you are traveling with an ATV or UTV. A group can plan a motorized ride in an authorized area and set aside a separate day for walking or cycling on the rail trail. That way, each activity takes place where it belongs, and the trail remains enjoyable for the people it was designed to serve.
For example, visitors staying near Deadwood might ride a permitted motorized route on one day, then use the Mickelson for a bicycle outing on another. A family based near Hill City could choose a trail segment that suits its walking or cycling plans while arranging a separate, mapped route for the side-by-side. Keeping those plans separate prevents the common “we’re already here, so let’s ride down the path” mistake.
If you are exploring several places in the region, [Best Places to Ride an ATV in South Dakota] and [South Dakota ATV Trails Near Hill City] can help you continue researching motorized options. Check each location’s current access rules, vehicle limits, and permit requirements rather than assuming that trails near the Mickelson share the same designation.
How to plan a respectful visit
Check signs, maps, and access rules before unloading
Before a ride, identify the precise starting point and destination, then confirm that every segment between them is legal for your vehicle. This matters when a route approaches a trailhead, crosses a road, or runs near another trail system. A route that appears connected on a map may switch from a motorized road to a nonmotorized trail without much visual separation.
At the site, read the signs rather than relying only on a downloaded route. Pay attention to restrictions by vehicle type, width, season, and direction of travel. If a sign is missing or unclear, do not assume that the route is open. Contact the responsible land manager or choose a route with unambiguous access information.
The extra planning can feel fussy when you are eager to ride, especially after a long drive to the Black Hills. But it is a practical way to avoid a citation, protect access for other visitors, and prevent an enjoyable outing from turning into a dispute at a trailhead.
Keep the two kinds of trail experience separate
The Mickelson Trail and nearby motorized riding areas can both be part of a great South Dakota trip, but they serve different purposes. The rail trail offers a slower, shared experience through communities and scenery. Designated motorized routes are where ATV and UTV riders can focus on operating their machines while following the specific limits for that area.
When you plan with that distinction in mind, the question is not whether a quad can physically travel on the Mickelson. It is whether the trail is meant and authorized for that use. For ATVs and UTVs, choose a route expressly open to your machine, verify the details before departure, and leave the Mickelson to its intended users.
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.
