We're not actually planning to join the Adventure Cycling tour. We are using it as a guide to plan our own and even better tour of the Black Hills of South Dakota. The Mickelson Trail offers a great way to take out the PUCS. Daily climbing will average between 2,500 and 3,500 feet, and we’ll move
into typical grades of 3% to 6%, with occasional climbs reaching over
8% (these are typically short-lived). (50-75 vertical feet/mile).
This CAMPING TRIP was offered by Adventure Cycling in 2022. See AC2020 page for AC's inn-to-inn trip
Here is the important info..
- Trip Dates: Aug 20, 2022 – Aug 27, 2022
- Cost: $1,799
- Location: Rapid City, SD
- Physical Difficulty (Average): Mileage: 45-65/day, Elevation Gain: 2500-4500 ft/day, no high limit
- eBike Friendly
Rapid City is a two-day drive from Hendersonville via this route.
Cycle the Black Hills of South Dakota, along paved/gravel/bike trail and portions of the unforgettable Mickelson Trail, a 114-mile-long, gravel-surfaced rail trail.
According to Adventure Cycling, the trip begins and ends in Rapid City. They’ll visit the historic towns of Lead, Hot Springs, and Keystone, gateway to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, as well as Custer State Park. They'll also see Crazy Horse Memorial, which, when finished, will dwarf Mount Rushmore, and Wind Cave National Park, one of the largest and most complex caves in the world.
From breathtaking scenic vistas to rock-solid national memorials and state parks, you’ll get to experience it all on this fantastic loop ride.
On Adventure Cycling’s CAMPING fully-supported trips, all personal and group gear is transported by a vehicle each day.
- All meals and rest stops (approx every 25 miles) - hot
breakfast, mid-AM rest stop, lunch, mid-PM rest stop,
supper.
- Camping req's: a good freestanding tent with a ground cloth,
a sleeping bag, and a sleeping pad.
- Leader: Kelly Hannegan
Upon signing up for an organized tour, you will receive confirmation and preparatory materials, including a copy of Before You Go: A Handbook for Adventure Cycling's Fully-supported Tours, which contains a packing list and training tips. About 60 days prior to your trip, you will receive a Tour Information Packet with specific details about your starting location, a participant roster, official bike shop, travel tips, and much more.
Meals
AC's catering staff will provide all meals, including a hot
breakfast each morning. Lunches typically are a build your own sandwich,
and the sandwiches are transported to the designated lunch stop for you
to enjoy. Dinners offer a variety of options each night, and as much as
possible, incorporate local food and flavor! Vegetarian, vegan,
gluten-free and other special dietary needs can be accommodated when
known about in advance. Breakfast and dinner take place as a group at
the campground.
Each day, you'll have 1-2 designated water stops and a lunch stop
where our staff will be set up with snacks and water/energy drinks.
These are a great chance to take a break and catch up with other riders
about what you've seen so far.
Lodging
Most of the overnights will be at private or public campgrounds
with a variety of amenities. Depending on the nature and location of the
trip, these facilities could range from RV parks with hot tubs, to more
remote locations without running water. Indoor facilities such as
motels/hotels and hostels are used occasionally. YOU WILL NEED a good
freestanding tent with a ground cloth, a sleeping bag rated
appropriately for the season and elevation of your tour, and a sleeping
pad. Showers are available each night of the tour.
If you'd prefer not to camp, we'll send a list of indoor options
for each night which you can contact and make reservations for at your
own expense. These locations are sometimes at the same site as the
campground, while other times are a few miles away. Shuttles and luggage
transport are available to anyone staying at the listed indoor options
each night.
Mechanical Support
An experienced mechanic follows the route every day in a support vehicle
or on bike to take care of mechanical emergencies that may arise. They
are available in camp each day (morning and evening) for tune-ups and
mechanical advice. We carry a supply of common size tires, tubes, and
spare parts that are available for purchase if you need them, but if you
have any parts that are unique to your bike, we encourage you to bring
them.
