Deadwood, Keystone, Mickelson Trail

Mickelson Trail

Visited Deadwood and Keystone while staying in Sturgis. They are both located in northern part of Black Hills. All the towns in this area got started from gold prospecting. Prospectors found gold in Deadwood area back in 1875 and the rush was on for people coming into the area to prospect and people to work the prospectors for money.....mainly gambling. One person, Wild Bill Hickok, famous for gunfights, gambling, lawman, showman and soldier came to Deadwood in July of 1876 with Calamity Jane. Just a few short weeks of being in town he was shot from behind by Jack McCall while playing poker to revenge the death of his brother. At the time, Bill's hand had two 8's and two Ace's and this would infamously be later called Deadman's hand. For Calamity Jane, she moved on and was part of Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. As she grew old and dying she lived close to Deadwood and asked to be buried beside Wild Bill. What's interesting about their story is they met briefly while on the same wagon train to Deadwood but quickly became friends. Gambling is alive and well in Deadwood. Every bar, hotel, restaurant had some form of slot machines, poker, black jack, craps, and roulette. Lastly, Deadwood is part of the August bikers trail from Sturgis. The mountain roads are perfect for bikers to travel around the area.

We took a nice hike while in Deadwood called the Mickelson Trail. The trail spans from Deadwood to Custer Park which is 109 miles long. It's a beautiful well developed trail that took a railroad route and transformed into hiking and biking. The trail highlights the beauty and scenery of the black hills.😍

Keystone, another mining town, is now like Deadwood and built for tourism. We road the 1880 train used back in the day on the route from Keystone to Hill City thru the mountains and valleys. It was pleasant and relaxing 45 minute ride one way.