ADVENTURING THE BIG MICK: A scenic picture journey of South Dakota’s Mickelson Trail

ADVENTURING THE BIG MICK is a picture‑book adventure that carries readers along the full 109‑mile length of the George S. Mickelson Trail, beginning in the warm, open prairies of Edgemont and ending in the historic, pine‑shadowed streets of Deadwood. Each page invites children and adults to wander through landscapes shaped by time, railroads, and the quiet magic of the Black Hills.The journey opens in Edgemont, where the trail stretches out across sagebrush flats and sandstone cuts. As the travelers move north, they cross the first of many wooden trestle bridges, each one offering a new view—creeks glinting below, wind‑carved gullies, and the long sweep of prairie giving way to rising hills. Old telegraph poles and railroad remnants appear near Minnekahta and Pringle, hinting at the steam‑powered past that once echoed along this corridor.In Custer, the trail becomes a lively hub, a place to rest, refuel, and watch the world roll by.The route continues to Hill City, rich with art and history, then onward to Mystic, home to some of the trail’s most iconic bridges. These long trestles stretch over deep draws and lively streams, giving readers a sense of height, wonder, and the thrill of crossing into new terrain. The book lingers on these structures, letting children imagine the creak of timbers and the hush of wind beneath the boards.Beyond the small towns, the path climbs into the heart of the Black Hills, where ponderosa pines stand tall and the air cools under their shade. Here, the book highlights the trail’s tunnels—dark, echoing passages carved through rock. Each tunnel becomes a moment of courage and curiosity, a place where shadows dance and the burst of sunlight at the far end feels like a reward.Farther north, the trail slips into Rochford, a tiny town with a big personality, where music drifts from the Moonshine Gulch Saloon and the hills feel close and friendly. Meadows, creek bottoms, and quiet stretches of forest carry the travelers toward the final climb.At last, the journey arrives in Deadwood, where history hums beneath wooden boardwalks and the trail’s long story finds its closing chapter. The book ends with a sense of accomplishment and connection—readers have crossed bridges, passed through tunnels, visited towns both bustling and quiet, and followed a path that ties them to the land and to each other.More than a simple travel tale, this picture book celebrates movement, curiosity, and the joy of exploring a trail that holds stories in every mile. Read more