Tracy Park is the home to the Trailhead for the Mickelson Trail in Hill City. It is located at Mile Post 60.1 on the trail, and is situated just next the the rail yard for the 1880 train.
From here you can head south about 10 miles to The Mountain Trailhead near Crazy Horse. Or, head north 15 miles to the Mystic Trailhead. Either choice is a good one. I just love all the granite outcroppings in this part of the Black Hills.
There are restrooms and plenty of picnic tables at the trailhead. If Hill City is your final destination for the day, make some plans to dine at the Alpine Inn. It is sure to satisfy.
The area is also home to two Black Hills Wineries. Prairie Berry and Stone Faces are both just a few miles from Hill City. The are worth a visit to taste some really good wines with a South Dakota influence.
The 109-mile Mickelson Trail is a great way to enjoy the Black Hills. It stretches from Deadwood all the way to Edgemont making this quite a treat for outdoor enthusiasts. However, the Black Hills is also blessed with the 111-mile long Centennial Trail. It starts in Bear Butte State Park and ends in Wind Cave National Park.
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Tracy Park
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Hanson-Larsen Memorial Park (HLMP) aka “M Hill†or Cowboy Hill†is an amazing park right in the middle of Rapid City, South Dakota. This 300 acre park was a gift from area rancher Eddie Larsen, when she died she wanted the park built in the honor of her parents Ed Larsen and Etta Hanson-Larsen. That means no public money is used to support the park – that is truly a gift for the people of the Black Hills.
This gem of a park offers something for everyone with over 12 miles of trails. Perfect for hikers, mountain bikers, runners and rock climbers. There are gentle paths for families and technical terrain for the hard core bikers. Not only are the trails fun to hike, there are some great views of the area from M Hill. Harney Peak, Bear Butte and the Badlands can be seen from various points on the trail. Vegan Rock is a popular place for bouldering and there are many other rock climbing options throughout the park.
This is such a cool park. I can wait to check out more trails. I love the names like Cliffs of Dover, Dirk’s Draw, Dark Forest and Rock Garden.
Where is HLMP?
The best place to access the trails is by parking at Founders Park Drive. Turn off of West Omaha St on to 12th St by the Executive Golf Course. On the other side of Rapid Creek you will find Founders Park Drive and a large parking lot. All the trails are well marked and there is a map at the trailhead.
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More Information
Visit the HLMP website.
Have you been to M Hill? What is your favorite part?
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Roosevelt Park is a great place to unwind or let the kids run off some energy in Rapid City. Located just off Omaha Street, this park is easy to find. It is home to Roosevelt Pond and a nice playground, hours of fun for the kids. There is also a formal rose garden and a xeriscaping garden. I love the xeriscaping garden because it helps me pick plants for my garden that will thrive in the Black Hills.
The park is also home to indoor recreation opportunities too. There is an indoor hockey rink. Plus two large indoor pools, one has a waterslide and play equipment – the other is for swimming laps.
To learn more about the park visit the Rapid City Parks and Recreation Department web page.
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