Mystic Miners Ski Resort is one of two down-hill ski resorts in the Black Hills.  They have 44 trails. The mountain is 6,850 feet above see level, there is a 850 ft. drop on the front of the mountain and 650 ft. drop on the back of the mountain.
One of the cool things about Mystic Miners is the Blizzard Tube Park. For just $18 you can go tubing all day (9:30am to 4:30pm). A great way to enjoy the snow for those who don’t want to ski or snowboard.
Where is Mystic Miners?
It is located on Deer Mountain, just a few minutes south of Lead on US Hwy 85. Just follow the signs.
When the Black Hills snowmobile trails are open from December 15th to March 31st, the Dumont Trailhead is a busy place. Snowmobiling on the Mickelson Trail is only allowed in places from Dumont north to Deadwood. But, gives snowmobilers access the the 350 miles of groomed trails that make up the Black Hills Trail system, plus off-trail riding in the 1.2 million acres of the Black Hills National Forest (see website below for complete information).
The trailhead is named after the lumber and cattle town founded in 1890. The town has faded away, but Dumont is still a desirable destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Since this is the end of the line for snowmobiling on the Mickelson Trail, Dumont is also a great place for other winter activites. The 93 miles of the trail to the south is all non-motorized, perfect for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
How do you get to the Dumont Trailhead?
From Lead, head south on Hwy 85. Turn left onto Rochford Road. You’ll find the trailhead about nine miles down the road. Or, it is about nine miles north of Rochford.
More Information
Visit the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks website for more information about the George S Mickelson Trail. Also, remember you are required to purchase a pass when using the Mickelson Trail. The pass can be purchased at the trailhead or online.
Snowmobile information and maps are also available at the SD GF&P website and at many businesses throughout the Black Hills.
Just the other day I posted about Mount Roosevelt. So, I thought it only natural to follow up with a post about Seth Bullock. Bullock, Deadwood’s first sheriff, was a friend of Theodore Roosevelt. It was Bullock’s idea to build the friendship tower on Mount Roosevelt and he requested to be buried above Mount Moriah, with a view of Mt Roosevelt.
Trail from Mt. Moriah to Seth Bullock's grave
Bullock arrived in Deadwood in 1876, with his business partner, Sol Star. They had a very successful hardware store. In 1894, the hardware store burned. They rebuilt the store and it is the present day Bullock Hotel.
Not only was Bullock Sheriff (as you may have seen in HBO’s Deadwood: The Complete Series), he helped with the founding of the town of Belle Fourche. He became involved in ranching and shipping livestock out of Belle Fourche.
Once there was some law and order in the wild town, his wife Martha came to live in Deadwood. They had two daughters, Margaret and Florence and one son Stanley. Seth Bullock died of cancer at his Deadwood home on September 23, 1919.
The Bullock grave is 750 feet above Mount Moriah, as you can see in the photo it is a steep trail. I went up there on a warm January day. I used snowshoes, they weren’t necessary, but made trekking through the snow much easier. If you are not up to the hike you can watch my video below. The video starts with a view of Mount Roosevelt and pans around to the Bullock grave.
), he helped with the founding of the town of Belle Fourche. He became involved in ranching and shipping livestock out of Belle Fourche.