An old rail line reborn as a crushed-limestone path links the hills' towns for cyclists and walkers. South Dakota keeps its best rewards for those willing to leave the pavement behind.

The George S. Mickelson Trail stretches 109 miles from Deadwood to Edgemont.

What sets it apart

The route follows a former Burlington Northern rail bed with gentle grades. That detail is easy to overlook, but it helps explain the pull this place has on locals and visitors alike.

More than a hundred converted railroad bridges and four tunnels dot the way.

Why it matters

Taken together, these threads say something about South Dakota itself — a place where the old and the new sit close together. Come prepared, respect the land, and South Dakota's wild country will give back in kind.