Black Hills Veteran March and Marathon
Join us for this year’s Black Hills Veterans March and Marathon and embark on a journey through the scenic and beautiful Black Hills.
Honor our veterans as we trek popular trails like the Mickelson Trail, Rochford, and Dumont Trailheads.
Test your abilities with three challenging marches: the 110-Mile March, Full March, Mini March and Virtual March.
Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience! See below for this year’s march details and be part of a meaningful tribute to our nation’s heroes.
Event Details
Honor our veterans with challenging marches through the Black Hills' most popular trails.
September 16-19, 2026: 110-Mile 4-Day Endurance March
This endurance march will take you across 110 miles of scenic beauty in the Black Hills.
September 19, 2026: Full March (26.2 Miles)
Starting at Rochford Trailhead at 8:00 AM. Join us for a 26.2-mile challenge!
September 19, 2026: Mini March (16.1 Miles)
This 16.1-mile trek starts at Dumont Trailhead at 10:00 AM. A beautiful journey through nature.
How to Get There
To get to the Rochford and Dumont Trailheads from Deadwood:
- 1. To get to Rochford and Dumont Trailheads from Deadwood take 385 South to 256 to 17.
- 2. Ride the provided shuttle - Full March buses load up 15 minutes to departure and will depart from Days of ‘76 Fairgrounds at 7:00 a.m.
- 3. The Mini March bus will load 15 minutes prior to departure and will leave from Days of ’76 Fairgrounds at 9:00 a.m.
- 4. No registration or packet pickup available on March Day.
- 5. All participants must in-process and pick up packets (with number/chip) the day before the March or at our early packet pick-up which is on September 14th and 18th. Early packet pick up on the 14th from 5:00 PM - 8:00PM at Lost Cabin Taproom In Rapid City, and registration/packet pick up at Deadwood Visitor Center on the 18th from 12:00-8:00 p.m.
- *For safety concerns, all participants are required to be off the trail by 5pm on the day of the march.
- All participants must pick up packets on the 14 and 18 September 2026. *Early packet pick up on the 14th at Lost Cabin Taproom (605-718-5678), and Registration/packet pick up at Deadwood Visitor Center on the 18th from 12-8pm.
- All methods of registration will close if/when 1,000 is reached.
- NO REFUNDS. *Marcher can purchase third-party race insurance during registration. This insurance is not provided by BH Veterans March & Marathon.
- Registered participants will receive a Black Hills Veteran March T-shirt and post-event meal. You must register before 1 September to get a T-shirt.
- The participants who finish the march (cross the finish line) receive a commemorative coin.
- All participants must complete the course by 5:00 p.m.
All participants must in-process and pick up packets (with number/chip) the day before the March or at our early packet pick-up which is on September 14th at Lost Cabin Taproom (605-718-5678), 1401 West Omaha St., Rapid City, SD from 5:00-8:00 pm.
Early Packet Pickup: 14 September 2025, 5:00-8:00 pm at Lost Cabin Taproom, 1401 West Omaha St., Rapid City, SD.
Packet Pickup on 18 September: 12:00pm - 8:00pm at the Deadwood Welcome Center, 501 Main Street, Deadwood, SD.
Note: Individual marchers and team (the team captain or a representative) must check in and pick up their packet at Deadwood Welcome Center on Friday, 18 September 2026.
*Marchers, who register before 1 September, will receive their T-shirt during in-processing.
*No registration or packet pickup available on March Day!
5 Person Team Relay:
Categories Male, Female, COED
Each runner will run one leg of the event. Each team provides transportation throughout the race and provides a way to carry the timing chip, i.e. plastic baton, guidon, pouch, etc. The start is at Rochford Trailhead at 8 am See the details of the relay legs below:
- Runner 1: Start to Rest Stop 1 (6.11 mi) - RochFord Trailhead
- Runner 2: RS 1 to RS 3 (5.99 mi) - Runner will run through Rest Stop 2 at the Dumont Trailhead. RS 3 is located on the trail between Dumont and Englewood Trailheads.
- Runner 3: RS 3 to RS 4 (4.03 mi) - RS 4 is located at Englewood Trailhead.
- Runner 4: RS 4 to RS 5 (4.92 mi) - RS 5 is located at Kirk Trailhead.
- Runner 5: RS 5 to Finish (5.15 mi) - Finish line Deadwood Fairgrounds
The first two runners will be running primarily uphill, and they also have the longest two legs. As far as transportation, it works best to have everyone shuttle their team throughout the race. This allows each team to stop along the route to cheer team members while driving to the next rest stop.
Driving distances, drive times between transfer points and grid locations for each relay transfer point. It is a good idea to scout out the transfer points before the event.
Start – RS1 (5 mi. or 9 min)
RS1 – RS3 (6 mi. or 9 min)
RS3 – RS4 (4.3 mi or 7 min)
RS4 – RS5 (6.2 mi or 12 min)
RS5 – Finish (5.2 mi or 16 min)
Downloadable file: Relay Info
Awards Ceremony
The awards ceremony will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 19 at the Deadwood Rodeo Grounds.
Trophies will be awarded to the first-place finisher in each category, and second place will be awarded if more than 15 registrants are in the category.
Important: To be included in the awards ceremony, participants must finish by 4:00 p.m.
Endurance March
Edgemont to Deadwood following the entire Mickelson Trail!
Forge friendships, build confidence, and test your physical and mental endurance in this team-concept 110-Mile endurance march through the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota from Edgemont to Deadwood on the scenic George S. Mickelson Trail. This is an exciting and challenging foot-march through beautiful pine forests containing more than 100 converted railroad bridges and 4 rock tunnels over a trail surface composed of crushed limestone and gravel.
NOTE: Due to the nature of this event, it is a completion event and not a race.
This march is extremely challenging, but incredibly rewarding. The memories and friendships made on the trail are priceless!
Overview
The Black Hills Veterans March-Endurance (BHVM-E) is a team event completed in segments over four (4) days.
All participants must be in-processed and recieve packets (with number/chip) on September 14th from 5:00 PM - 8:00PM at Lost Cabin Taproom in Rapid City.
The first three days of the Endurance March are all self-supported, meaning teams are responsible for their nourishment, hydration, lodging, medical support, and transportation.
The fourth day runs concurrent with the one-day Black Hills Veterans March and Marathon. On this day there are many organized rest stops providing food, drinks, and a competitive spirit with many people along the route cheering you on to the finish line.
Team Concept
The BHVM-E team-concept is critical for the safety and success of marchers. For your own safety, teams MUST register and participate with a minimum of three (3) marchers and one (1) support person each day of the march.
YOU MUST REGISTER AS A TEAM!!! NO INDIVIDUALS CAN REGISTER FOR THIS CATEGORY!!!! EVERYONE MUST COMPLETE THE ENTIRE 4 DAYS AND 110-MILES OF THIS CATEGORY!!!!
Teams
Teams must start each day with a minimum of three participants. The team concept is designed so that team members take care of each other to ensure the entire team gets through the day. Teams may be a mix of civilian and military marchers. No maximum team member limits, however, teams must have adequate support personnel to accommodate the needs of the team. During registration, you must submit the name of your support person(nel).
Support Personnel
Each team must start each day with at least one support person. The support person is responsible for shuttling team members to and from the start/finish points each day. Typically, support personnel designate points along to ensure team members have support throughout the day. Support personnel may provide the team with additional water, sports drinks, food, and medical supplies, minimizing the amount of equipment marchers have to carry with them on the trail. The support person should maintain team accountability/tracking throughout the day and serves as a means for emergency medical evacuation.
Weeks in advance, marching team members and their support personnel should plan together, and tailor planned rest stops, sustainment, and support to the individual needs of team.
Route Overview
Day 1 (32.1 miles) begins at the Edgemont Trailhead in Edgemont (located on the south end of Main Street), and finishes at the Pringle Trailhead in Pringle, SD (located on the west side of Hwy. 385 in the center of the town).
Day 2 (28 miles) begins at the Pringle Trailhead and finishes at the Burlington Northern Hill City Trailhead in Hill City, SD (located in Tracy Park east of the High School).
Day 3 (23.7 miles) begins at the Burlington Northern Hill City Trailhead, and ends at the Rochford Trailhead in Rochford, SD (located on the east side of Rochford near the fire station.) *To extend the Mickelson Trail (108.8 mi.) route, an additional 1.2 miles is added on Day 3 for a complete 110-Mile march.
Day 4 (26.2 miles) begins at the Rochford Trailhead and ends at the Deadwood Days of ’76 Complex and Rodeo Grounds in Deadwood, SD.
Start time each day is 5:00 a.m., and all marchers must finish by 6:00 p.m. each day. On the 4th day, marchers must complete the event by 5:00 p.m.
Full March & Marathon
The Full March and Marathon is 26.2-mile march on the Mickelson Trail. The March begins at 8:00 am at the Rochford Trailhead and ends at the Days of ’76 Rodeo Grounds in Deadwood. There are multiple rest stops (one every 3-5 miles) along the way for refueling on food, drink, and motivation. Buses load at 6:45 am and depart the Rodeo Grounds 7:00 am SHARP.
Challenge Yourself
Test your limits with our selection of Full March difficulty levels including:
- Full March Individual (26.2 Miles)
- Full March Heavy (35 lbs Pack)
- Full March (Uniformed Military)
- Full March (Veteran)
- Full March (Civilian)
Mini March
The Mini March isn’t so small! This 16 Mile event starts at the Dumont Trailhead at 10:00 am and continues down the beautiful Mickelson Trail, through the city of Deadwood and Ends at the Days of '76 Rodeo Grounds.
The rules for the Full March apply here, with separate categories for teams and individuals. Buses load at 8:45 am and depart at 9:00 am!
Virtual March
Participate from anywhere in the world! Complete the march in your own time and location, and honor our veterans while pushing your own limits.
Rules and Participation
- Everyone is welcome to participate!
- Set your own time and pace, but must be done in one day.
- You can complete this event from 1 September until 19 September 2026.
- Participants are encouraged to take pictures and tag #BHVMM2026 on Facebook so we can share your experience!
- There is only one virtual category 26.2 miles, no trophies will be awarded for this event.
- However, you can see how your times match up to the rest of the participants when the official results are posted on www.blackhillsveteranmarch.org.
How to Receive Your Packet and Coin
Sponsor a Rest Stop!
The Black Hills Veterans March ensures that marchers stay hydrated, fueled, and rested with six rest stop locations along the George S. Mickelson Trail. Your support helps keep marchers energized and motivated!
Rest Stop Standard Operating Policies
Find out more about sponsoring and the minimum requirements for each rest stop: Rest Stop SOP
Minimum Requirements
- Tent
- Water
- Sports Drink
- Oranges
- Bananas
- Water Coolers
- Volunteers
Other Suggestions
- Trail Mix
- Cookies
- PB&J Sandwiches
Depending on the number of marchers, our approximate investment for each rest stop is between $300-$500. The approximate number of marchers will be provided one-month prior to march.
Rest Stop Locations
Here are the seven rest stops along the trail:
Rest Stop #1
Intersection of Rochford Road and Nahant Road
Take 85 South out of Deadwood and pass through Lead for 2 miles. At the junction of 85 South and 14A take a left and go south 3.4 miles to Rochford Road. From the intersection of highway 14A and Rochford Road drive 9.9 miles. Approximate GPS Coordinates Latitude 44.180388, Longitude: -103.758144. Approximately six miles into the race and approximately 20 miles left. This rest stop must be set up 30 minutes after the start of the race.
Rest Stop #2
Dumont Trailhead (the intersection of Rochford Road and Juso Road)
Take 85 South out of Deadwood and pass through Lead for 2 miles. At the junction of 85 South and 14A take a left and go south 3.4 miles to Rochford Road. From the intersection of Highway 14A and Rochford Road drive 6 miles. Approximate GPS Coordinates Latitude 44.227980, Longitude-103.786082. Approximately 10 miles into the race and approximately 16 miles left. This rest stop must be set up by 45 minutes after the start of the race.
Rest Stop #3
The intersection of Rochford Road and Rochford Ridge Road
Take 85 South out of Deadwood and pass through Lead for 2 miles. At the junction of 85 South and 14A take a left and go south 3.4 miles to Rochford Road. From the intersection of Highway 14A and Rochford Road drive 3.9 miles. Approximate GPS Coordinates Latitude 44.251009, Longitude -103.796768. Approximately 12 miles into the race and approximately 14 miles left. This rest stop must be set up within one hour after the start of the race.
Rest Stop #4
Englewood Trailhead (the intersection of Englewood Road and Brownsville Road)
Take 85 South out of Deadwood and pass through Lead for 2 miles. At the junction of 85 South and 14A take a left and go south 3.4 miles to Rochford Road. From the intersection of Highway 14A and Rochford Road drive .4 miles to Brownsville Road. At Brownsville Road turn left and drive for 0.7 miles. Approximate GPS Coordinates Latitude 44.296901, Longitude -103.784591. Approximately 16 miles into the race and approximately 10 miles left. This rest stop must be set up within one hour after the start of the race.
Rest Stop #4.5
Intermediate Rest Stop (Along Ridgewood Trail)
Take 85 South out of Deadwood and pass through Lead for 2 miles. At the junction of 85 South and 14A take a left and go south 2.8 miles to Powder House Trail. From the intersection of Highway 14A and Powder House Trail turn left and go 0.4 miles to Ruby's Way. At Ruby's Way, turn left and drive for 0.1 miles to Water House. Turn right onto Water House Road and go 0.2 miles to the Pump House. Rest Stop Teams can park here and walk in or use a 4-wheel drive to continue to the trailhead/rest stop. Waterhouse road turns into a fire trail. Follow to the fork and turn right on Ridgewood Trail. Follow for about 0.7 miles. Approximate GPS Coordinates Latitude 44.320179, Longitude -103.776872. Approximately nineteen miles into the race and approximately seven miles left. This rest stop must be set up within one hour after the start of the race.
Rest Stop #5
Kirk Trailhead
As you leave Deadwood take Highway 385 South to Kirk Road (0.3 miles), turn right on Kirk Road and drive 1.7 miles to Yellow Creek Road. Turn left on Yellow Creek Road, turn right at the railroad crossing sign. Approximate GPS Coordinates Latitude 44.342638, Longitude-103.758042. Approximately 21 miles into the race and approximately 5.2 miles left. This rest stop must be set up within one hour and 30 minutes after the start of the race.
Rest Stop #6
Deadwood Trailhead(Sherman Street parking lot)
At the intersection of Sherman Street and Charles Street. Approximate GPS Coordinates Latitude 44.371194, Longitude -103.727599. Approximately 24.5 miles into the race and approximately 1.66 miles left. This rest stop must be set up within two hours after the start of the race.