· Waterfall Hike - Trail 14 Black Elk Wilderness

Mountains To Prairies Bed and Breakfast/facebook

Sam generously supported my desire to go adventuring with a friend today. "M" and I hiked in the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve to see the seasonal waterfalls. We followed the creek along Trail 14, into the Black Elk Wilderness, stopping frequently due to the 90 degree temperature. We encountered backpackers along the trail, resting in the shade of an enormous rock (...enormous being the typical size of the rocks in this wilderness!) - The photos are in consecutive order. Click the map and enjoy!

Norbeck Wildlife Preserve - Trail 14 in Black Elk Wilderness

26 new photos

· Wake up, Hills!

Mountains To Prairies Bed and Breakfast (Black Hills Home Cabins) - On April 11, adventuring into a Sunday afternoon, we drove to Sylvan Lake to see whether the Needles Highway was open for us local Black Hills tourists. It was, to our joy. The album begins with that drive, and shows pictures ranging from early April 'weather' to a late April blooming bush. Enjoy!

(Click the first picture to enlarge...will take you to the album on facebook,

then click 'next' in upper right corner to continue through the album.)

Wake up, Hills!

15 new photos

· George S. Mickelson Trail

Rain or shine . . .

The kind of happiness stirred up by the deep and high beauty of the wilderness Black Hills, by the pure invigorating freshness of it, can also be enjoyed along a more even plane. Whether out for casual walking with your friends (see mine above), or for brisk hiking or running, or for breezy bicycling . . . these are all much loved activities of all ages, all along the 112 plus miles of the easily accessible George S. Mickelson Trail, a trails from rails project, which gave the late 1800's railbed new purpose. The highly acclaimed Mickelson Trail can be enjoyed from Deadwood of the northern Black Hills to Edgemont of the southwestern foothills. The splendor of towering cliffs, granite mountains, crisp streams, wild flowers and wildlife along the way is only matched by the fragrance of pine-scented air which rejuvenates the lungs and refreshes the beating heart. 

Mountains To Prairies Bed and Breakfast, Hill City, is in the Central Black Hills, along the Mickelson Trail. Bicycles can be rented within a few blocks of the B&B. An added luxury for our Trail guests is that Mountains To Prairies is within easy walking distance of everything Hill City offers. Historic downtown provides a pleasing array of delicious foods, fine art and specialty shops, such as Jon Crane Art Gallery and Black Hills Institute of Geological Research (Everything Prehistoric Gift Shop); and the community has several nearby church denominations, which welcome visitors to participate in Sunday Worship Service or Saturday/Sunday Mass. 

Going north-northwest of Hill City along the Mickelson Trail, one may catch glimpses of traces of 1880 cabins or other evidence of once vibrant life, and one may hear the distant chuggings of the popular present-day 1880 Train like as if they were the pulses of energy and enthusiasm spent by the hopefuls who dwelt here . . . working such mines as the King Solomon, the Bengal Tiger and Lucky Tiger. About 7 miles out is the site of Redfern, showing very little but the skeleton of a vintage railroad car.

Railroad Bed Rememberings

Nostalgic sighs may resonate with the leaning pines

gently sweeping sounds through the heart and soul and mind

even involving those curiously passing by

who have no dim memory of such rugged ragged times.

Copyright (c) 2009 - Sam and Linda Brown

· Welcome to the Blog Spot of

Mountains To Prairies Bed and Breakfast

bed and breakfast hospitality lodging

hill city, central black hills, south dakota

near mount rushmore - 1880 train - custer state park

- wind cave national park - jewel cave national monument

- mountain lakes - harney peak - norbeck scenic byway

- black hills playhouse near center lake

- george s. mickelson trail - the centennial trail

- historic downtown hill city - antiques

- all things bright and beautiful

If you were to vacation in the Black Hills of South Dakota, what would be the most important part of your adventure? Would it be the local food, such as bison; would it be Mount Rushmore; hiking in the forest; climbing the towering granite rocks; fishing in the mountain streams and lakes; backpacking; caving; touring the beautiful scenic highways; enjoying the culture and art of the area; visiting Crazy Horse Mountain Carving; thinking, seeing, breathing and doing something different . . . What is important to you?