A lucky few, willing to outbid others, will be allotted remaining spots in a horseback and wagon ride on a historic trail from Fort Pierre to Deadwood this summer.

The 200-mile trail was highly traveled by those going to and from the Black Hills, especially in the late 1800s. It was last used in 1908.

A 300-rider limit for the July 29 to Aug. 15 trail ride was reached earlier this year. Because others also want to participate, organizers have decided to auction three badges that authorize people to go on the ride.

The badges went on sale May 4 at an opening price of $200 on eBay. That is the amount others paid earlier to participate. The final day to bid is Sunday.

Since ride badges can be transferred each day, organizers believe the total number of participants may approach 1,000.

The trail crosses private land, but all 50 landowners along the route have agreed to provide access. Most places where trail riders will camp each night will have no electricity or other services.

Visitors and tourists will be invited to the camps each evening to look at the horses and talk with trail riders while they set up camp, prepare food and repair equipment. Large crowds are expected because the ride coincides with the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which draws hundreds of thousands of bikers and onlookers each August.

Darby Nutter, who is helping organize the trail ride, says proceeds left after the ride will be given to Fort Pierre's Verendrye Museum. The museum is sponsoring the ride, and volunteers have been organizing it.

The trail across rolling prairie, rugged hills, and meandering streams and rivers was first used by American Indians to travel from the Missouri River to the Black Hills. They were followed by fur trappers and cavalry. After gold was discovered in the Black Hills in 1874, thousands of miners used the trail.

Millions of tons of mining equipment, supplies and other freight were carried on the picturesque trail during the boom years of 1876-1887.

Eventually, settlers followed the trail. It's thought that the trail was discontinued in 1908 when settlers started fencing their land.

Wagon ruts that are a century old, gravesites of those who died or were killed along the trail and the remains of stagecoach stops are still visible along the route.

On the Net:

www.fortpierredeadwoodtrail.com