FORT PIERRE, S.D. - A Fort Pierre-to-Deadwood trail ride, recreating a trek taken by thousands who traveled the route more than a century ago, will begin Wednesday.

The 200-mile-long trail was last used in 1908. The trail was highly traveled, especially in the late 1800s.

The commemorative ride with some 300 people on horseback and in horse-drawn wagons will conclude Aug. 15.

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 route.

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.

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