Every September, the Mickelson Trail through South Dakota's Black Hills National Forest turns into a proving ground for hundreds of veterans, service members, and civilian supporters who lace up for the Black Hills Veterans March and Marathon. This year's event, held the week of September 16 through 19, marked more than two decades of a tradition that started with nothing more than an idea on a long drive home from New Mexico.
From Bataan to the Black Hills
The march traces its roots back to 2002, when soldiers from the South Dakota Army National Guard, fresh off completing the grueling Bataan Memorial Death March, decided their home state deserved a tribute of its own, according to the event's official history. The first Black Hills march stepped off in 2004 under the South Dakota National Guard Enlisted Association, and it has grown into a nationwide draw in the more than two decades since.
A Course Built for Every Kind of Warrior
The event offers something for nearly every fitness level and mindset. Participants can choose the full 26.2-mile march and marathon along the crushed-limestone Mickelson Trail, a 16-mile mini march, or a punishing 110-mile endurance march for those who want to push past a standard ultramarathon, according to race registration details. Military participants can also opt into a "Heavy" division, marching the full distance with a 40-pound rucksack, while both military and civilian teams and individuals share the same trail toward the finish at the Days of '76 Rodeo Grounds in Deadwood.
Home to a Growing Veteran Racing Community
South Dakota's veteran and National Guard community has embraced endurance events like this one as a way to build camaraderie outside the traditional drill-weekend calendar. For veterans and service members based in the region, or anyone planning a trip to the Black Hills, Operation WarriorFit's South Dakota race listings include other free-entry opportunities worth exploring beyond this one race.
Why It Still Matters
What sets the Black Hills march apart isn't the scenery alone, it's the intent behind every mile. The rucksack divisions echo the training marches many participants once carried out in uniform, and the event's National Guard roots keep the focus squarely on honoring service rather than chasing a finish-line time.
That spirit is exactly what Operation WarriorFit exists to support. Events like the Black Hills Veterans March show how endurance racing can help veterans and service members process their service, rebuild community, and keep moving forward, one mile at a time. If you're a veteran, service member, or first responder looking for a race like this one, or any of the hundreds in our national database, check your eligibility for a free entry.