The trail follows the historic Deadwood to Edgemont Burlington Northern rail line. This line passed through the heart of South Dakota's Black Hills and was abandoned in 1983.

The southern trailhead is located at the south end of Main St in Edgemont. The northern trailhead is located in Deadwood near the old railroad depot on sherman St.

There are more than 100 converted railroad bridges and four hardrock tunnels along the trail.