Editing Hill City, South Dakota (section)

==Sports and recreation==
[[File:GinsCourt.JPG|thumb|right|Coach Gins Court in Hill City, SD. Home to the Rangers.]]
Hill City High School is a member of the [[South Dakota High School Activities Association]] and competes in class "A". Because students helped to fight a wildfire that threatened the community in 1939, the school's mascot is [[Smokey Bear]], and the fight song is [[Marines' Hymn]].<ref>{{cite web | last =South Dakota High School Activities Association | author-link =South Dakota High School Activities Association | title =SDHSAA | url =http://www.sdhsaa.com/ | access-date =2007-12-14 }}</ref> High School Boys compete in basketball, football, track and field, cross country, and wrestling. High School Girls compete in basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, track and field, cross country, and golf.<ref>{{cite web| title =Hill City Rangers!| url =http://hillcity.k12.sd.us/hs_folder/hsframeset.htm| access-date =2007-12-14| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071212125453/http://hillcity.k12.sd.us/hs_folder/hsframeset.htm| archive-date =2007-12-12| url-status =dead}}</ref> The school also provides a choir, band, and theatre department. Sports in Hill City are always improving, recently the Hill City boys of the 2025 team have made history.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-21 |title=Hill City's historic 20-win season notches another program-first in victory over Clark/Willow Lake |url=https://www.siouxfallslive.com/sports/prep/hill-citys-historic-20-win-season-notches-another-program-first-in-victory-over-clark-willow-lake |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=Sioux Falls Live |language=en}}</ref> In 2025, the boys made it to the State "A" Basketball tournament, the first trip to state in Hill City boys basketball history, where they achieved the first state "A" win in Hill City history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ranger boys make history with first ever trip to state {{!}} myblackhillscountry.com |url=https://custercountychronicle.com/content/ranger-boys-make-history-first-ever-trip-state |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=custercountychronicle.com}}</ref>

Outdoor Sports popular in the area include hiking, mountain climbing, [[snowmobiling]], and [[dogsled racing]]. Hill City is the ninth trailhead on the [[George S. Mickelson Trail]] that runs from Deadwood, to Edgemont. This trail is often used for running, cycling, and snowmobiling in the winter.<ref>{{cite web| last =South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks| title =George S. Mickelson Trail| url =http://www.sdgfp.info/parks/regions/northernhills/mickelsontrail/index.htm| access-date =2007-12-14| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071210154605/http://www.sdgfp.info/parks/regions/northernhills/mickelsontrail/index.htm| archive-date =2007-12-10| url-status =dead}}</ref>

Snowmobiling is also enjoyed in the area with groomed paths running through Hill City and the surrounding Black Hills. There are {{convert|350|mi|km}} of groomed trails in the area. Two snowmobiling magazines have rated the Black Hills as one of the best places to ride in North America.<ref>{{cite web | title =Snowmobiling | work =ALLBlackHills.com | publisher =Vertical Media | url =http://www.allblackhills.com/winter_recreation/snowmobiling.php | access-date =2007-12-14 }}</ref>