Looking for an amazing hike? Try hiking trails along the Spearfish Canyon Scenic byway. It retraces the steps of legendry settlers. In the Black Hills National Forest, the byway follows Spearfish Creek along an old railroad bed. The 19-mile byway showcases some of the best scenery the Black Hills offers. Not to mention, the most prominent waterfalls are a short walk from the valley floor. Hiking trails in the area cater to every level of outdoor enthusiast, from novices to experts.
We combined this adventure with Devils Tower National Monument, Sturgis and Deadwood. Makes for a long day but was worth the time and effort.
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Table of Contents
Where is Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway?
From exit 14 off I-90, we drove the loop through the canyon and into Deadwood, passing through Savoy, Cheyenne Crossing, and Lead. Rising 1000 foot, the weather-sculpted limestone canyon walls frame the winding highway on both sides. I can only imagine the colorful display in autumn because of its ponderosa pine, aspen, birch, and oak tree forest. It must look stunning! It is possible to pull over and enjoy the scenery along the way at many points. The scenery was beautiful, so we stopped often to take pictures. The road follows the old railroad that ran from Spearfish to Deadwood in 1893. They abandoned the railroad line after a devastating flood destroyed most of it in 1933.
Make the Quick Stop @ DC Booth Historic Fish Hatchery (Mile 0)
Our first stop on the banks of Spearfish Creek, we visited the DC Booth Historic Fish Hatchery. It’s free to stroll the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives any day of the week, 365 days a year, from dawn to dusk. There are over 10 acres of historic property at the hatchery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Besides a railroad hatchery car used to stock fish in the Rockies, a hatchery boat used in Yellowstone, and historical equipment from the hatchery, the old hatchery grounds have been preserved. It’s a wonderful complex with the original 1900 hatchery races. They filled some with small fingerlings while the larger ponds have brood stock. For a fee you can purchase fish food. The museum was interesting, explaining how this was the first United States fish hatchery. Many of the artifacts show how the whole process worked from the collecting of eggs, growing the fry, how they kept the water clean and filtered throughout. and transporting the fish.
Split Rock & Community Caves Trail (Mile 2.7/MM13)
Split rock is just that a massive limestone outcropping blasted to accommodate passage of the railroad line.
Note: Remember to bring a day backpack,, sunscreen, snacks and plenty of water.
The pull-off for the community caves directly on the right. Cross the road and fjord to the other side of the creek to find the trail. Short 1.0 mile out and back, rather strenuous hike to see caves and a small waterfall. Unmarked trail scrambles up the steep, rocky slope. Good hiking shoes are a must. Just follow the trickling stream you will know you are on the right trek. The tiny waterfall reminded me of the Emerald Pools Trail in Zion National park. Continue following the trail at the top is an amazing panoramic view of the Black Hills.
The Little Dam (Mile 4.3/MM15)
This small diversion spillway is excellent for both photographers and anglers alike. The remnants of the old diversion pond are downstream of the old plant. Evidently, it was destroyed during massive flooding in 1933. Good place to fish in the early morning, or to practice with a fly rod.
Bridal Veil Falls (Mile 5.8/MM16)
The 60 foot waterfall cascades over the towering canyon walls into Spearfish Creek. The viewing platform is right beside the road, not easily missed. Because of the close proximity to the road, this is the waterfall that everyone, and I mean everyone, stops to photograph. The parking area fills quickly. The water volume tumbling over the falls this spring is quite extraordinary. Spearfish creek was flowing higher than normal, so we opted not to cross to get an up-close view of the falls. We saw others using a log to cross to get to the base of the waterfall. In the summer, the cooler water of the creek would be mighty refreshing, but not today.
A Natural Rockslide Hike to Devil’s Bathtub (Mile 7.9/MM17)
Check out the Devil’s Bathtub a 2.0-mile out & back trail. Park at the turnout walk the 0.75 miles upstream before crossing a bridge. The trailhead is on the right. Be respectful as this follows private property. This is not an easy trail. There are no real trail markers, just follow the stream.
We had to cross the creek many times. But we did not let that discourage us from continuing. Be cautious, it becomes rocky and can be slippery, and poison ivy grows beside the trail. You can plan on feet getting wet. It Suggest wearing shoes you don’t mind getting wet. Trekking poles are a plus. The trail eventually leads to a natural rockslide that dumps into a “bathtub.” It was way too cold for that today. I can imagine that this would be marvelous in the hot summer months. Especially for kids.
Homestake Mine Hydro Plant 2 (Mile 8.1/MM18)
They constructed the first hydro plant in 1917 to sustain the Homestake Sawmill in Spearfish and the Homestake Gold Mine in Lead, South Dakota. Eventually, they diverted the water at this site. The water enters a flume traveling 12-miles. The delivered water turns two turbine generators near Spearfish. They still use many of the clay pipes today.
Interesting Fact: Homestake Gold mine was the number one producer of gold in the western hemisphere, making the state the top producer.
11th Hour Gulch and Kissing Rocks (Mile 9.3/MM20)
It is easy to miss this hidden hideaway. It is just around a bend at mile 9.3, next to the kissing rocks. Two large boulders that fell from the cliff face into the river bed below appear so close they are “kissing.”
11th hour gulch is a narrow 50 foot wide canyon is a challenging rock scramble. Because of its narrowness, the gulch receives only one hour of sunlight each day, hence its name. Someone has strategically placed old ladders to assist climbers on some of the larger boulders. Running out of time, we had to skip this hike. They say the views from the top are beautiful in the fall when the leaves change colors.
Long Valley Picnic Area Great Fishing in Spearfish Creek (Mile 10.8/MM22)
Spearfish Creek starts in the higher elevations of the canyon. Impressive that during its short course, Spearfish Creek drops 3,000 feet over its 40-mile length. At the half-way point, we ate picnic lunch before casting a fishing line in the creek. There is nothing better on a warm string day than sitting on a creek-side boulder enjoying a picnic lunch.
This is a premier fishery. The trout are not native to the Black Hills. The U.S. Bureau of Fisheries brought here them in 1899 hatchery from Colorado to Spearfish Creek. However, this creek supports a thriving population of wild trout. Good sized rainbow, brown, and brook trout can be caught in abundant numbers. The tackle we used was small trout spinners or a caddis in size #10-#20 and a tungsten jig nymph #12–#14. We called it a day in this section of the river because of the swift water. That’s why they call it fishing and not catching:)
Spearfish Falls at the Savoy Crossroads (Mile 12.8/MM24)
This was our favorite waterfall during our trip to South Dakota. We easily accessed the trail for Spearfish Falls from the parking lot. It is located directly beside the Latchstring Restaurant, near Savoy. There is an upper walkway that leads to a viewing platform where you can overlook the top of the falls. The views are not that spectacular. Instead, take the 1.5 mile trail lower trail, the views are much better. Walk around the left of the restaurant to find the sign marking the trailhead for the Spearfish Falls Trail. After walking downhill and crossing a bridge, we arrived at the base of the falls. Although it is well-maintained, it has some steep grades (not accessible to wheelchairs). I suggest tennis shoes or hiking boots. The boardwalk platforms are both new and provide excellent views of the falls. We could see lots of brown trout in the clear waters.
Roughlock Falls Trail (Mile 13)
There are two ways to view Roughlock Falls. First is only a 1-mile walk down a forested trail across from the Latchstring Restaurant. It takes about 30 min one-way to walk the trail. The second viewpoint is about 1 mile west of Spearfish Falls on Forest Service Road 222. There is ample parking, a nice picnic area and restrooms. A 50-foot waterfall and cascades highlights this idyllic setting. There are two observation platforms connected by a raised boardwalk for photographing the falls.
They filmed the final winter scene for the movie Dances With Wolves a mere mile past the falls parking lot. A sign is posted marking the location. There is not much to see except the rock face, so if time is tight I would skip this.
The final stop at the end of the Spearfish Scenic Byway is Cheyenne Crossing. A good place to have a meal. It was originally a stagecoach stop on the Cheyenne to Deadwood route in 1878. At the intersection, we headed to our next destination through Lead to Deadwood for an early supper.
Note: Scenic byways abound in the Black Hills. Try driving Iron Mountain and the Needles Highway as part of your itinerary.
Final Thoughts on Spearfish Canyon
The Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway is a must see when you visit Spearfish! With a variety of hiking trails and other outdoor activities, it n offers breathtaking views all year round. Visitors will find lush canyons and sprawling valleys filled with plants, animals, and wildlife found in abundance. We so enjoyed exploring the trails, meandering by flowing streams to see magnificent waterfalls.
Have you hiked in Spearfish Canyon before? Let us know your favorite trail in the comments!
