Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

Spearfish Canyon is the Black Hills' signature scenic drive. Highway 14A, designated the Spearfish Canyon State Scenic Byway, follows the creek through a deep limestone canyon, with cliffs that rise on both sides, forests of ponderosa pine, spruce and aspen, and a string of waterfalls and short trails off the roadside. Travel South Dakota calls the canyon one of the most beautiful locations in the Black Hills, and most visitors agree after a single pass. The drive itself is free, and the scenery changes with the seasons, from green summer shade to spectacular fall color and quiet, snowy winter. The canyon sits between Spearfish and the Lead and Deadwood area, so it fits naturally into a northern Hills loop. Most visitors drive it as part of a day that includes Deadwood, stopping at Roughlock Falls, Spearfish Falls and the lodge at Savoy for a meal or a view. Fall is especially popular for foliage and waterfall photography, and the byway is a favorite of motorcyclists and cyclists as well. There is no entrance fee for the byway, though some stops, such as parking areas or lodge activities, may have their own rules.

The drive takes under an hour end to end without stops, but nobody does it that fast. Plan two to four hours with pullouts, a waterfall walk and a meal, and more if you hike. Narrow stretches and curves reward patient driving, and wildlife, cyclists and motorcycles share the road, so keep the speed modest. In winter, check road conditions, since snow and ice can affect travel, and some forest roads close for the season.

Stops are what make the canyon. The Spearfish Canyon Nature Area, managed by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, includes Roughlock Falls, Spearfish Falls and the Savoy Pond area, connected by a trail system that lets you see the waterfalls and the foliage. There is no entrance fee for the nature area, which is open year-round. The Forest Service road to Roughlock Falls closes in winter for snowmobile season, but the trail from the lodge to the falls remains open, used at your own risk.

Pair it with Deadwood for a full day: morning in the canyon, afternoon on Main Street, or the reverse. Add the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery in Spearfish at the northern end, or the Terry Peak ski area and Lead at the southern end. Anyone staying overnight in the canyon should consider the lodge, which makes an easy base for a quiet stay among the trees, and anyone with limited time should still drive at least the central stretch for the waterfalls and the cliffs.