Spearfish Canyon is the Black Hills at their most dramatic. A deep limestone gorge runs between Spearfish and the Lead and Deadwood area, and Highway 14A, designated the Spearfish Canyon State Scenic Byway, follows the creek through cliffs, pine and aspen. Travel South Dakota calls it one of the most beautiful locations in the Black Hills, and the drive is free. This guide covers how to plan the day, which stops are worth your time and how the canyon changes through the year.
The drive
Without stops the byway takes under an hour, but nobody drives it that way. Plan two to four hours with pullouts, a waterfall walk and a meal. The road is narrow and curvy in places and shared with cyclists, motorcyclists and the occasional deer, so keep your speed modest and use pullouts rather than stopping in the lane. The canyon is a favorite of riders, and on a summer weekend you will see plenty of them, so give them room and expect some traffic.
Roughlock Falls and the nature area
The best-known stop is the Spearfish Canyon Nature Area, long called the Roughlock Falls Nature Area and managed by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. It lies about a mile west of the byway at Savoy and has three features: Roughlock Falls, Spearfish Falls and the Savoy Pond area, connected by a trail system. There is no entrance fee, and the area is open year-round, with picnic tables, trails and vault toilets. Camping is not allowed. Birders watch for the American dipper, a stocky gray bird that feeds underwater.
The lodge at Savoy
Spearfish Canyon Lodge sits in the middle of the canyon, and the state notes that a trail runs from the lodge to Roughlock Falls and is open year-round, used at your own risk. That makes the lodge both a good meal stop and a convenient base for anyone who wants to wake up among the trees. Confirm dining and room options before you go, because remote lodges vary in what they offer. Staying in the canyon gives you early light on the cliffs and quiet evenings that casino-town hotels cannot match.
Seasons
Fall is the star, with aspen gold against dark pine and waterfalls running among the foliage, and it is also the busiest time for photographers. Summer offers shade and cool air when the plains are hot, and spring brings high water in the creek and falls. Winter is peaceful and snowy, but the forest road from Savoy to Roughlock Falls closes from mid-December through the end of March for snowmobile season, though the trail from the lodge stays open. Check road conditions before you drive in snow, and carry layers, water and a charged phone, since coverage can be patchy.
What to pair it with
At the northern end, Spearfish has a pleasant, walkable center and the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery, a ten-acre National Register site with ponds, viewing windows, a museum and trout to feed. At the southern end, Lead has the free Homestake Visitor Center and the Black Hills Mining Museum, and Terry Peak rises above town. Deadwood is a short drive on, so a classic day runs from Spearfish through the canyon to Deadwood for dinner. For a more adventurous version, a guided UTV outing from Deadwood explores the backcountry nearby.
A sample half day and a full day
For half a day, start in Spearfish with coffee, drive south through the canyon with two or three pullouts, walk the short trail at the nature area and finish with lunch at the lodge before turning back or continuing on to Lead. For a full day, add the Booth Fish Hatchery in the morning, linger at the falls in the middle of the day and finish with dinner on Deadwood's Main Street, where the evening street life is a good contrast to the quiet of the canyon. In fall, build in extra time for photographs, because the light and color change quickly and the best spots fill with other visitors on weekends.
Who the canyon suits
Almost everyone enjoys the drive, and the short waterfall walks suit families, older travelers and anyone who wants a nature fix without a long hike. Hikers can string together the trails between the falls and the pond for a longer outing, and photographers will find reasons to return at different times of day. Motorcyclists love the curves, and cyclists share the road in good weather. Travelers with limited mobility can still enjoy the drive and the pullouts, and families can turn the visit into a picnic. The only people who might be disappointed are those who expect a wide-open vista, since the canyon is intimate and wooded rather than sweeping.
Practical tips
Start early for light and fewer cars, bring layers because canyon temperatures run cooler than the surrounding plains, and wear shoes with grip for wet rocks near the falls. Fill the gas tank in Spearfish or Lead before you go, because services inside the canyon are limited. Pack a picnic if you want to use the tables at the nature area, and pack out what you bring. If you only have half a day, drive the central stretch, walk to Roughlock Falls and return the way you came.