Spearfish Canyon Foundation - Save the Canyon from the Mountain Pine Beetle

Botany Bay Picnic Area, USFS: The narrow and winding Byway passes through a row of impressive rocky spires to the east and massive vertical high-walls to the west. Do not stray too far from the picnic area as poison Ivy and Oak are in the vicinity. Help control litter to maintain the aesthetics of the canyon, and for the safety of the wildlife.

Cheyenne Crossing: Originally named Spearfish Crossing, this location is the south end of the Byway at Highway 85. It is the original point where the old Deadwood-Cheyenne Stage Line crossed Spearfish Creek. The quaint little country store and restaurant provides traveler information, directions, meals, fuel, and souvenirs.

Little Spearfish Trail: This 5.9-mile trail begins at the Timon Campground and meanders through the dense forest exposing views of the limestone cliffs and the ambiance of Little Spearfish Creek. It is maintained for hikers, horseback, and mountain biking.

Northern Coniferous Forest: Another of the 4 biomes – plant communities- that makes the Canyon the “most marvelous canyon in the West” according to renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. The predominant species is White Spruce with branches frequently laced with silvery green lichen called "old man's beard".

Rimrock Trails: Both trails meander through a serene setting of Ponderosa pine stands, quaking aspen, and paper birch, and are maintained for hikers, horseback, and mountain biking. The trailhead for the 3.5-mile Lower Loop is located at the Rod and Gun Campground, and the 4.5-mile Upper Loop is located at the Timon Campground.

Native Botanical Garden: The colorful and interpretive gardens surround the Latchstring restaurant and present an interesting and informative display of 145 species of native vegetation. The theme of the garden is to encourage water conservancy and water quality. The 1996 project was constructed by volunteers of the US AmeriCorp program.

Latchstring & Spearfish Canyon Lodge: Savoy hosts the popular Latchstring restaurant and Spearfish Canyon Lodge and Conference Center where visitors can get information, directions, meals, a restroom break, or a tranquil nights lodging. The 54-room lodge is open year-round, and offers snowmobile and bicycle rentals, and fishing licenses.

Roughlock Falls and Picnic Area: A mile west from the Scenic Byway at Savoy on FDR 222 is located a serene picnic area and flowing waters of little Spearfish Creek just as it begins cascading over Roughlock Falls. Formal trails provide observations areas at the top of the Falls and a panoramic view from the bottom. Visitors are encouraged to stay on the paths to avoid accelerating erosion.

Roughlock Trail: This “handicapped-accessible”, mile long trail begins at the end of the Lodge parking lot, and meanders through a lush wet meadow paralleling Little Spearfish Creek to Roughlock Falls and a picnic area. The Falls has receded about 300 feet in the past 100 years, and visitors are asked not to divert off the trail’s pathway to prevent further erosion.

Spearfish Falls Trail: This 35-minute trail takes you on a journey to the bottom of the canyon floor that is ecological pristine and provides an awesome view of Spearfish Falls joining Spearfish Creek. The trail has two ratings; “easy” from Latchstring to the Falls; and “difficult” should you choose not to backtrack, but continue on the steep natural tread back to the Latchstring.

"76 Trail: This sensational trail takes you on a steep incline to the top of the rim at Buzzard’s Roost for a spectacular panoramic view of the canyon. The trailhead is across from the Lodge, is rated “difficult”, and takes about one-hour, roundtrip. It is part of the historic ’76 Trail that miners used to link the gold fields of Tinton to Lead/Deadwood.

Rocky Moutain Pine Forest: Another of the 4 biomes – plant communities- that makes the Canyon the “most marvelous canyon in the West” according to renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. This biome is the most dominant biome of the canyon, and Ponderosa Pine is found on the canyon rim and encroaching into all other biomes in the deep gorge.

US Forest Service: The Northern Hills Ranger office welcomes visitors and provides insightful information on trails and habitat. It maintains interpretive portal pullouts at the north and south entrances to the Canyon, and hosts a number of picnic areas and campgrounds.

Northern Great Plains Grasslands: One of 4 biomes – plant communities- that makes the Canyon the “most marvelous canyon in the West” according to renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Note the dominant prairie grasses, trees, birds, and mammals as it converges with the Eastern Deciduous Forest further up the canyon.

Spearfish Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center: This tourist organization welcomes walk-ins and hosts impressive interpretive displays of Spearfish Canyon and other points of interest in the Black Hills. Visitor information will be supplied upon request.

Spearfish Creek: One of the State’s few fresh water fishery that sustains self-propagating Rainbow trout. Rainbow, Brook and Brown make the canyon a popular fly fishing spot. At this point, the 65cfs –annual average mean flow - is diverted through a 6-mile tunnel to a hydro-electric generation plant in Spearfish Park, and then released to the creek channel.

Bridal Veil Falls Pullout: A small picturesque waterfall adjacent to the Byway across from the pullout parking, its small cascade barely veils the rocks that support its 60-foot descent. Though very active in the spring snowmelt, it often reduces to a trickle by the late dry summer months of August and September.

to Scenic Byway: Exit 10 off Interstate 90 heralds the beginning of the unique Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway and provides excellent access for traveler information at the USFS District Office and the Spearfish Chamber. Meander through the downtown business district and turn south at the Spearfish Canyon Golf Course where “things begin to happen”.

Split Rock: Carved through a massive domed rock to accommodate the railroad in the late 1800’s, the Byway now passes between this porous limestones outcropping of the massive Madison Aquifer. In this area, over a third of the creek’s stream flow would be lost to the underground passages.

Maurice Hyrdo Pullout:

This historic building, built in 1917, once housed the Homestake Hydro Plant #2 that diverted water in a 5-mile flume from Savoy .

Eastern Deciduous Forest: Another of the 4 biomes – plant communities- that makes the Canyon the “most marvelous canyon in the West” according to renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Note the dominant aspen and birch trees, and willow shrubs, and associated birds, and mammals as it converges with the Rocky Mountain Pine Forest influence.

Eleventh Hour Gulch: A narrow 20-foot passage marks the convergence of 11 th Hour Gulch to the canyon. This popular rock feature, said to have gotten its name from the first appearance of sunlight at 11am, is directly across the Byway from Kissing Rocks. It is easy to miss, so drive slowly near mile-marker 20.

Kissing Rocks: Two large boulders broke loose from the side walls and came crashing down to the creek so swiftly that two deer were caught in the slide. It is symbolic of the ever-relenting erosion and contouring of the limestone canyon.

Spearfish Falls Pullout: From here, you can see Spearfish Falls between the trees below Latchstring. The falls was restored to premiere-falls status in 2003 after nearly 86-years of water diversion through flumes to the Maurice Hydro Plant. Visitors wishing to visit the falls, should pullout at the Latchstring parking lot, and take the 35-minute Spearfish Falls Trail.