In areas of Spearfish Canyon you can see evidence of dark grey rocks called igneous intrusions. They were formed when pressure and heat were applied to molten rock which was being pushed through the less resistant sedimentary layers. The best example of this is in the Bridal Veil Falls area. As you can see, rock upon which Bridal Veil is formed is vertically jointed and shows no horizontal layering as do those rocks above the falls. Igneous rock is much more resistant to erosion and, at one time, Spearfish Creek which flows below the falls was about the same height as the top of the falls. Bridal Veil was originally named for the filmy flow of water over the 4O-foot face of the cliff.

Looking down the Canyon (toward Spearfish), glance to the Canyon rim – at the skyline – and you can see effects of one such slide. Areas such as this – and there are many in the Canyon – can be easily identified by the lighter colored rock and absence of vegetation.

Spearfish Creek bears a name of disputed origin. One version has two early pioneers standing on its banks remarking “This would be a great place to spear fish”; while a second version attributes the name to local Indians who actually speared fish in the cold waters. In the past this creek was known as Spearfish River because of the strength of the flow. The rail line was built, initially, for hauling ore from numerous mines, located near the Canyon, to an ore processing plant in Spearfish. But, by the time track laying was complete, many mines were closing and the train was used mainly by berry pickers and visitors to the area.

In 1933 a devastating flood damaged portions of the track and many of the 13 bridges. The branch line was abandoned and the Canyon highway was built, much of it on the abandoned rail line.

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