Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills National forest, SD

As Part of the Black Hills National Forest, Spearfish Canyon offers great scenery, waterfalls, a wide variety of wildlife, and diverse vegetation. Spearfish Canyon was created millions of years ago when the earth, which was once covered with water, began to drain and giant land masses began to emerge.  With the waters current as it flowed into the ocean, the soft rock of Spearfish Canyon eroded away to unmask the beautiful treasure that humans have enjoyed for many, many years now, starting with the Native Americans that used to inhabit the area. 

The great creek that flows through the bottom was in the past known as Spearfish River because of the strength of the flow and got its name from Native Americans spear fishing in the cold waters of this creek. Today, a National Scenic Byway, U.S. Highway 14A, winds through the canyon. Spearfish Canyon and allows easy access to all of the beautiful sites. From Sightseeing, fishing, to bicycling hiking in the summer and fall months to hunters and cross-country skiers in the fall and winter there is a wide array of outdoor recreational activities to do in Spearfish Canyon.   

Vegetation and Wildlife

Ponderosa Pine is the most common vegetation in the Hills and provides Spearfish Canyon a year-round canopy of green, and a variety of broad-leafed flowering plants and grasses, including the Pasqueflower, state flower of South Dakota, may be found throughout the canyon drive. Trees and plants from Rocky Mountains, eastern woodlands, northern forests, and the Great Plains areas can be found here. Of the 1,585 plant species found in South Dakota, 1,260 species are in the Black Hills, many of which can be found in Spearfish Canyon.

The diversity in plant life allows approximately 130 species of birds to live in the canyon at least part of each year, including Turkeys, Blue jays, Woodpeckers, Cliff Swallows, Dippers and Belted Kingfishers. White-tail and Mule deer, Porcupines, Raccoons, Squirrels, and Chipmunks can be found throughout the drive. A Bobcat or a Yellow-Bellied Marmot might be spotted as well.

Waterfalls

Keep a look out for Bridal Veil Falls! One of three premiere waterfalls in the Canyon, Bridal Veil Falls is a popular stopping point along the byway and is considered to be very impressive in the spring and fall with rich vegetation and bright colors to surround it. This is a roadside fall, so it does not take much time to visit, but the surrounding Black Hills and Spearfish Canyon areas are very impressive, so it is well worth the drive.  Roughlock Falls lies west of Savoy, up Little Spearfish Canyon, and is a popular picnicking site, and is where the last scenes in the film "Dances With Wolves" was filmed