Oct 25, 20223 min read

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

Updated: Dec 12, 2022

The Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway is a gorgeous drive located in western South Dakota that winds 19 miles between the towns of Cheyenne Crossing and Spearfish. Bordering a small creek, the drive passes by limestone cliffs that in the fall are lit up by yellow aspens sprinkled among the green pines. I had the chance to enjoy this scenic drive and several of its many attractions this October on my South Dakota road trip and was honestly surprised to find that it wasn’t crowded at all despite the beautiful fall colors and its proximity to major touristy places like Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore. Here’s what I did:

I started off in Deadwood where I picked up a Dirty Chai, a pasty, and a cinnamon roll from Lou Lou's Bombdiggities Pasties & Coffee Shop. I highly recommend stopping here for a bite; the staff were so incredibly nice and the food and chai were both delicious! I also appreciated that I could order either a large or small amount of icing for my cinnamon roll; obviously I chose large haha. Would 100% come here again.

Getting Here

To start at the southern end of the byway like I did, take Highway 85 west from Lead/Deadwood. When you come to the Cheyenne Crossing Junction, head north on Highway 14A. To start at the northern end, take either Exit 10 or Exit 14 off of Interstate 90 towards Spearfish which will bring you to Hwy 14A.

Roughlock Falls

This waterfall and cascade was the first stop I came to in the small town of Savoy. There are two ways to see this beautiful water feature: via a 2 mile roundtrip hike (240 feet gain) along the valley floor or via a short walk from a parking area just above the falls. Both options are great, but if you are able I would recommend taking the hike as it was fairly flat, very peaceful, and offered nice views of the surrounding cliffs. The turned aspen trees were a bonus! Make sure that once you see the cascade from below on the boardwalk you continue up towards the parking area so that you can see the falls from above! I forgot to do this so I ended up making the drive to the closer parking lot after my hike! To do the hike, park in the first lot on the left after turning onto Forest Service Road 222.

Spearfish Falls

Another stunning hidden gem of a waterfall near Roughlock Falls, Spearfish Falls can be reached via a 0.75 mile out and back trail that starts behind the Latchstring Inn Restaurant in Savoy (if you’re facing the restaurant go around it to the left to find the trailhead). While the hike is short, it ends with a fairly steep section of switchbacks that will get the heart pumping as you gain 65 feet over a short distance. There are several benches conveniently located along the climb and most people with decent mobility should be able to tackle this if they take their time. Fun fact: this waterfall disappeared for many years when a nearby hydroelectric diverted much of the creek’s water, and only returned when operations shut down in 2003.

Devil’s Bathtub

Another off-the-beaten path hike that has been growing in popularity recently is the hike to Devil’s Bathtub, named for a waterfall that cascades into a bowl-shaped pool that could be construed as a bathtub if one uses their imagination. The hike to 1.6 miles roundtrip with under 200 feet elevation gain, however, don’t let the short distance fool you. The hike involves rock hopping across many water crossings and some rock scrambling at the end. It starts at the parking area to the left of the Homestake Hydroelectric Plant. Follow the path at the left end of the parking area and continue until you reach a bridge. Turn right and you’ll see signs for the trail. The trail goes through private property so be respectful!

Bridal Veil Falls

This is a roadside waterfall just past the Devil’s Bathtub parking area. There wasn’t too much flow when I was there but I’ve heard that it can really get going in the spring.

Enjoy the views along the drive!

In between the stops, just take your time and enjoy the ride :) There are a few other hikes and stops along the way, including the 11th Hour Gulch, Iron Creek, and the Community Caves, but I chose not to do those this time as I felt like the above stops gave me a good overall experience and I wanted to reach Devil’s Tower in Wyoming before dark. If you’re already in the Black Hills area of South Dakota, Spearfish Canyon is a must do!