Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway Attractions

Driving along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway reveals stunning beauty from the floor of the gorge, towering limestone walls on either side. Also known as Highway 14A, the 19 miles of scenic byway parallels Spearfish Creek at the bottom of the impressive canyon. Along the way there are many opportunities to pull off and soak in the dramatic landscape as well as numerous roadside attractions ranging from waterfall view points to several mile hikes. Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway allows for a beautiful experience from behind the wheel or on one of the available trails. Whether you’re hiking, biking, or driving – prepare to be amazed by this spectacular display of rugged beauty.

rugged limestone walls of spearfish canyon scenic byway

Feel free to use the links below to navigate the scenic byway info!

Where is Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway?
Roadside Attractions Along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
Nearby Attractions

Where is Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway?

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway is one of the many gorgeous features of the iconic Black Hills. To get to the byway from I-90, take exit 14 and begin the drive south through Spearfish. Follow the road to the mouth of the gorge and the adventure begins!

To start the drive through Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway from the opposite direction follow Highway 85 west from Lead until you reach Cheyenne Crossing. At the intersection, turn north onto Highway 14A to begin the (even more) scenic drive through the gorge.

Alternatively, there is also an opportunity to do a much larger and more involved scenic tour of this area of the Black Hills. Since we were camping in the Black Hills and needed to return to where we started, we made a loop out of our adventure.

dam off of spearfish canyon scenic byway

From Lead, take Highway 85 to Cheyenne Crossing and turn north onto Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Follow the beauty, experience the gorge, and continue north to Spearfish. After checking out Spearfish, pick up the I-90 for a short jaunt to Highway 85 S. Follow Highway 85 to the very interesting town of Deadwood and then back to Lead. This loop helps acquaint one with the natural and historical charm of this area of the Black Hills.

Roadside Attractions Along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

All along the canyon there are many great opportunities to pull off and explore this beautiful gorge. Here are a few of the must see places to stop!

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls is a beautiful waterfall that can be seen from a parking area just off of Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. The 60 foot waterfall is a must see stop on this scenic drive. Bridal Veil Falls is a great place to take the time to watch the water tumble down the limestone canyon wall without much effort of getting to it. This waterfall is about six miles south of the town of Spearfish on Highway 14A.

11th Hour Gulch

11th Hour Gulch is a narrow, steep and fun side canyon worth exploring! This hike is located near mile marker 20. Park at the pull off near this mile marker, cross the road and when you find the ravine, begin climbing up the boulders. The trail consists mostly of scrambling over and around the many boulders situated all throughout the relatively narrow high-walled canyon.

11th Hour Gulch feels very adventurous and there are also some fun ladders on the trail. The ladders make the experience all the more exciting. The gulch is situated in between the steep tall canyon walls allowing just one hour of sunlight per day and as a result, it was named 11th Hour Gulch.

boulders and wooden ladders on 11th hour gulch hike

Community Caves

Community Caves is an area of unique and breathtaking geology! There are several caves in the tall limestone walls. And a waterfall trickles down over the moss covered limestone wall adding to the whole experience, changing it with the seasons. To see more, there is a side trail to the west of the caves. Follow the trail up for a great view of the canyon.

To get here, drive about 2.7 miles from the town of Spearfish. Park at the pull off near mile marker 13. From here, cross the road, walk to the curve sign and cross the makeshift bridge. Follow the water up through the narrow ravine for less than half a mile to the unique geology of Community Caves. The trail is short but is not a walk in the park. It is unmarked, climbs through the forest and is steep, rocky and slippery in some places.

Devils Bathtub

If you’re exploring Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway on a hot day, you’re definitely going to want to stop at Devils Bathtub. The trail follows Sunshine Creek, crosses it a few times and wanders through a lush forest revealing stunning limestone walls. The trail then leads to a series of pools and swimming holes. The water was very cold but refreshing. And hiking through the unique geology was incredibly beautiful.

To get to Devils Bathtub, drive about 2.2 miles south of Bridal Veil Falls to the road sign Cleopatra Place. Turn here and park in the gravel parking area just before the bridge. When we were here the parking area was completely full! After you find a place to park, cross the bridge and turn right. Follow the creek for about a mile or so to Devils Bathtub.

Roughlock Falls

Little Spearfish Creek flows through a beautiful canyon before it reaches a limestone wall. The creek then tumbles over the limestone ledge creating what are called Roughlock Falls. The waterfall then branches off into a series of spectacular cascades. This is a very gorgeous destination with a very nice trail, great boardwalks and strategically placed viewpoints allowing for various angles and vantage points of this stunning scenery. There are also restrooms and picnic facilities.

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To get to Roughlock Falls, take Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway to Spearfish Canyon Lodge in the town of Savoy. The trail begins from the lodge parking lot and is an easy two mile hike round trip. Or the falls can be seen by driving past the lodge to a parking area and then walking about a quarter mile on the boardwalks.

Little Spearfish Falls

Another waterfall to check out while driving through Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway is Little Spearfish Falls. The trail to this waterfall is practically just across the street from Roughlock Falls Trail near Savoy. The trail to get to the falls begins in the Latchstring Inn parking lot. It is an easy .75 mile hike that descends about a hundred feet to the waterfall.

Nearby Attractions

There are a few lodges, inns, restaurants and gift shops along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. There are also many other hikes to be found on this scenic highway. If you make a loop out of Highway 14A be sure to check out the towns of Spearfish, Lead and Deadwood. There is a lot of history and beauty in the Black Hills.

If you’re looking to camp in the Black Hills, check out our article about camping in a peaceful meadow in the national forest. This camp spot was great and not far from the gorgeous Pactola Reservoir. Also, in Spearfish there is a really nice, clean, and scenic city park near the DC Booth National Historic Fish Hatchery. And nearby is a nice paved path for longboarding that even has workout stations!

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