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The Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway is one of the many scenic drives in South Dakota.
It’s a drive along US-14A through Black Hills National Forest that is located in the western South Dakota which is where the best places to visit in South Dakota are located!
South Dakota is known for its Black Hills and Badlands, and Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway is part of the Black Hills of that!
Along with Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park, the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway is one of the best things to do in the Black Hills!
You can drive through Spearfish Canyon as part of a day trip from Custer State Park or Rapid City.
There are lots of lodging options in Custer State Park, including campgrounds, camping cabins, and lodges!
Now, here’s what you can see when you do the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway!
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I did the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway as part of a drive from Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower.
That was a drive from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone with Spearfish Canyon along the way!
This means that I was driving in the direction of Savoy SD to Spearfish SD.
Coming from Mount Rushmore, my drive along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway started at Savoy.
Once at Savoy, I first saw the popular Spearfish Canyon waterfalls by doing the Roughlock Falls Trail.
Then, it was off to drive the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway from Savoy towards Spearfish!
My Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway drive was in September 2021. Your experience may vary!
Below is the order as you’d see it when driving south to north, from Savoy to Spearfish.
If you’ll be driving from Spearfish to Savoy, you can start from the bottom up!
1. Spearfish Falls Trail
You can see waterfalls in Spearfish Canyon!
You’ll hike the Spearfish Falls Trail to get to the waterfalls.
The start of the trail is located right near the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway.
When coming from Savoy, the Spearfish Falls trailhead is basically at the start of the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway.
So if you’re coming from the opposite direction, driving from Spearfish, then Spearfish Falls will be at the end of your drive! (And then you can drive further onto Roughlock Falls Road!)
You’ll find the start of the Spearfish Falls Trail near US-14A.
See more about this stop along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway:
Now, starting the drive on Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway after seeing Spearfish Falls…
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2. Long Valley picnic area
The Long Valley picnic area can be a quick stop as part of your drive along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, even if you don’t plan on eating.
It can be a stop along Spearfish Creek!
Yes, there are picnic tables here so bring your picnic food and you can make this your break for food along the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway!
But otherwise, you can make a stop for a short boardwalk along Spearfish Creek.
It’s also a spot that you can make a stop to sit along the creek. There’s a bench!
You’ll see a sign for Long Valley picnic area as you are driving Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway.
See more about this stop along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway:
3. Kissing Rocks
The Kissing Rocks of Spearfish Canyon are 2 massive rocks that are located in Spearfish Creek!
If you are looking for it as you are driving by, they are easily to spot!
If you aren’t looking for it, well… it’s easy to miss!
There are some small parking spots located alongside the road if you want to get out of the car and walk down towards the creek and Kissing Rocks.
So this can be another stop for Spearfish Creek.
See more about this stop along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway:
4. Eleventh Hour Gulch
Consider the Eleventh Hour Gulch a bit of a hidden spot along the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway!
Even though it’s located directly off of the road, if you’re not looking for it, you can easily miss it!
You can make it a quick stop to go for a walk with the tall rock formations around you!
This is near Kissing Rocks, so find roadside parking near there, and then you can go in search on the other side of the road for the Eleventh Hour Gulch!
It will be on the other side of the road from Spearfish Creek.
If you like Eleventh Hour Gulch, you might like hiking the Sunday Gulch Trail in Custer State Park! It’s one of the best things to do in Custer State Park.
5. Victoria’s Tower
Victoria’s Tower is a massive rock formation that you can see as you are driving Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway.
You can also stop at Victoria Lane if you want to get out of the car to get a view of Victoria’s Tower with Spearfish Creek.
You can see Spearfish Creek flowing in both directions.
Continuing the drive on Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway…
6. Homestake #2 Hydroplant
7. Devils Bathtub trailhead
If you’re looking for a longer stop along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, then you can hike to Devils Bathtub!
The Devils Bathtub trailhead (and parking) is located directly along the road.
Continuing the drive on Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway…
8. Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls are the roadside waterfalls of Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway!
Well, Bridal Veil Falls are apparently best seen in the spring and summer.
It was only a trickle when I went in the fall!
It is easy enough to see, so you might as well stop no matter what time of year you go!
The parking for Bridal Veil Falls is directly along the road, and so it the waterfalls overlook.
See more about this stop along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway:
Continuing the drive along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway…
9. Split Rock
You will know when you are driving “through” split rock!
It looks like… a split rock!
As you are driving the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, there will be large rock formations on either side of you!
You can also stop at the parking area nearby Split Rock, and then you can walk towards the creek.
See more about this stop along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway:
Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway map
You might like the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway map that is part of the Spearfish Adventure Guide by the people of Visit Spearfish!
And that’s a bit about things to see along the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway!
More for your trip to the Black Hills and beyond:
- Needles Highway
- Iron Mountain Road tunnels
- Things to do in Custer State Park
- Things to do in Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Things to do in Devils Tower National Monument
- Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone National Park drive
- Best places to visit in South Dakota
- South Dakota campgrounds
- Things to do in Badlands National Park
- Best places to visit in Wyoming
HAPPY DRIVING THE SPEARFISH CANYON SCENIC BYWAY!
Where to stay in the Black Hills
- Keystone: Roosevelt Inn Mount Rushmore
- Keystone is a small gateway town for Mount Rushmore
- Spearfish: Best Western Black Hills Lodge
- Spearfish is a small town in the Black Hills
Here are some ideas for a classic South Dakota road trip going from east to west!
After you go to Badlands National Park, you can head west to Wall Drug and then onwards to Mount Rushmore!
You've made it to the Black Hills, where you'll find Custer State Park.
While you're in the area, you can also go to Wind Cave National Park and/or Jewel Cave National Monument and/or the Mammoth Site!
Drive the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway on your way west out of the Black Hills and South Dakota as you continue your epic road trip to Devils Tower National Monument and Wyoming!
Then, onwards to the best places to visit in Wyoming with your grand finale of Wyoming being one day in Yellowstone National Park!
Read more for your South Dakota road trip: Best places to visit in South Dakota
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