Hi there!
If you are doing a drive along the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, you will naturally end up driving through the Split Rock in the Black Hills!
The “split” is through the road so there will be the “rock” on both sides of the road as you are driving along.
👆 Spot the Split Rock along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway!
If you are starting the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway from the Spearfish SD side of the drive, then the Split Rock will be towards the beginning of the drive.
If you are driving in the direction of Savoy to Spearfish, then it will be towards the end!
It is something you can see as you are driving.
Or, you can stop to get a closer look!
There is a small parking area along the side of the road not too far from Split Rock.
So if you want to stop, then you’ll park and then walk to get a closer look at the Split Rock!
Not too far from the road is also a creek.
If you walk towards the creek, there’s also a log bridge that you can cross to get to the other side of the creek. (Although I am not sure where that trail leads.)
According to the people of Visit Spearfish, the “rock” was “split” to make room for a railroad along Spearfish Canyon.
More below about driving past the Split Rock in Spearfish Canyon!
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Here’s a bit about my stop at Split Rock in Spearfish Canyon!
I ended up stopping by the Split Rock on the 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 of Spearfish Falls and Roughlock Falls.
Then, it was off to drive the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway from Savoy towards Spearfish!
Among the stops I made on the way to Split Rock were the Long Valley picnic area, the Kissing Rocks, the Eleventh Hour Gulch, Victoria’s Tower, and Bridal Veil Falls.
Because of the direction I was going, Split Rock was towards the end of the drive.
Driving the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway from Bridal Veil Falls to Split Rock is around 5 minutes.
At the time I went, the Split Rock was not on google maps.
But you will know when you see Split Rock!
👆 This Spearfish Canyon map was a part of the Spearfish Adventure Guide.
The parking area near Split Rock is on the south side.
If you park you can walk towards the rocks formation, or you can just drive through without stopping!
Then you can look for the trail that leads to Spearfish Creek for a walk along a log bridge!
It will be between the parking area and Split Rock.
Then driving further along on the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway past Split Rock towards Spearfish will take you to the Black Hills National Forest Forest exit!
Then it was off driving towards Gillette WY!
I went to Devils Tower National Monument next.
And that’s about Split Rock in Spearfish Canyon!
I went to Split Rock in September 2021. Your experience may vary!
More of the Black Hills and beyond:
- More of what to see on the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
- Things to do in the Black Hills
- Things to do in Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Things to do in Custer State Park
- Things to do in Devils Tower National Monument
- Targhee National Forest waterfalls in Idaho
- National forest cabins in Wyoming
HAPPY DRIVING THROUGH SPLIT ROCK OF SPEARFISH CANYON!
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