Beautiful Spearfish Canyon, where the final scene of the multi-Oscar winning Dances With Wolves was shot, was once accessible only by horseback. The canyon’s narrow 1000-foot limestone palisades in shades of brown, pink and grey are among the most spectacular scenery in The Black Hills. Spearfish Creek lines the canyon floor and into it flow Bridal Veil and Roughlock waterfalls which are must-see stops along the way.
Spearfish Canyon is a 19-mile stretch of scenic highway that is engulfed in beautiful scenery, wildlife, streams, and waterfalls. This canyon is stunning as it transforms four times throughout the year.
It’s not surprising it was selected as the location of some of the scenes in the classic movie, “Dances With Wolves,” starring Kevin Costner.
The Black Hills rises from a sea of grass encompassing the northern plains of South Dakota and Wyoming. The Black Hills is a mountain range that could today have reached an elevation of 15,000 feet, but the constant erosion of the soft oceans’ deposits have left a range 7,200’ high. Along Interstate 90, Rapid City to the south and Spearfish to the north, serve as gateways to this unique outcropping of a black silhouette against the prairie sky.
Spearfish Canyon is one of the oldest and most miraculous canyons in the west. Located in the northern portion of the Black Hills National Forest, the canyon spans 20-miles along a scenic and unique State and National Scenic Byway. Less than a mile wide, the canyon is always ‘close and upward’ dwarfing the one-million annual visitors.
Geologists point to the origin of the canyon about 62-million years ago, but through repeated invasion of shallow oceans and resulting deposits, most of today’s gorge represents erosion activities from nearly 5-million years ago. Geologists note that the canyon is 12-times older than the Grand Canyon with rocks of similar age.
Frank Lloyd Wright, America’s renowned organic architect, proclaimed Spearfish Canyon as ‘the’ most magnificent canyon in the west in his visit of 1935. He stated that had this canyon been on the throughway to the west”, it would today be as appreciated and recognized as the Grand Canyon. Much of its magnificence according to Wright is the convergence of four vegetation communities amongst the towering high walls and rushing waters of Spearfish Creek. Much of the Canyon’s pristine ecology is contained in the seventeen isolated side-gulches.
Anyone looking to experience the best of Spearfish Canyon will want to take the scenic drive down US Highway 14A. Starting in the town of Spearfish, it connects to Cheyenne Crossing 20 miles south. The entire drive is stunning, though don’t get too distracted by the scenery — keep your eyes peeled for the numerous pullovers along the road to snap photos of its many waterfalls and overlooks.
Bridal Veil Falls is a popular stopping point where you’ll find a wooden deck perched over the creek that looks out to a distant waterfall. It soars about 60 feet into the air and is best viewed in the spring when its water flow is the highest. Spearfish Falls is another great spot for photos. It’s hard to miss its massive parking lot, which accommodates not just waterfall viewers but also hikers for the handful of nearby trails.
Those who dare to venture off the highway will find Roughlock Falls Road just across the street from Spearfish Falls. This dirt road leads to Roughlock Falls, a cascading series of waterfalls much different from the vertical Bridal Veil Falls and Spearfish Falls. Folks who prefer to walk can hike the Roughlock Falls Trail, which is just a few steps away from the paved highway. Roughlock Falls Road continues beyond this waterfall and into the Black Hills for miles, so consider venturing deeper into the wilderness to enjoy more secluded trails and campsites.