Spearfish, SD - July 16, 2003

On July 16 it was time to go further north. At Lead, SD a turn south led to Cheyenne Crossing and Hanna Road where I found Hanna Campground in an open meadow alongside Spearfish Creek. I walked down the creek and promptly caught two little brookies. The campground was a great place to relax but definitely in need of more trees in the middle of the day. A great hiking trail led up the mountain behind the campground which had an abundance of all types of wildflowers.

The next day a drive through the canyon provided waterfalls and pullouts alongside the canyon road. The road follows alongside Spearfish Creek into Spearfish. I found Spearfish to be a pleasant little town. A geocache led me to the city park area alongside the creek. It was a great place to walk, get the feet wet, and visit the fish hatchery museum. I also realized there is a campground close by at the city park.

A drive through the canyon provided waterfalls and pullouts alongside the canyon road. The road follows alongside Spearfish Creek into Spearfish. Bridal veil falls is one of the many waterfalls.




At this stop beside the canyon road on the way to Spearfish I watched several trout watch for food to come downstream.







Roughlock Falls.

Hiking trails in the canyon led to Roughlock Falls and Spearfish Falls.

Spearfish Falls was my favorite alongside a woodland nature trail where there was also a geocache. Were it not for the cache I would not have known these falls existed.

Also made a day trip into Deadwood which was bustling with tourists visiting the casinos and interesting old downtown area. Also stopped in Lead and toured the Homestake mine museum. The mine had been the heart of the city but closed several years ago.

From here I decided to leave before all the motorcycles roared into Sturgis and the surrounding area and head to North Dakota.