Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
The twenty-two mile journey starts at Exit 10 off Interstate 90 in Spearfish, travels through its quaint business district, and connects to the mouth of the canyon at the Spearfish Canyon Country Club. From here, it's twenty miles upward through natural beauty and unique scenery, ending at Cheyenne Crossing at the intersection of Highway 85. Spearfish Canyon is a Scenic Byway, but still serves as a commercial highway.
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Sylvan Rocks: Climbing Lessons & Guide Service
Climbing adventures for all abilities. No experience needed. All rock climbing gear provided. Climb Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore, The Needles. A safe, exhilarating activity.
(605) 484-7585
Be extremely careful when stopping: pull completely off the road,and be aware of other traffic when crossing the highway. The canyon is dotted with more than 150 privately-owned cabins; please respect private property. Obey the 35 MPH speed limit. When driving, please watch for joggers, walkers, and bicycle riders. Have a safe, accident-free tour of this unique and scenic landscape. Tour starts at mouth of canyon (mile marker 10.5) at intersection of Colorado Boulevard and Scenic Byway 14A in Spearfish.
Spearfish Canyon scenery is unique because the view is always close, always upward, and has a mixture of four distinct vegetative regions represented. Trees and plants from Rocky Mountain, Eastern Deciduous, Northern Forest, and Great Plains can be found here. Canyon vegetation is extremely diverse – of the 1,585 plant species found in South Dakota, 1,260 species are in the Black Hills and Spearfish Canyon is representative in of the extreme variety.
Ponderosa Pine is the most common vegetation in the Hills and provides Spearfish Canyon a year-round canopy of green. If, throughout the Canyon, it appears a Ponderosa Pine is growing from solid rock, you are not being deceived; it can do exactly that. A crack in a rock, a bit of washed-down soil and water, when it rains, and a Ponderosa Pine will make a home. Ponderosa Pine is tolerant of both hot and dry growing conditions, and thrives in a variety of soils.
Spearfish Canyon provides a gateway to many outdoor recreation activities. Sightseers, fishermen and picnickers are joined by bicyclers, joggers, and walkers in the summer months. hunters in the fall and cross-country skiers and snowmobilers (though not allowed directly in the Canyon) in the winter.
* Information provided by Spearfish Canyon Foundation.
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