Spearfish Creek, SD

Spearfish play

Spearfish play
Photo of Dan and Banshee by Kathy Miles

Gauge Information

River Description

Spearfish Creek is a clear stream that runs through the town of Spearfish. The creek used to flow freely but in the early part of the 20th century Homestake Gold mine built a series of low head dams to control the creek for the production of electricity. Today, all but one mile of the twenty miles of Spearfish Canyon is partly or totally dewatered. With the closing of Homestake in 2002 renewed efforts are underway to remove the dams. Time will tell.

The section that most people run is from the D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery in the city park down to Evans Park off of lower Valley Road.

Whether it be the expert kayaker playing their way down, doing eddyline cartwheeels and splatwheels, or the beginner, full of adrenline, worried about the falls in the park or swimming the S-turns, Spearfish Creek has a lot to offer for water in the Black Hills. Year 'round flows, easy access and its in my home town. You can bang your way down in January at 50 cfs if you really need to get wet or throw down in the massive ledge hole that forms during a June thunderstorm.

At 80 feet per mile, the action on Spearfish Creek is continuous Class II. Beginners' big smiles and wild talk about the rapids testify to the adrenaline rush just delivered and experts in low volume play boats can find enough play to get a good workout. Third Street eddyline offers a great place to tune up your flat water skills. The low head dam just above Utah St. bridge has brought smiles to many and swims to others (which also brought smiles to many). There are numerous splat rocks, a few deep eddylines, and the ever popular lawn splat spots that dot the creek side.

During the hot summer months you'll share the creek with local kids in innertubes. During the dead of winter only a few die hard locals with a serious need to get wet will be found.

Class II paddlers will want to be aware of the "Falls" a 4' cascading drop in the city park. It generally doesn't cause to much to worry about. It gives beginners wide eyes but I've never seen anyone swim because of it. Just downstream of the falls, maybe 100 yards, is a nice beginner surf wave formed by a piece of concrete. Another 75 yards or so and you'll be at the S-turns. This little rapid causes more swims than any other place on the creek. You'll want to avoid the river-right rock towards the bottom of the rapid.

Wood can be a problem on the creek at times so be alert. The new Nash St. bridge may cause problems during times of high water. At normal flows you'll have about 3' of clearance under the bridge. If the water is muddy please inspect this bridge before getting in as there are no good eddies above it. Wood tends to collect here and it would not be a good place to be. Below Utah bridge and just past the geodesic dome home is another rapid of concern - 'Squeeze Play'. As the creek turns and winds it way among the willows it picks up speed and squeezes down to about 6' wide. A few more drops add to the excitement just after the squeeze. Continue down a couple of hundred yards to the take out on river-left just above the barbed wire fence that blocks your passage. Look for the wide concrete path that leads to Evans Park.

To find the put-in, take exit 12 off of I-90 and head into town on Jackson Street. Proceed to the second light and turn left on Canyon Street. Follow Canyon through the stop signs and into the city park and park on the right just before the bridge.

To find the take-out, take exit 12 off of I-90 and proceed downhill on Jackson. Cross over the creek and through the next light. Turn right on St.Joe just past the Dodge Dealership. Follow St. Joe about 2 miles, turn right on Custer St. in the new Evans subdivision. Follow Custer around to Evans park.