Spearfish Creek

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.  However, 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 the Old US 14 bridge near Valley Corner.

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. . 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 too 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

...