Spearfish

Around Spearfish

Photo: Tony Webster · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Town and around · South Dakota · 28k people

Spearfish

Locals say Black Hills

Where the prairie meets the pines

Black Hills State University greenBlack Hills State University gold

Join the room Ask the neighbours

Welcome to Spearfish, where the canyon walls meet the prairie and the good times roll all year. Whether you're here for the trails, the history, or just the friendly faces, you'll find your place in the Black Hills.

Clubs for Spearfish

No clubs for Spearfish yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Spearfish. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Spearfish. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Black Hills State University Public university in Spearfish with a scenic campus.
  • Spearfish Canyon Steep limestone canyon with waterfalls and hiking trails.
  • Bridal Veil Falls 60-foot waterfall in Spearfish Canyon.
  • Homestake Mine Former gold mine, now the Sanford Underground Research Facility.
  • Adams Museum Oldest museum in South Dakota, in Deadwood.
  • Mount Moriah Cemetery Burial site of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.
  • Outdoors Hike to Bridal Veil Falls
  • Outdoors Ride the Mickelson Trail
  • With kids Visit Adams Museum
  • With kids Tour the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center
  • Evenings Gamble in Deadwood casinos
  • Evenings Listen to live music in Deadwood bars
  • Locals love Hiking trails
  • Locals love Trout streams

Through the year

  • Days of '76 Rodeo July Historic rodeo and parade in Deadwood.
  • Black Hills Roundup July Rodeo and celebration in Belle Fourche.
  • Spearfish Festival in the Park August Arts, crafts, and music in the city park.
  • Deadwood's Wild West Festival June Music and events celebrating the Old West.
  • Lead's Winterfest January Winter sports and community fun.

The Black Hills have a semi-arid climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are cold and snowy, summers are mild and sunny, and the area enjoys over 200 sunny days a year. Best: Late spring and early fall are ideal for outdoor activities.

Talk like a local

“The Hills”
The area around Spearfish and the Black Hills.
“Hill deer”
A term for the local deer, often seen in town.

Getaways

  • Rapid City Mount Rushmore, Badlands, and more.
  • Gillette Gateway to Devil's Tower.
  • Sheridan Bighorn Mountains and western culture.
  • Devil's Tower Iconic butte, about an hour away.

Local flavour

Teams

  • Black Hills State Yellow Jackets NCAA Division II

Also rooting for Rapid City Rush (ECHL hockey), Denver Broncos (NFL football)

Eat and drink

  • Chislic Cubed meat (lamb or beef), deep-fried, served with saltine crackers and hot sauce
  • Bison burgers Ground bison patties, a local staple in the Black Hills
  • Kuchen German-style fruit pie, a South Dakota favorite.
  • Elk steak Game meat often on local menus.

Where people go

  • Historic mining towns
  • Scenic byways Spearfish Canyon and the Black Hills scenic routes for driving and hiking
  • State parks and national forests Outdoor recreation among pine-covered peaks, caves, and streams

Heritage and traditions

The Black Hills region is proud of its Wild West history, the enduring legacy of the gold rush, and the sacred beauty of the landscape that has drawn people for centuries.

This time of year in Spearfish

  • Fall hunting and foliage Fall Hunting season and autumn colors

Say it like a local: “Spearfish” — Spearfish said as one word

Festivals

  • Kool Deadwood Nites August Classic cars and rock 'n' roll in August
  • Butte County Fair July Agricultural exhibits and rodeo in Belle Fourche
  • Wild Bill Days June Commemorates Wild Bill Hickok with reenactments
  • Lead's Oktoberfest September German heritage celebration with beer and food
  • Spearfish Christmas Stroll December Downtown lights, shopping, and holiday cheer
  • Deadwood St. Patrick's Day Parade March Irish heritage with a Wild West twist

Landmarks with a story

  • Broken Boot Gold Mine Tour a real gold mine in Deadwood
  • Adams House Victorian mansion museum in Deadwood
  • The Historic Franklin Hotel Hosted famous guests, now a hotel and casino
  • The Matthews Opera House Restored 1906 theater in Spearfish
  • D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery One of the oldest fish hatcheries in the US
  • High Plains Western Heritage Center Museum celebrating cowboy and Native American history

Food traditions

  • Pasties Cornish miners brought these meat-and-vegetable pies
  • Frybread Native American tradition, often served with chislic or as Indian tacos
  • Chokecherry jam Made from local berries, a staple in many recipes
  • Sarsaparilla Root beer-like drink associated with the Old West, served in Deadwood
  • Buffalo jerky Dried bison meat, a protein-rich snack

Music and arts

  • Historic opera houses and theaters Deadwood and Spearfish preserve Victorian-era performance venues
  • Cowboy poetry and music Celebrated at the High Plains Western Heritage Center
  • Native American beadwork and quillwork Traditional crafts still practiced by Lakota artisans
  • Deadwood's saloon entertainment Reenactments and live music in historic settings

A little history

  • 1874 Custer Expedition discovers gold in the Black Hills
  • 1876 Deadwood founded after the gold rush
  • 1876 Homestake Mine begins operations in Lead
  • 1965 Ray Davis begins solar neutrino experiment at Homestake
  • 2002 Homestake Mine closes after 126 years

Rivalries

  • Black Hills State vs. South Dakota Mines Local college football rivalry.
  • Game day Black Hills State Yellow Jackets football
  • Game day High school rodeo
  • Outdoors Rock climbing in Spearfish Canyon
  • Outdoors Gold panning at Broken Boot Gold Mine
  • With kids D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery
  • With kids Broken Boot Gold Mine

Locals speak with a Midwestern accent with a slight Western drawl. The pronunciation of 'Belle Fourche' is 'bel FOOSH', and 'Spearfish' is said as one word. Common phrases include 'you bet' and 'pop' for soda.

Only here

  • The geographic center of the United States is at Belle Fourche.
  • Homestake Mine was the deepest gold mine in North America.
  • Deadwood is a National Historic Landmark and the only place in the US with legal gambling in a historic Wild West setting.
  • The Black Hills are sacred to the Lakota people.
New here? A few tips
  • Pronounce 'Belle Fourche' as 'bel FOOSH'.
  • Winters are cold and snowy; bring layers and be prepared for icy roads.
  • The altitude is around 3,500 feet, so stay hydrated and take it easy the first few days.
  • Watch for wildlife on roads, especially deer and buffalo, especially at dawn and dusk.
  • Summer is peak tourist season; book lodging and activities well in advance.

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Part of Rapid City area

Nearby

Every area
Belle FourcheSouth DakotaOpen skies, wide prairies, and the heart of the nation.Rapid CitySouth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the pinesNewcastle–SundanceWyomingSmall-town heart, big-sky soul.Hot SpringsSouth DakotaWarm waters, cool hillsGilletteWyomingBig skies, deep mines, and open hearts.BowmanNorth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the badlands, and the sky goes on forever.SheridanWyomingWhere the West is still wild and the mountains meet the plains.

Spearfish, SD. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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