Written by: Callie Duque
I don’t think I ever really realized how lucky I was while growing up in Spearfish – I was surrounded by natural beauty, top tourist destinations, and hidden gems. Now, as I live in a totally different part of the state while attending college, I miss my hometown and the adventures it provides.
For those of you planning or considering traveling to the Black Hills, you must put Spearfish on your list. Situated in the Northern Hills on the far western side of South Dakota, Spearfish has so much to offer. From great food to amazing hiking and views to superb bike trails and parks, there is always something new to try. I will be providing some of my favorite places in the city within this post (in no specific order), but please stay tuned for more specific posts especially regarding our favorite hiking trails in some of these areas!
Iron Creek Lake
As there is no specific order involved in this list, I figured I would start with the place that is dearest to my heart. Iron Creek Lake is a family-owned, quaint and rustic campground that is well-preserved and locally famous. It is situated off of fourteen miles of twisty, gravel road to the southwest of Spearfish. The small, serene lake hosts wonderful fishing, hiking, swimming, kayaking, biking, camping, and wildlife spotting opportunities. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me as I have spent seven summers of my life at this little piece of heaven and would love to share it with you!
~ www.ironcreeklake.com • Facebook: Iron Creek Lake ~
Green Bean Coffeehouse
We LOVE coffee, and we love trying new, local coffee shops wherever we travel. I have spent a lot of time at Green Bean with friends, family, and Luis – the eclectic atmosphere and tasty coffee, food, and snacks make it one of my favorite places to visit whenever I come home. This coffeehouse is actually in a house, and its rooms and porches have tables, couches and chairs that make homework, chatting, or blogging an enjoyable experience. I recommend their Big Train drinks – my favorite is the mocha!
~ Facebook: The Green Bean Coffeehouse • Instagram: greenbeancoffeehouse ~
Crow Peak
This peak is hard to miss when you arrive in Spearfish! Towering to the west of town, this peak provides a nice conquest for any hiker, biker, or horseback rider. The trail is rated ‘difficult’ but is very doable for all ages. It is about 3.2 miles of wide gravel trail to the summit and is well worth the hike. Also, after a recent fire, the backside of this peak is teaming with wildlife that can be spotted as you make your way to the top. I recommend hitting the trail earlier in the morning in order to have the views from the summit to yourself and to beat the heat in the summer and early fall!
~ USDA Forest Service Brochure: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5194541.pdf ~
D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery
The D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery in Spearfish City Park is a family favorite – I love to go see and feed the fish and ducks even now! The fish hatchery, beyond hosting many Rainbow Trout at various stages in their life cycle, plays host to an old train car that was used to haul fish as well as a museum about the fish hatchery history. The beautiful scenery around the hatchery also provides some beautiful hikes, and one can even have your wedding outside in their gorgeous rose garden! Fun Fact: this is where Luis and I took our engagement photos!
~ www.dcboothfishhatchery.org • Facebook: D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives ~
Lookout Mountain
Spearfish is situated between Crow Peak and Lookout Mountain in a sort of bowl. Lookout Mountain is a moderate, but short hike that can be accessed from Nevada Street or Pony Express Lane. The hike provides some of the best panoramic views of Spearfish, especially at sunset. My favorite time to hike Lookout is right before sunset so that you can see Spearfish at sunset and at nightfall – Side Note: Lookout makes a wonderful night hike!
~ http://www.blackhillsthehike.com/lookout-mountain/ ~
Bay Leaf Café
This historical café used to be the hotel in Spearfish. Now it is home to one of the best cafés in the area, and it always has unique and tasty menu choices! They have some really good Mediterranean options that aren’t easy to find in the Midwest, so I highly recommend you give them a try. We both love to eat at the Bay Leaf, and one of my favorite dishes there is the Lamb Gyro. However, the pork fajitas and quinoa salad they prepared for our wedding is a close second!
~ www.bayleafcafe.net • Facebook: Bay Leaf Cafe ~
Spearfish Canyon
Spearfish Canyon… where do I even start! I am listing a website below that encompasses a lot more about Spearfish Canyon than I will say in my little blurb here, but stay tuned for more posts about the fantastic hikes and hidden gems that can be found within this neat canyon. This is one of my absolute favorite places to explore – the hiking trails are fun and provide spectacular views of the countryside and canyon. A few of my favorite spots include Roughlock and Bridal Veil Falls, Community Caves, Devil’s Bathtub, Needle’s Eye, and Iron Creek Arch. This place is packed with new places to explore!
~ http://www.spearfishcanyon.com/landscape/hiking.html ~
Leones’ Creamery
This quirky little ice cream parlor is in the historical Spearfish Old City Hall, and the outdoor seating is the perfect spot for a romantic date at night or in the afternoon. Their ice cream is made on-site, and they keep eight flavors available for their customers to try. They also offer a variety of toppings, including housemade granolas, and even some cookie ice cream sandwiches. Even though I am a chocolate addict at heart, I thoroughly enjoy their Sweet Cream vanilla flavor, and they always have new, unique flavors!
~ www.leonescreamery.com • Facebook: Leones’ Creamery • Instagram: leonescreamery ~
Now, this is not and really can never be an exhaustive list of the amazing places Spearfish has to offer. However, these are some of the places I highly recommend checking out, as they are local and family favorites! Overall, spend some time downtown, in the canyon, and around the hills, and keep your eyes peeled for more detailed blog posts about Spearfish and the Black Hills to come.
Let us know where your favorite spots are, too! We would love to hear your additions. Feel free to subscribe to receive notifications when we post, as well. Thanks so much for reading.
