Spearfish Canyon is the reason many travelers choose Spearfish over other Black Hills towns. The road follows Spearfish Creek through a narrow cut of limestone and spruce, with cliffs rising close enough to make the drive feel far more dramatic than its gentle grades suggest.
You can treat it as a scenic drive, but it is better with stops. Waterfalls, short trails, fishing pullouts, and picnic spots sit along the route, and the canyon is especially good in late September when the aspens turn yellow against the dark pines.