Roughlock Falls

To get to Roughlock Falls the turn will be on the right at Savoy coming from Spearfish. These falls come from springs upstream that gently casscade about 40 feet. Durning the summer you can see brown trout dart in and out of shadows, and chipmunks running all over the place. In winter the falls get snowed in and freeze over. If you dress for the weather the falls are even more beautiful during the winter.

Bridal Veil Falls

To get to this water fall all you have to do is drive up the canyon, no hiking involved. A few miles up the canyon there will be a sign on the right warning you the falls are coming up. About 50 yards after the sign there will be a large pull-off on the right. Don't be surprised if there is already a few cars there. The water fall is derectly across the road from the pull-off in plain site.

What a lot of people don't know about is the hike behind the falls. The trail to the top can be very dangerous as it is very steep. You will need to bring a rope because when you get to the top the other side is very steep. Tie the rope to something sturdy and use it to lower yourself down. When you get down and start hiking upstream you will come across some layered waterfalls that are a little difficult to climb, but it can be done. After the falls its just a stream with lots of ig boulders, nothing really to see besides nature. It's really nice up there because it is all pretty untouched by humans.

Spearfish Falls

Spearfish Falls is a really easy hike next to the lodge in the canyon. This trail is very well traveled and a really popular spot. There is two way to get down to the falls, the first you can go to the left of the lodge which will take you down a dirt path that crosses the river on a wood bridge. The second way would be to go to the right off the side of the road and you will cross the river right away on an old steel bridge, then follow the trail a little ways. Both of the trails meet up right in fron of the falls.

Memory Cave

Alright so I don't think Memory Cave is the right name, but we've never ben there before and it hadn't looked like anyone else has either. Me Jake and Logan named this cave Memory Cave because a lot of different experiences going to this cave. We found this cave randomly one night while parking by the first damn and hiking up a gultch on the right. As you hike up the gultch it will split in two, make sure you go up the left so you dont have to hike as much in the end. Both ways will come to a big rock cliff. When you get to the cliff you will need to follow the bottom to the left again. The cave entrance will be in the side of the cliff about 50 yards down from where you first got to the cliff. The entrance has two openings, and upper and lower one that both meet right away. The cave is about 15 feet long and the other side comes out in the middle of a cliff, BE CAREFUL! In the middle of the cave there is a small opening that turns into a big cavern. One night when we came here in winter last year we found a couple bats.

If you try finding this cave be sure to bring clothes to get dirty in because the path is really steep. If you come in winter make sure to dress warm. It is really fun in winter because when you want to leave you can pretty much slide all the way down on your butt. Be careful though, you tend to haul a**!

Skeletal Remains

		Route	Difficulty
		Six Gun Sally	5.10a
		Tubesteak Boogie
		Buffalo Gap	5.10c
		Cokes and Crowbars (1)	5.10b
		Crucifixion	5.12a
		Custer's Last Stud	5.12c
		Guilt by Association	5.10a
		Lon's Route	5.9
		Lone Johnny & His 10-inch Neck	5.7
		Plea Bargain	5.9
		Preparation H	5.8
		Sewn Up	5.5
		Soiled Dove	5.9
		Son of a Thousand Fathers	5.9

Skeletal remains is the first climbing area in the canyon. It has about 16 routes that are all pretty easy. The hardest rought here is called Custers Last Stud, it is rated 5.12c. The most simple and easy to climb route here is called A Walk In The Park, this one is rated a 5.6. The hardest route I have climbed here is Cokes and Crowbars which is a 5.10b.

The pull-off on the side of the road is the same one for Wildcat Cavern. Instead of crossing the road to go to the caverns you hike down the hill on a very well traveled path. You can climb here all year long pretty much because the sun heats up the rock face in winter. The rock here is limestone and pretty polished from a lot of climbing. The cliff can be slippery in some spots, but at least its clean.

420 Hollow

I'm not quite sure how far up the canyon 420 Hollow is, you just have to go with some one who knows. The cave will be on the left side of the canyon pretty high up on a cliff face, easily visible from the road. To get to the cave you need to cross the river, and go downstream through the trees. Also the trail isnt very visible so you still need someone that knows where they are going. When you get through the trees there is a trail between two steep hill sides. Follow this trail untill it turns right up the hillside, if it is muddy or snowy at all I would not recomend this hike for it is very steep and slippery. When you get to the top of the hill the trail turns left along the cliffside still going uphill. The trail splits about 20 yards after the turn, go right to get to the cave. This part of the trail is very narrow so be careful.

If you go to this cave be sure to bring a marker, because the cave is almost completely covered in signatures. I have my name signed on the right side of the cave. Also there is a poem in the cave, it doesnt say who wrote it though. The poem goes like this; "You hiked up this hill for the burning need, to sit in this hole and smoke some ****. If you brought some water take a swallow, relax and enjoy 420 Hollow."

Devils Bathtub

Devil’s Bathtub is a popular hike, and to get there turn off the road at Cleopatra and park near the bridge. Head over the bridge where you can see Sunshine Creek join into Spearfish Creek. There are no trail markers, but walk toward thr creek and the trail is easy to spot. The land near the parking area is private property, but people who own it will let you pass over untill you are on public land.

The trail up crosses the stream several times, so if your not experienced, prepare to get wet. The trail is also pretty flat and no steep inclines. A cool site on the way up is the "wedding tree", this is the result of a pine and birtch tree growing together.

The bathtub is made because of erosion. The waters of Sunshine Creek run down a smooth rock channel into a pool about ten feet in wide and about four feet deep. The pool used to be deep enough that an adult could jump off the rocks and sink 10 or 15 feet down, but sediments have been filling in the bottom. The eroded rock flowing into the bathtub once was the perfect waterslide, But not that long ago a boulder mysteriously appeared at the bottom, effectively blocking the landing area. We don't know if the boulder showed up naturally, but some people say that it was rolled there on purpose.

I went to Devils Bathtub this weekend and was disapointed with all the trash around. Being so popular is the only negative part about this place, because it seems like half the people don't pack out what the pack in. Spring time usually brings enough water to wash out the bottles, wrappers, and sometimes articles of clothing.

I also like this place in the winter more than summer. The snow covers the trash, but also the trail, so be careful. If you come here in the winter be sure to wear snow shoes, the snow will sometimes give out above the water.

Wild Cat Cavern (Community Caves)

One of the lesser known hikes, it is also one of the closest to the entrance of the Canyon. About two and a half miles in, or just past mile marker 13 is a parking area. Look across the road the deepest curve in the creek, this is the way to go. After getting across the water (if it is spring time), head to the draw between the two cliff like hills. Finding the trail can be tricky, because it is somewhat hidden by trees and bushes. The trail is very traveled and takes about 20 minutes to hike. Near the top the trail gets pretty rocky and kind of slick.
The caves are an amazing sight. A waterfall pours down the mouth of the largest cavern, inside of which are smaller, individual caves. A hike up to the top of the cavern presents hikers with a view of another smaller waterfall, but the hike itself can be hard with slippery footing and some climbing involved.
In the winter time this hike can be a lot harder, but more than likely worth it because the whole cavern opening is covered in ice. This place is also popular for ice climbing  when it gets really cold in the canyon, cold enought for the pillars of ice to form. Also on the inside of the cave there is a climbing routes that starts in the back and wraps around to the top of the rock. This can only be done in the summer because ice will block the top of the route in winter.

11th Hour

11th Hour is about .1 miles before the two twin boulders in the river, near mile maker 20, drive slow its easy to miss! The pullout will be on the left and the trail head starts on the right side of the road about 50 yards up the canyon from the parking area. I would have to rate 11th hour an 8 in summer and a 9 in winter. 11th Hour changes a lot between winter and summer. In the summer you can see all the boulders that have fallen between the two cliff faces on either side, there is water but it can easily be avoided by staying on the rocks. As you keep going up you will come across your first wood latter to help you, its old, old but safe. After getting up the first latter it's like the beginning again but a little steeper but smaller boulders, you will be on the for about 20 yards then come across a second, more sketch latter, if you are not tall enough you will need some help. When you get up the second latter you will be surrounded on all four sides with a small waterfall on your left, and two ways to get up. One way is to climb up on the left of the waterfall, or go to the right where there are more "step-like" features in the rock and dirt. When you get up here your are at the top and the trail will split. If you go left on the trail it will take you to a viewpoint of the road and river, and if you go right you will hike up 11th hour gultch. If you hike up the gulch all the way if will take you some place near Iron creek. In the winter a lot of the boulders are covered up and you need no be careful you stay on the path or else you might end up falling in a hole. also in the winter the whole cliff on the right side is covered in ice, it is a very popular place for ice climbers in the winter. Over all I like being there in winter because it just looks cooler. I would recomend this hike to anyone who enjoys a little climb mixed in with their hike.