15 Best Things to Do in Spearfish, SD

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Spearfish Canyon is a deep and narrow gorge in Lawrence County, South Dakota, carved by Spearfish Creek for millennia. It is located just south of Spearfish, in Black Hills, on the northern end of the Black Hills National Forest. The Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway transects the Canyon, connecting Spearfish and Cheyenne Crossing. . Black Hills are home to the incredible diversity of plant species. Of the 1,585 plant species in South Dakota, 1,260 species thrive in the Black Hills. Many of them can be found in Spearfish Canyon. Canyon is home turkeys, bluejays, cliff swallows, chickadees, woodpeckers and golden or bald eagles. There are also white-tail and mule deer, porcupines, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, bobcat and yellow-bellied marmot. The canyon is great spot for wildlife watching, but also rock climbing, biking, hiking, and fishing.

Spearfish, South Dakota

© D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery

Established in 1896 on four acres near Spearfish, South Dakota, the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives is one of 70 fish hatcheries that were opened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Fish Hatchery System. The hatchery was established in order to introduce and establish a steady trout population in the Black Hills. It is one of the oldest fish hatcheries in the country. The hatchery spawns and releases between 20,000 and 30,000 rainbow trout every year. The hatchery serves as a fisheries archive, preserving records and historical artifacts. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Von Bayer Museum of Fish Culture is located inside the original hatchery building.

423 Hatchery Cir, Spearfish, SD 57783, Phone: 605-642-7730

© High Plains Western Heritage Center

High Plains Western Heritage Center, opened in 1989 in Spearfish, South Dakota, is the heritage museum devoted to Western expansion. The 20,000 square foot center includes a five-State Regional Museum that honors the Old West Pioneers and American Indians of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana. The museum features a stage coach, chuck wagon and a homestead cabin as well as an extensive collection of everyday objects and archives. The establishment of the museum was initiated by ranchers Harry Blair and Edgar (Slim) Gardner, who founded the High Plains Heritage Society and a High Plains Western Heritage Center. The Center has a spacious theatre with state-of-the-art sound system, the Transportation Room with a Concord Stagecoach, Chuckwagon, “Tally Ho” Wagon, Buggies, and Sleighs and more.

825 Heritage Dr, Spearfish, SD 57783, Phone: 605-642-9378

© Termespheres Gallery

Located off a small gravel road outside Spearfish, South Dakota, is one of the most unusual art galleries in the world, located in a geodesic dome covered with magical colorful globes. The globes, which their creator, the artist Dick Termes, calls Termespheres are artist’s art medium, three-dimensional paintings on spheres, created with a technique artist calls six-point perspective. Each Termesphere is a revolving three-dimensional space/time painting of an entire closed universe. Currently, the artist’s complex consists of four domes: the Termesphere Gallery dome with a cupola dome on the top, two house domes, and a studio dome. Dick Termes artwork has been recognized all over the world and his spherical paintings have been published in many art books.

1920 Christensen Dr, Spearfish, SD 57783, Phone: 888-642-4805

© Matthews Opera House and Arts Center

The Matthews Opera House & Arts Center is a non-profit organization located on the Main Street in Spearfish, South Dakota. Built in 1906, the opera house has gone through many incarnations. Today, on its ground level is a fine arts gallery that represents 48 regional artists. Upstairs, the community theater provides community plays, live music concerts and national performance acts. The gallery is covered, wall to wall and even ceiling, with innovative, bold and diverse artwork in every medium created by Black Hill artists. The gallery also offers fun kids’ activities. The gallery hosts many art openings and community art projects and events such as the Community Art Show. The Matthews Opera House and Arts Center annual Festival in the Park is one of the largest outdoor arts and music summer festivals in the upper Midwest.

612 N Main St, Spearfish, SD 57783, Phone: 605-642-7973

© The Millstone Family Restaurant

Established in 1981, the Millstone Family Restaurants are locally owned and operated unassuming American eateries with three locations in Black Hills. They offer homestyle popular eats, a soup, a salad bar and a large breakfast menu served the whole day. There is a daily special worth checking out, with homey delights such as meatloaf and spare ribs. Their Spearfish location is a spacious, pleasant restaurant with cozy private booths and large windows bringing plenty of light. It is as popular with breakfast crowds as it is with families coming for dinner. The Millstone does not serve alcohol.

620 E Jackson Blvd, Spearfish, SD 57783, Phone: 605-642-4200

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The Roughlock Falls area is one of the most-visited outdoor recreational areas in South Dakota. One of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of the Black Hills is to set off along the Roughlock Falls Trail, which winds its way to the base of the Roughlock Falls, a multi-tiered waterfall which is well worth viewing. The hike is considered to be easy and is just 2 miles there and back. Along the way you can enjoy jaw-dropping views, spot some wildlife or take the time to try your hand at trout fishing. The bird-watching is also rumored to be excellent. You can bring a picnic and enjoy getting back to nature.

Roughlock Falls Trail, South Lawrence, SD 57754

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A must-see attraction for all history enthusiasts, the Thoen Stone is a unique engraved sandstone slab which was discovered on Lookout Mountain in 1887 by Louis Thoen. The inscribed stone tells the story of the intrepid Ezra Kind and his party who came to the Black Hills in search of gold. What makes this discovery so controversial is the date on the stone which establishes that this gold-hunting expedition occurred a full 40 years before the Custer Expedition and the subsequent 1874 Black Hills Gold Rush. You can examine the original Thoen Stone in the Adams Museum in Dead Wood or admire the replica monument at the end of St. Joe Street in Spearfish.

Thoen Stone, St. Joe Street, Spearfish, SD 57783

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You will find the Frawley Ranch nestled in the heart of the beautiful Centennial Valley where is protects and showcases six historic homesteads which date back to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The ranch was owned by prominent lawyer and business man Henry Frawley, who bought up several failed homesteading parcels of land and converted them into one of the state’s most successful cattle ranches. Today visitors can take a guided tour of the ranch visiting various historic buildings including the Centennial Valley School House, the Courtyard Barns and the Draper Road House. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of activities including golf, swimming, hiking and biking at the neighboring Elkhorn Ridge Resort.

Frawley Ranch, 20189 US Hwy 85, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605 722 1800

© Visit Spearfish

The Downtown Clock Tower has been a prominent Spearfish landmark since it was built in 2011 as part of a downtown revitalization project. Located in front of the Visitor’s Center, the Clock Tower became an even more popular attraction after it was topped by an amazing Thermesphere in 2017. The thought-provoking art installation was the work of prominent artist Dick Termes, who has completed many equally interesting spherical installations in other cities. This particular 36-inch sphere has been hand-painted to present an unusual and interactive view of the natural beauty surrounding Spearfish as well as all the daily activities of the community. The sphere can be manually rotated by a complex system of gears within the tower.

Downtown Clock Tower, 603 N. Main Street, Spearfish, SD 57783

© The Clubhouse of Spearfish

The Clubhouse of Starfish is a unique golf-themed venue which offers great meals and family-friendly golf simulators. Suitable for every occasion from birthday parties and team-building experiences to family outings or date nights, The Clubhouse has something to offer everyone. The facility has 4 excellent golf simulators where you can enjoy a virtual game on some of the most popular golf courses in the US. In addition, there are a variety of other family-friendly games including mini-golf, an outdoor putting simulator, Alien and Zombie shooting games and more. The menu offers a selection of popular appetizers and basket-style meals to enjoy indoors or outside.

The Clubhouse of Spearfish, 3540 Colorado Boulevard, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605 559 0201

© Zero Gravity

Whether you are looking for pain relief, relaxation or just an all-new spa experience, Zero Gravity is the place to go in Spearfish. This amazing health spa offers all the traditional forms of massage including Swedish, deep-tissue, pre-natal and hot-stone massage in addition to their incredible float tank experience, which is the main draw-card. The zero-gravity floating experience allows visitors to float effortlessly in a very strong Epsom Salt solution. As you relax (many people are so relaxed that they fall asleep) your mind and body shrug off everyday aches, pains and problems. Many visitors combine a float therapy session with a massage or sauna for a truly invigorating treatment.

Zero Gravity, 144 W. Hudson Street, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605 717 2475

© Elkhorn Ridge Golf Club

Forming part of the historic Frawley Ranch, in the heart of South Dakota’s scenic Centennial Valley, the Elkhorn Ridge Golf Club nestles against the side of a mountain and offers splendid vistas of the surrounding valley. Elkhorn Ridge is a modern 18-hole course which offers ideal playing conditions for golfers of all ages and abilities. Each of the holes has multiple tee boxes which allow players of all abilities to compete against each other. You can look forward to a fun but challenging game, after which you can relax and enjoy a drink at the Miller Creek Pub. The golf club also offers two putting greens, bunker practice area and lessons.

Elkhorn Ridge Golf Club, 6845 St. Onge Road, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605 722 4653

© Killian’s Food and Drink

Killian’s Food and Drink is a popular Spearfish meeting place where locals and visitors come to enjoy true South Dakota hospitality and great food and drinks. With an emphasis on serving perfectly-prepared American cuisine, using the best available locally-sourced organic ingredients, Killian’s are continually striving to raise the bar by adding new and innovative dishes to their repertoire. The menu changes regularly to showcase the best seasonal produce and there is always something fresh and tasty available for everyone, including vegans, vegetarians and those with gluten intolerance. The drinks menu is equally good, featuring a wide selection of cocktails, spirits, beers and wines.

Killian’s Food and Drink, 539 W. Jackson Boulevard, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605 717 1255

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Satisfying the needs of craft beer enthusiasts in Spearfish since 2007, Crow Peak Brewing Company started as a modest 5-barrel brewery which sold its produce on site. However, their fame soon spread and it became necessary to expand. Today Crow Peak Brewing Company is proud to boast a state-of-the-art 60-barrel brewery which supplies more than 2000 barrels of beer to a large following of fans in South Dakota and beyond. When you visit their tap room in Spearfish you can try a range of tempting year-round and seasonal specialties including IPA’s, Ales, Stout, Porter and much more. The venue also offers live music nights and delicious food to enjoy alongside your beer.

Crow Peak Brewing Company, 125 US 14, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605 717 0006