Hike the Roughlock Falls Trail

The trailhead to Roughlock Falls is in the town of Savoy, SD in the Black Hills. From Spearfish on I-90, head south on Route 14 for 15 miles into Savoy. There is only one road to make a right onto in town, Roughlock Falls Road. You can cheat and drive this all the way up to the falls for a quick visit, or you can turn into the first parking lot on the left where the trailhead is at.

The trailhead is well marked and begins that the southern end of the gravel parking lot. This is an excellent little trail that is recommended for stretching your legs on a long drive. Before 2pm, most of this trail is in the shade of the cliffs which is a welcome reprieve from the scorching afternoons here. The trail takes you through the meandering Little Spearfish Creek and it's ponds, rapids, marshes, and forest around it.

At the top of the trail is a bridge that takes you over the creek and onto a boardwalk in the canyon where the falls are at. This is a very shaded and misty place filled with the sound of the lower falls and creek. If you head back out to the bridge where the upper parking lot is at, there is another little trail that winds up onto the other side of the canyon where another overlook grants views of the upper falls.

When you are plenty cooled off, head back out and to Spearfish and visit Crow Peak Brewery. Their Baltic Porter is mature aged in rum barrels after brewing for a perfect refreshing way to spend a hot afternoon before your sunset adventure.