Last updated on 2013.05.21
Despite the fact that we aren't paying back rent to the neighbors from whom we stole this land, the Madville Times family is really enjoying its new digs in Spearfish. On Sunday, I went for not one but two trips up Spearfish Canyon to Roughlock Falls, first on my bicycle (bouncily transported from East River Saturday on the back of our trusty Focus), then in the Bug with family happily in tow.
As an appetizer, one ought to stop at Bridal Veil Falls. The Divine Miss K wasn't terribly impressed... but I think she can just do without standing right by the highway with all those rop-rop-rop! motorcycles (she much prefers quiet human-powered transport—that's my girl!).
We found peace and quiet hiking up the short trail from Spearfish Canyon Lodge to Roughlock Falls. The Divine Miss K enjoyed seeing the cliffs along the route, as well as the mama duck and trout in the pond behind the dam.
Ah, so that's what that noise was. On my morning bike visit, I met a couple from Louisiana at the falls who just flew into Rapid City Saturday to spend a full week here in the Hills. They also plan to buzz out to spend a day in the Badlands. I recommended Highway 44 and made a pitch for them to buy Scenic. They sounded intrigued!
If you listen closely, you might hear the Arab guys next to me expressing their admiration for Roughlock Falls. A few minutes later, they were kneeling in the picnic area upstream, expressing their admiration for Allah. Even in the Hills, they were able to figure which way was Mecca. There is something to be said for a religion that keeps you in tune with the compass.
Hurry up with that picture, Dad! Beauty is fleeting, and so am I: we've got more trail to run!
Can you take a bad picture in the Black Hills? Just point and shoot. It's hard to think of a better way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon in South Dakota.
Thanks for the beautiful pictures and the video. Roughlock Falls is one of my favorites in the Hills. Before redoing the trail, we could get down to the bottom of the falls and walk across the icy water (if you went very fast!). Also used to be able to walk right up to Bridal Veil Falls. Sounds like you are enjoying your new digs!!
Next time take the trail down on the backside of the lodge to see the other falls.
I'm so glad that you guys are enjoying the Black Hills. How's the housing market out there?
There is a little known waterfall on the Camp 5 road serving as a grotto on hot days. Keep your eyes open for poison ivy: it is the Lawrence County state plant.
Welcome to west river. It almost seems strange to look at the falls now with all the new fangled things to help keep the tourist safe. My memories go back a few years more then forty.
It was a time for throwing caution to the wind. Lots of drinking and parties. The canyon was an escape from classes and to a certain extent reality. It was chilling cans of Coors and wine under the falls while we did other things and seeing stars so bright that you never wanted to leave. It was riding in cars with the tops down and road racing the lower five of the canyon from Spearfish south. The smell was then and is still invigorating and I go there to this day to recharge and remember. You are a lucky man.
Then if you saw a car every hour it was unexpected, but now everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere and it seems like they go down the canyon by the thousands. I'm a progressive but I don’t know if that's progress or not.
Do yourself a favor and drive to the south end of the canyon take a right turn and go around and come into Spearfish from the west side. Get a map and drive on over to Cement Ridge “what a viewâ€. See what the hills used to look like a hundred years ago.
Do I sound envious? Well you are there and I'm here with fall just around the corner and that means color in the canyon. Take that little heartbreaker back out there when that happens and you will forget about that place where you used to live. Where was that again?
The Blindman
You also might want to find the Devils Bathtub. You will probably need a guide but the climb is sure worth it.
Larry is right about the poison ivy. Ah young love. If it weren't for poison ivy, nettles, and chiggers, Lawrence County would have the highest pregnancy rate in the state.
Yes. Devil's bathtubs. Definitely. A must, Cory.
Great suggestions, everyone! We'll keep a list and keep our eyes open on the trails. So much to see, so few days in the week. :-)
Wonderful recollections, Bill D. We do live in a certain tension with "progress." It's great that so many people come to enjoy the Hills... but all those watchers and hikers make it harder to find the untouched beauty we admire. Of course, some of our neighbors would say 1876 was the end of any progress here.
(And Michael, housing's tight.)
The start of the trail for Devil's bathtub is around the Hydroelectric plant No. 2, but on our last trip out I could not remember exactly where. It had been too long ago.
I would think that with the recent layoffs in Spearfish a house would be easier to find. How do prices of houses compare to Madison?
[CAH: higher prices here, plus lots of college demand for apartments. We moved at a particularly tight time! The Premier Bankcard lay-offs may not have as big an impact as expected, since (a) a lot of those workers were commuting in from surrounding towns and (b) TMOne has already announced they're moving into the space and may eventually hire even more workers than worked at Premier.]
Don't forget the Bear Lodge in Wyo, too. The largest aspen clone in the Black Hills is on the Warren Peak road where spruce will not grow and the new 'rare earth' open pit mine will disrupt the health of the entire ecosystem.
Red state failure....
Cory, thanks for the beautiful photos even if the Black Hills make it so easy. I know better however. Good photos do not take themselves no matter who or what the subject.
Ah, great memories here, too. The canyon was always a quiet respite from the studying. The Vets Club at BH used to pick up trash all the way up to Cheyenne Crossing every spring, filling several Guard trucks with garbage. We were pretty proud of ourselves. Ditto on the Devil's Bathtub, but I heard it had changed somehow, so you couldn't go down the natural water slide. I used to like to hunt for the ghost towns. Get a map and check out some--Tinton's easy, and there are many others.