Spearfish

"A City for All Seasons"

Population: 10,000 • Elevation: 3,640

The city of Spearfish is the "All Four Seasons" capital of South Dakota for recreation. Located at the mouth of idyllic Spearfish Canyon, a National Scenic Byway, the community is headquarters for vacationers, hunters, fishermen and snowmobilers. I-90 Exits 8, 10, 12 and 14, 17.  Spearfish accommodates overnight visitors with 31 local hotels, motels, bed and breakfast inns, resorts and campgrounds.  Satisfy your appetite with 40 restaurants ranging from family fare, steakhouses, Chinese, Italian, cross-culture cuisine to fast food.

Spearfish History
Surveyed and staked out in 1876 and officially incorporated in 1888, Spearfish is ideally situated in the scenic valley of Spearfish Creek and at the mouth of Spearfish Canyon in the northern Black Hills.  Spearfish derived its name from Native Americans and fur traders or trappers in the early 1800s who considered the clear and tumbling stream through the canyon a good place to spear fish.

Activities Abound Year Around
For those who like to be on the move, choose from top-rate hiking and cycling, photography outings, nature walks and birding, golfing and disc golfing, hunting and fishing, snowmobiling, rock and ice climbing, downhill and cross-country skiing.  Additional recreational options include motorcycle, snowmobile, ATV and bicycle rentals, six-plex movie theatre, bowling and 2 golf courses; one 18-hole and one 9-hole.

High Plains Western Heritage Center
Regional historical center featuring artifacts of the Old West pioneers of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana and Wyoming. Live buffalo and longhorn steers in the pasture! Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. all year. Cowboy music/poetry, special events in the 200-seat theatre.  Located off I-90 Exit 14 at 825 Heritage Drive in Spearfish.

D.C. Booth Historic Fish Hatchery
The Federal Fish Hatchery, established in 1898, is known as the D.C. Booth Historic Fish Hatchery. The archive site for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service features a museum, historic home, fish rail car, ponds, underwater viewing area, park like grounds, and much more. Feed the fish and ducks.  D.C. Booth is the only historic fish hatchery with the only fish rail car on display. Grounds open year around, dawn to dusk.  Located at 423 Hatchery Circle in Spearfish.

Matthews Opera House
In 1906, Matthews Opera House opened as the center of entertainment in Spearfish. After extensive renovation, Matthews Opera House still provides an historic setting for the visual and dramatic arts.  Matthews Opera House Historic Theater features year-round live theater performances. A new visual arts center showcases regional artists, winter art show, gala events, a summer Festival in the Park and more.  Downtown Spearfish at 614 Main.

Spearfish Canyon
After building a railroad through the canyon in 1893, Spearfish Canyon became known as an outstanding scenic attraction of the Black Hills.  In later years, a roadway replaced the railroad and the 20-mile (32.2 km) drive, with its towering canyon walls and sparkling creek, became the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Travel south on US Hwy 14A for a leisurely 40 minute trip, but don't pass up the handy pull outs for that scenic photo or a walk down to the creek.