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LakeQuality

Updated July 2026

Little Spearfish Falls

Lawrence County, South Dakota — about 47 ft, mid-height.

Little Spearfish Falls, also called Spearfish Falls, is a roughly 47-foot fan-shaped waterfall on Little Spearfish Creek behind the historic Latchstring Inn at Savoy, in Spearfish Canyon, South Dakota. Its flow was diverted by Homestake Mining for decades and restored in 2003. A steep three-quarter-mile trail descends to the base.

Height
47 ft
Type
Fan
Access
Short Hike
Trail
1.5 mi out-and-back
Elevation gain
200 ft
Best season
Spring through fall
Land manager
U.S. Forest Service (Black Hills National Forest)
Watercourse
Little Spearfish Creek

Before you go

Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check U.S. Forest Service (Black Hills National Forest) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Little Spearfish Falls drops about 47 feet. That makes it the 441st-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 35% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The Spearfish Falls Trail (from Latchstring Inn) reaches it about 1.5 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 200 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Savoy. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with U.S. Forest Service (Black Hills National Forest) for closures and current conditions.

Spring through fall. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.

More South Dakota waterfalls

Sources

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