A wide, stair-stepped waterfall on Little Spearfish Creek within the Spearfish Canyon Nature Area in South Dakota's Black Hills.
Roughlock Falls is a wide, stair-stepped waterfall on Little Spearfish Creek inside the Spearfish Canyon Nature Area, about a mile west of the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway at Savoy in the Black Hills. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks manages the nature area, which also takes in Spearfish Falls and Savoy Pond along a network of connected trails, and promotes the canyon as one of the most scenic spots in the Black Hills for hiking, birdwatching - including American dippers along the creek - fishing and picnicking.
The nature area is day-use only, open year-round, with no entrance fee, and has picnic tables and vault toilets at the access point. Forest Service Road 222 between Savoy and the falls is closed to vehicles each year from December 15 through March 31 for snowmobile season, though the trail connecting Spearfish Canyon Lodge to the falls stays open through winter at visitors' own risk. Anyone planning a cold-weather visit should confirm current road status with South Dakota GFP before driving out, since the access road closes seasonally even though the nature area itself never does.
Know before you go
Spearfish Canyon Nature Area, about 1 mile west of the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway at Savoy on FS Road 222, Black Hills, Lawrence County, SD.
Open year-round; FS Road 222 from Savoy to the falls closes to vehicles Dec. 15-Mar. 31 for snowmobile season (the Spearfish Canyon Lodge trail stays open).
Short trail/boardwalk network from the nature area parking to the falls; check current signage for exact distance.
No entrance fee.
Day-use area with vault toilets and picnic tables; verify accessible routes with SD Game, Fish and Parks (605-584-3896).
2026-10-12. Conditions and requirements can change; confirm with the land manager before travelling.
Sources & further reading
- South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks — Spearfish Canyon Nature Area ↗
- USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) ↗
This is a researched visitor guide, not a claim that our editors have personally visited. Trail conditions, permits, and access can change.
