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Devil’s Bathtub South Dakota

July 7, 2021

If you want to feel like a kid again, crisscrossing rocky streams and scrambling over rocks, Devil’s Bathtub is an absolutely fun and relatively easy hike to visit while exploring Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

First and foremost, bring shoes you don’t mind getting wet in, such as water shoes. There’s pretty much zero way to avoid getting your feet soaked as you’ll be crossing Spearfish Creek multiple times along the way. 

Plan at least an hour to complete this hike. Even with its short distance, this hike takes longer than you think as it gets slightly technical at times. When I say technical, I don’t mean high-mountain scrambling. It’s nothing that challenging, but there are some footing choices that just make this hike slightly tricky.

1.6 miles out and back | 190 ft elevation gain | bring water shoes

How to Find the Devil’s Bathtub Hike

There’s a large free parking lot that’s well-marked off of 14A, but then it gets a bit confusing as to where the trail starts from there. Look for a well-worn path tucked into the treeline along the creek. Don’t head in the direction of the old Homestake Mining Co hydroelectric plant. That is the wrong direction.

Does it Cost Money to Hike to the Devil’s Bathtub?

There is no cost to hike to Devil’s Bathtub, and there’s no parking fee either.

Can You Swim in the Devil’s Bathtub?

Yes, you can swim in the Devil’s Bathtub! But be aware that this hike can get crowded, especially in the summer months, and the “bathtub” isn’t very roomy. If you have your heart set on swimming in this natural pool, you might have to wait your turn. If you can go here in late April or early May, you could very well have the place all to yourself as I did.

More Cool Hikes in Spearfish Canyon South Dakota

Also in Spearfish Canyon are three gorgeous waterfalls, Spearfish Falls, Bridal Veil, and Roughlock Falls, all located within a handful of miles of each other.

The trail to Spearfish Falls (seen below) is wooded, serene, and absolutely gorgeous. It might take 30 minutes total to complete, so it’s a low time investment sight to see in Spearfish Canyon. There’s also a viewing platform above the falls, but it’s much harder to see from there.

You can also try Eleventh Hour Gulch Hike. You’ll feel like a local on this hike. And without one, I never would have found it.

Keep a lookout for a small pull-out located on the east side of Hwy 14 south of the Devil’s Bathtub parking lot. Look for a narrow and rocky gulch on the opposite side of the small parking area. Once you start climbing into the gulch, which requires some moderate scrambling over slick rocks, you’ll see a makeshift ladder that you can climb up if you want to venture to the top. This is also a great spot for ice climbing in the winter months.

More Things to do in the Black Hills and nearby

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Image Credits:

Devil’s Bathtub images and video by Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Spearfish Canyon and Eleventh Hour Gulch - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Deadwood, Needles Highway, Devils Tower, Wonderland Cave, and Badlands National Park - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Crazy Horse Memorial - Taha M. Raja/stock.adobe.com; Nomad Goods product images courtesy of Nomad Goods; Trail Ridge Road - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; for Pin image credits, please click on the relevant pin