South Dakota | Black Hills
Spearfish Creek
Spearfish City Park to Jorgensen Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Spearfish Creek route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Use the Spearfish Creek town section only as a conditional, scouted Class II run. The direct USGS gauge and public city-park creek access make it searchable, but the park waterfall, low-head structures, fences, cold water, and limited bailout options require a conservative go/no-go decision.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Spearfish City Park creek accessCity Park and Jorgensen Park list creek access, but landing space and bank conditions can change; use signed access and do not cross private property.
Take-out
Jorgensen Park creek accessThe City Park waterfall and other ledges require scouting and may require a portage. Never assume a feature is runnable from a web description.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- City Park and Jorgensen Park list creek access, but landing space and bank conditions can change; use signed access and do not cross private property.
- The City Park waterfall and other ledges require scouting and may require a portage. Never assume a feature is runnable from a web description.
- Spearfish Creek can be diverted or altered by upstream infrastructure; use the direct gauge and local conditions rather than relying on seasonal averages.
- This route does not authorize continuation into Spearfish Canyon or downstream farmland; those reaches need separate access and hazard review.
Watch for
- Shallow scraping below the 50 cfs minimum-only screen.
- The City Park waterfall, low-head structures, ledges, fences, strainers, and narrow banks.
- Cold water, fast rain-driven rises, and changing bridge or landing conditions.
- Private banks and limited bailout points downstream of the parks.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
No approved route photos yet
Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Spearfish Creek at Spearfish, SD |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 50 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | RiverScout Spearfish Creek conditions |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Named route reachSpearfish City Campground / City Park to Old US Hwy 14 / Jorgensen Park corridor
American Whitewater identifies the Spearfish town section as a 3.3-mile Class II reach; Visit Spearfish describes kayakers putting in by the city park and exiting near Jorgensen Park.
- Public put-inSpearfish City Park creek access
The City of Spearfish lists creek access at City Park, 420 N Canyon Street.
- Public take-outJorgensen Park creek access
The City of Spearfish lists creek access and a recreation path at Jorgensen Park on North Canyon Street.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 06431500
USGS publishes direct discharge and gage-height observations for Spearfish Creek at Spearfish.
- Minimum-only flow screen50 cfs conservative floor
RiverScout reports an optimal 50–300 cfs window. The app uses only the 50 cfs lower bound and does not infer an upper runnable limit.
- Hazard and route contextClass II town reach with waterfall and ledges
American Whitewater describes the town section, waterfall concerns, and low-head structures; scout all features and portage when needed.
- Rights-clean image decisionUse public-domain USGS gage imagery only; no third-party route photo selected
The route package does not copy a commercial or user photo. A public-domain USGS streamgage image is available if a route image is later needed.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Spearfish Creek paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Spearfish Creek?
Paddle Today watches Spearfish Creek at Spearfish, SD and uses 50 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Spearfish Creek route start and end?
This route starts at Spearfish City Park creek access and ends at Jorgensen Park creek access, about About 3.3 mi on the water.
Is this Spearfish Creek route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.