City: Spearfish Canyon, SD

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (605) 584-2207, (800) 439-8544

Address: US 14A

Insider Pick:

Description: Mountain bikes and helmets can be rented here for a half or full day. Trails depart from the premises of Spearfish Canyon Resort. They really mean “All Season” here—snowmobiles can be rented for a half or full day, too, and Latchstring is the place to go for everything you need before hitting the trails. Trails depart from the premises of Spearfish Canyon Resort, and head west through scenic Spearfish Canyon. The lobby and lounge in the spacious Spearfish Canyon Lodge provide the ideal place to relax with a warm toddy after hitting the trails.

City: Spearfish Canyon, SD

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (605) 584-2207, (800) 439-8544

Address: US 14A

Description: Single-seat sleds are $140 for a full-day rental on weekends and $110 on a weekday. Half-day rentals are $100 on weekends and $80 on weekdays. Double-seater sleds and other equipment are extra. Excellent package deals are available for guests of Spearfish Canyon Lodge, where the sports center is located. Call early for reservations—the machines are popular.

City: Spearfish Canyon, SD

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (605) 584-3333

Address: US 14A

Description: Pan-fried trout is the signature menu item at this beautiful log restaurant overlooking Spearfish Creek, and the management was generous enough to share the recipe with us. You’ll find it, along with some fascinating background about this historic eatery, in the Close-up in this chapter. We make it a point to stop at the Latchstring for a cold drink on the deck after summer bike rides through Spearfish Canyon, but you don’t have to work that hard to enjoy a pleasant, leisurely meal in the restaurant’s fabulous surroundings. Here it’s equally lovely indoors and out because the dining room is decorated with antiques from the original Latchstring Inn (see the Close-up). Look around and you’ll see a Stalwart bobsled, a shaggy buffalo hide, Calamity Jane’s gun, and much more. Plaques that accompany many of the displays provide a mini-tour through local history. In the evening, the electric lights are dimmed to enhance the romantic glow of candles. Every window offers a dazzling view of the canyon, and a bird book will help you identify the little creatures that frequent the feeder out back.For breakfast you can order trout, deep fried or pan fried (and with the head removed if you so request), along with eggs and hash browns or eggs and pancakes. Omelets and other items also are available. For lunch, burgers, sandwiches, buffalo stew, and salads provide a hearty midday energy boost. Trout makes an encore appearance on the dinner menu, prepared amandine. Walleye, rib eye, beef steaks, and chicken prepared in a variety of ways are other choices. Beer and wine can accompany your meal, which you’ll want to polish off properly with crème brûlée, bread pudding, or Chocolate Decadence. Don’t worry about the calories, because after you eat you can hike to Spearfish Falls or Roughlock Falls. Both are nearby, so ask for directions. Reservations are recommended for dinner at the Latchstring all year. Parking is provided.