Spearfish, South Dakota

The Black Hills rise as welcome relief after the seemingly endless, rolling prairie.  Spearfish is one of the northern gateway towns with a smattering of tourist attractions.  And really, it was nice not to have bison wandering everywhere!

Deadwood, SD -- longtime haunt for prospectors and gamblers.
Try your luck at one of 80+ gaming halls.  Great old buildings but creepy folks.

Driving Spearfish Canyon -- a national scenic byway.  
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally ended a week ago -- still LOTS of bikes on the road!

The DC Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery was a hoot!  That is a Fisheries Railcar in the background.
Who knew there could be a FISH CULTURE Hall of Fame? 

Spearfish Creek

Homestead Open Cut Mine in Lead.  

A Rails to Trails 100 mile bike path.
UM.   It took 255 days to build the rail line in 1890.   15 years to do the bike path.