Hiking to a Natural Waterslide at Devil’s Bathtub in Spearfish Canyon

Looking for more fun things to do in and around Spearfish, South Dakota?
Try the short hikes to beautiful Spearfish Falls and Roughlock Falls!

CURRENT INFO

Find more information and maps for the Devil’s Bathtub Trail on the AllTrails website. If you’re planning a trip to Spearfish and the Black Hills of South Dakota, I recommend the book Moon South Dakota’s Black Hills: With Mount Rushmore & Badlands National Park by Laural A. Bidwell.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Parking is free at the Devil’s Bathtub Trailhead.
• Arrive early to avoid congestion both in the parking lot and at Devil’s Bathtub. In summer, expect to share the trail with numerous other hikers. Arrive extra early if you want the waterslide all to yourself.
• No toilets or drinking water are available at the trailhead. For access to toilets and water, drive further south on Highway 14A to the Spearfish Falls Trailhead.
• Leashed pets are allowed.
• Bring water, shade hats, and sunscreen on sunny days. The trail to Devil’s Bathtub is mostly shady, but the area near the waterslide is more exposed.
• Wear your swimsuit if you plan to try the waterslide.
• Wear water shoes, hiking sandals, or other footgear with good traction. You’ll cross the creek numerous times on this hike, and your feet will probably get wet even if you don’t swim. Due to both the slippery rocks along the creek and larger boulders you may have to climb, good traction and closed-toed shoes or sandals are strongly recommended.
• Download a trail map from AllTrails ahead of time. The trail to Devil’s Bathtub isn’t always straightforward, although the general rule is that if you follow the creek you’ll be on the right track. There is no signage at the trailhead, so we actually used the AllTrails map to help us find it!
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

The waterslide at Devil’s Bathtub is the star of the show. It’s pretty fun, but be careful, as it’s easy to scrape the side of the rocks as you go down. Setting the waterslide aside, the hike itself takes you into a gorgeous rock-walled canyon filled with greenery and butterflies (yes, butterflies!). This place is quite popular, so if you prefer solitude, get an early start.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

Devil’s Bathtub is a great hike for kids. It’s short, but provides plenty of engaging terrain — creek crossings, boulder climbing, and, of course, Devil’s Bathtub itself, a fun little waterslide along the creek. My 11-year-old loved it, but it was a bit intimidating for my six-year-old, who preferred to splash in the shallow areas of the creek. Be sure the kids wear shoes or hiking sandals with good traction. I also recommend water shoes for playing in the creek and going down the waterslide.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

Spearfish Canyon is a wonderful place to explore, a lush green oasis filled with waterfalls tumbling over red rock cliffs. Take a short hike to Spearfish Falls and Roughlock Falls to make the most of your day here. For a delicious meal, the Latchstring Restaurant provides a taste of rustic elegance in the heart of the canyon.

To explore more of the area, consider camping overnight. We stayed in town at the Spearfish City Campground, a lovely place near the DC Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and the city park. Spearfish is a great town with beautiful parks, restaurants, and ice cream (a trip to Leone’s Creamery is a must!).

Our hike to Devil’s Bathtub got off to a somewhat confusing start. We found the parking lot easily, but… where was the trailhead? I wandered further south along the road toward the old brick power plant perched at the edge of the stream. Hmm… that didn’t seem quite right. Other hikers had also wandered toward the power plant, seemingly as confused as I was.

“OK,” I told the family. “Time to pull out the map.” Prior to our trip, I downloaded a trail map using the AllTrails app, and now was the time to use it. After consulting the map, we realized we needed to follow the unmarked path that led into the woods at the north end of the parking lot. Soon we were walking alongside Spearfish Creek on an easy dirt trail.

The trail led us to a gravel road with a bridge. We crossed the bridge, noticing a few private homes along the road. Part of the trail to Devil’s Bathtub crosses private property, so please be respectful and stick to the road until it rejoins the trail.

Just across the bridge, a sign marked the entrance to the Devil’s Bathtub Trail. Take note of the posted trail etiquette. For many hikers, these rules may seem obvious, but it’s vital for everyone to follow these guidelines to ensure that the trail to Devil’s Bathtub remains open to all.

We started off on the dirt trail into the woods, and it wasn’t long before we reached our first creek crossing. This was a pretty easy one, but there were many more to come. I recommend good hiking sandals or waterproof shoes on this trail, but either way expect your feet will get wet. In most cases, I stepped easily from stone to stone, but nearly slipped once or twice. My older son wore his water shoes, which seemed like a smart idea until I realized he had brought no other shoes with him. He was stuck wearing water shoes and no socks for the rest of the day.

As the trail continued, we found ourselves wandering deeper into the canyon. Rock walls now towered above us on either side of the creek, and the trail turned from dirt to rock. Even without the lure of a natural waterslide, it was stunning.

The trail grew more challenging as the canyon narrowed. In fact, there was really no trail to speak of at this point. Instead, we followed the rocky shelf at the edge of the stream, climbing over and around boulders as we went. It wasn’t always easy to determine the best route, but ultimately we knew that as long as we followed the creek we were headed in the right direction.

Fortunately, our final destination of Devil’s Bathtub was unmistakeable. A dozen or so other hikers were already there. Most were milling about on the rocks, while a few lined up for the waterslide, splashing into the cold pool at the base of the slide. Yes, the water here is cold, so be prepared for a refreshing shock. On a hot day, it feels pretty good. Great, if you ask 11-year-old J. He went down the slide no fewer than 12 times during our visit! Six-year-old T, on the other hand, couldn’t quite work up the nerve to try it.

I, too, was initially hesitant to give the slide a go, but convinced myself to try it on the grounds that never again would I have such a chance. Besides, it looked a lot safer than cliff jumping. Ready for an adrenaline rush, I pushed off. Whoosh!

Now, I’m not going to lie. My first experience down the slide was less than stellar. It was a bit bumpy as my hips scraped against the rock. Although not terrible, I realized my technique was lacking. I gave it another go, making sure to stay centered, and the experience was much improved. Women, take note: men’s long swim trunks definitely provide a smoother experience than the typical women’s swimsuit.

Back on shore, my attention was drawn to something entirely different. Graceful orange and black butterflies gathered along the rock wall of the canyon. What drew them here I couldn’t tell, but they were the friendliest butterflies I have ever met. One landed on my wrist, followed by several others. The tiny water droplets on my skin must have held a strong appeal, because they didn’t want to leave. It was charming at first, but eventually I wanted my wrist back. Most of the butterflies fluttered off with a gentle shake, but one clung stubbornly on until I finally managed to prod it into taking off.

By now it was late morning, and more people were steadily arriving at Devil’s Bathtub. It was a friendly, all-ages crowd, full of smiles and a helping hand if someone needed assistance crossing the rocks. Still, we were glad to have arrived when we did, before the midday rush. If you prefer a quieter experience, get an early start for the best chance at having the waterslide to yourself.

On the return, we soon found ourselves following a line of hikers all on their way back to the parking lot. The lot was now packed, with overflow parking spreading out along the side of the road. I can understand the popularity — both the trail and the destination are a delight. Our day exploring Spearfish Canyon had just begun, and the trip to Devil’s Bathtub was the perfect start to our adventure.