Rod & Gun Campground

Tucked away near the heart of Spearfish Canyon, the Rod & Gun Campground offers more than just a place to pitch a tent - it offers a front-row seat to the rugged elegance of the Black Hills National Forest. Whether you're an avid angler, dedicated hiker, passionate OHV rider or someone who simply finds tranquility in the presence of mountain streams, Rod & Gun is a beautiful basecamp for your next trip to the northern Black Hills. The Little Spearfish Trail, a 7-mile loop, begins right next to the campground. It winds through ponderosa pines and birch thickets, offering an off-the-beaten-path experience while still being close to the activities of Spearfish Canyon. The Rim Rock Trail is made up of two loops that originate at and just west of the campground; they ascend the steep limestone canyons adjacent to Spearfish Canyon and descend next to the tranquil Little Spearfish Creek, meandering through everything from dense vegetation near the canyon floor to dispersed ponderosa pines near the canyon rim. The Roughlock Falls and Spearfish Falls trails, maintained by the State of South Dakota, offer stunning views of both falls. Roughlock Falls trail meanders approximately 1.8 miles along Little Spearfish Creek, with spectacular views of Spearfish Canyon and the surrounding Black Hills National Forest. Spearfish Falls Trail is an approximately 0.7-mile out-and-back that descends through the hillside foliage of the canyon to the base of the waterfall, crossing the rushing Spearfish Creek and passing through stately ponderosa pine and Black Hills spruce before emerging into a beautiful opening at the base of the falls. The Tinton Trail covers approximately 46 miles, traveling from near Rod & Gun campground at its southern-most point all the way to the town of Spearfish to the north. It was built and is maintained by the Ridge Riders of the Black Hills, who developed it for the Dakota 50 mountain bike race hosted each Labor Day, though it is open to a variety of users. The trail includes portions of the Old Baldy Trail, Rim Rock Trail and Big Hill Trails as it winds its way through the western part of the South Dakota Black Hills.