Pop. 10,010
GPS: 44°29'N 103°50'W
Spearfish is buffered by three mountain peaks and sits at the mouth of a 20-mile long canyon renowned for fly-fishing. The 1.2 million acre Black Hills National Forest lies just south of the city and is crisscrossed with 450 miles of hiking paths and hundreds of miles of primitive tracks for off-roading.
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PLAY
Plan to spend a full day hiking the 3.7-mile Crow Peak trail, a strenuous climb to the eponymous summit; you’ll get uninterrupted views of the tallest peaks in the national forest (www.fs.fed.us/bhnf). In winter, rent a snowmobile at Spearfish Canyon Sports Center, and explore 350 miles of groomed powder trails through the Black Hills (from $80 for a half day; spfcanyon.com).
EAT
The Bay Leaf Café will pack a gourmet picnic lunch for your trip into the canyon (bayleafcafe.net).
SLEEP
Surround yourself with floor-to-ceiling windows to catch the best views at Spearfish Canyon Lodge. The rustic lodge also has a huge stone fireplace, perfect for gathering around if you see a mountain lion outside (doubles from $149; spfcanyon.com).
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