Community Caves Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Cave · Geological Significance · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Waterfall

A short but very steep and rugged hike in Spearfish Canyon leading to a scenic cave and seasonal waterfall.

Starting from a roadside pullout near mile marker 13 on Spearfish Canyon Highway, the hike begins with a creek crossing which may involve stepping on logs or wading, depending on water levels. From there, the trail heads sharply uphill, following the creek bed into a gulch. The climb is rocky and can be slippery, with sections of loose gravel that often require hands-and-feet scrambling.

The payoff is the dramatic cave formation known as Community Caves, with a waterfall trickling or freezing into ice curtains in winter through the cave opening. Explorers can climb around the cave area for canyon views, but the terrain is very steep, so caution is required, especially with kids. The return trip down is often just as challenging, with many hikers sliding down sections on their bottoms. Good footwear, hiking sticks, and patience are essential.

The canyon walls shelter a mix of ponderosa pine, spruce, and hardwoods, while wildflowers appear in the summer along the creek bed. In wetter months, mosses and ferns thrive near the waterfall spray.