Spearfish Canyon cuts down through the northern Black Hills in a deep, narrow gorge of limestone cliffs, and US 14A follows it for about thirty kilometres from the town of Spearfish up to Cheyenne Crossing. It is one of the most beautiful canyons in the American Midwest.
Bridal Veil Falls is the first landmark as you head up the canyon from Spearfish, a delicate waterfall that drops down a cliff right beside the road. There is a small viewing area, and it makes a good first stop. The canyon walls are made of limestone, formed from the shells of tiny sea creatures in an ancient ocean, and they are full of caves, crevices and overhangs. In autumn the aspens, birches and oaks turn gold and red, and the canyon is ablaze with colour.
The road through the canyon is a delight to ride, with smooth asphalt and long, gentle curves following the creek. The speed limits are moderate, and there are frequent pull-outs for photographs. Traffic can be heavy in summer and during the autumn colour season, and there are often cyclists and slow-moving vehicles. Watch out for deer and for rocks on the road, especially after storms.
Spearfish, at the mouth of the canyon, is a pleasant college town with a historic downtown and a long-running fish hatchery that has been raising trout since the end of the nineteenth century. The town is a good base for exploring the northern Black Hills, and it has all the services you might need.
Spearfish has fuel, food, lodging and motorcycle shops, and it is the best place to fill up before heading into the canyon. There are few services in the canyon itself, apart from a lodge and a small store near Savoy. Lead and Deadwood, just to the east, have more services, and Rapid City is about an hour's ride to the southeast. Ride it early, when the light is soft and the canyon is quiet.