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The turkey is just one of the bird varieties you might see during
your drive through Spearfish Canyon.
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Six hundred
or so million years ago, long before man walked this area, it was covered
by numerous huge oceans that carved portions of the canyon, and then filled-in
the contour as the oceans receded. About 60 million years ago, the last
major ocean receded, and land masses, again, began to appear causing drainages
such as Spearfish Canyon to formed as softer rock was eroded away. Today,
the canyon is part of the Black Hills National Forest.
The Canyon’s high walls are of three dominant rock
types. DEADWOOD shale, at the bottom, can be identified by its brown
color, is multi-layered in appearance and ranges from 10 to 40 feet thick.
ENGLEWOOD limestone, in the middle, is pink to red colored, and is 30
to60 feet thick. PAHASAPA limestone, the top layer, is the thickest ranging
from 300 to 600 feet, is buff colored and weather gray in appearance,
and is noted for its caves and fossils.
Canyon beauty comes in
many shapes and sizes.
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Archaeological evidence indicates big game hunters and
their families (Paleo-Indians) were present in the area and, possibly,
Spearfish Canyon at lest 10,000 years ago. The canyon was as abundant
with scenic resources then as it is today, and probably drew those early
people to it then as it does now.
Winter in spearfish Canyon is a very special time of year. The summer's
green canopy gives way to one with a white overlay.
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Spearfish Canyon scenery is unique because the view is
always close, always upward, and has a mixture of four distinct vegetative
regions represented. Trees and plants from ROCKY MOUNTAIN, EASTERN DECIDUOUS,
NORTHERN FOREST, and GREAT PLAINS can be found here. Canyon vegetation
is extremely diverse – of the 1,585 plant species found in South
Dakota, 1,260 species are in the Black Hills and Spearfish Canyon is
representative in of the extreme variety.
Cool evenings and multi-colored vistas await the Fall traveler.
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It is said that every season has a benefit here: Spring
in the Canyon provides rejuvenation; Summer – tranquility; Fall – color;
and Winter – serenity.
From this point on, and throughout the Canyon, you may
see Turkeys, Blue jays, Woodpeckers, and Cliff Swallows.
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