Community Caves is a popular hike located in Spearfish Canyon just past mile marker 13. The short uphill hike ends with a series of caves and the opportunity to view the canyon from above.
The Details
Distance: 0.6 mi (0.9 km) out and back. I went a bit further than this by exploring other areas near the cave.
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Difficulty: Upper end of moderate. The beginning is easy, but once you start the climb, there is a lot of loose gravel to go up, and the way down needs to be done with caution.
Elevation Gain: 308 ft (94 m)
Parking: There is a large pullout area on the West side of the highway
Cost: Free
Coordinates to Parking and Trailhead: 44.45086, -103.86358
How to get there
After turning from Colorado Boulevard onto Highway 14A, travel roughly 2.8 miles South. There will be a sizeable pull-off area on the West side of the road near mile marker 13. It’s just around a curve. The trail begins by crossing the highway. Be mindful when crossing due to the cars coming around the bend.
Hiking Community Caves
After crossing the highway, pick any of the trails going down, then take a left (walk North) to get on the main gravel path. Continue taking this straight until you reach a powerline pole near the creek about 0.1 miles into the trail. This is where you can cross the creek.
There is a good possibility of getting your feet wet with this crossing as it’s mostly smaller logs that barely stay above water. Upon crossing the creek, take a left to follow the trail until you reach an area with several large rocks and loose gravel pointing upwards.
The climb up is short but very steep, and some rocks may be slick due to the water running down. Unfortunately, none of this trail is marked, so just be aware it may take a bit to be sure you’re getting there without an app. However, there are typically several hikers on the trail that can point you in the right direction if needed.
At the top is where you’ll find the caves. If wanting a view of the canyon, follow the trail to the right of the caves for about 0.1 miles. Use caution on your way back down as it’s easy to slip on the loose gravel.
My recording of the trail can be found here.
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