Runners follow a long, gradual downhill course through the northernmost section of South Dakota’s Black Hills National Forest, with canyons and mountains around in all directions, at the annual summertime running of the Spearfish Canyon Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk.
This race is organized and run to benefit the Northern Hills CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) organization, which raises funds for abused and neglected children in need of legal protection and advocacy.
Several hundred runners and walkers cross the finish line at the race each year — including more than 500 runners in the half marathon and 270 or more runners and walkers in the 5K.
The 2023 race will be the event’s 37th annual running, most of which unfolds along the tree-lined Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, with gorgeous views of the canyon walls and limestone rock formations along the route.
The race starts at the top of the canyon known as Spearfish Canyon, near the intersection of U.S. Highway 14 (the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway) and County Road 222.
From there, the course takes runners north toward Spearfish along the Byway for nearly the entire race, starting at an elevation of about 5,000 feet above sea level and dropping about 1,300 feet over the course of the race by the time runners cross the finish line in Spearfish City Park.
Runners who are also film buffs might recognize some of the scenery along the course: portions of the 1990 Kevin Costner film “Dances With Wolves” were filmed in the Northern Hills area along Spearfish Creek, which skirts the Scenic Byway (Highway 14) along the race course.
