Roughlock Falls – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 279 – Devils Bathtub, Spearfish Falls, Roughlock Falls & Roubaix Lake (10-11-21)

10:13 AM, 56ºF – A gorgeous morning, comfortably cool and clear as a bell! Lupe paused on the Cleopatra Place bridge for a look at Spearfish Creek. SPHP was surprised by how much water there was even after a summer of drought. Squaw Creek, a tributary joining in immediately upstream of the bridge, was another matter. Squaw Creek did look low. Not a bad thing, since it would have to be rock-hopped a bunch of times on the way to the Devils Bathtub.

**Spearfish Creek** from the Cleopatra Place bridge. **Squaw Creek** visible at lower L.

The Carolina Dog had attempted to visit the Devils Bathtub a couple of times in recent years, but had never made it all the way there. The first time, SPHP thought she had, and didn’t figure out until later that the Devils Bathtub actually must have been farther up Squaw Creek. The second time, ice and snow had made the rock-hopping so treacherous that SPHP had given up on it. Lupe wound up climbing Spearfish Peak (5,800 ft.) and Little Crow Peak (5,885 ft.) instead.

Third time a charm? Hopefully! Lupe continued on across the Cleopatra Place bridge. The Devils Bathtub trail, which goes up the Squaw Creek canyon, started just off to the R. The Carolina Dog quickly arrived at the first and only bridge over the little creek.

On the first (and last) bridge over Squaw Creek.

Although the Devils Bathtub trail would cross Squaw Creek numerous times, right after the bridge it stayed on the SW side of the creek for a while. Even here near the start, the canyon Lupe was venturing into was fairly narrow and steep-sided. The entire canyon was full of trees and bushes sporting fall colors. Loop enjoyed prowling among dead leaves and mossy stones looking for squirrels.

It didn’t take too long to get to the first stream ford, a crossing forced by a pinch point where Squaw Creek flowed right next to a wall of rock. With the water so low this time of year, the ford was an easy rock-hop for SPHP. Lupe didn’t bother rock-hopping, she just waded on through.

As Loop continued up the canyon, the cliffs forcing many of the stream crossings became taller and more impressive. In some places the trail was braided, with viable paths on both sides of Squaw Creek. None of the frequent fords presented any real difficulties. Slick, damp stones were the biggest worry for SPHP. Lupe didn’t worry at all.

The rock walls forcing the stream crossings kept getting taller.

Father upstream at another ford. One of many.

Less than a mile from the start, the canyon narrowed some more. Lupe reached a spot where Squaw Creek flowed over bedrock at the base of a long cliff. Hugging the cliff, the Devils Bathtub trail went over shelves of solid rock right next to the stream.

Approaching the start of the continuous rock wall on the NE side of Squaw Creek.

The Devils Bathtub trail goes over these shelves of bedrock along the base of the cliff.

Lupe soon came to a series of waterfalls plunging into pools several feet deep. Between these pools Squaw Creek raced through narrow chutes carved into the bedrock. The overall effect was very beautiful. In lots of places Lupe could leap over Squaw Creek in a single bound. Even SPHP could just step across.

It didn’t take long to reach the large pool SPHP had mistakenly taken for the Devils Bathtub during Lupe’s first attempt to find it 2 years ago.

As far as Lupe had made it on her first attempt to find the Devils Bathtub back in 2019. She’d turned around here when SPHP mistook this pool for the real deal.

A little bit of scrambling around on the rocks had been required shortly before reaching this point. Somewhat more challenging scrambling was required to go any further. Nothing too daunting, but Lupe did have to traverse short stretches on narrow ledges 15 or 20 feet above the creek.

Up on a ledge above the **Fake Devils Bathtub** (L). Photo looks downstream.

Continuing past **Fake Devils Bathtub** (R).

Just past the **Fake Devils Bathtub** near the small waterfall that pours into it.

As it turned out, Lupe had almost made it to the real Devils Bathtub two years ago. Only a few hundred feet upstream of the Fake Devils Bathtub, there it was!

On the ledges approaching the real Devils Bathtub, the upper pool seen here.

Trotting along narrow ledges with complete confidence, Lupe arrived in jig time. SPHP, on the other paw, crept cautiously along the skinniest parts, but even that delayed arrival only momentarily.

Congratulations, Loopster, you made it!

So this is the Devils Bathtub, SPHP? The real one?

Yes, the official one! No doubt about it this time.

I’m not seeing any devils. Can’t sniff them, either. Are they invisible?

Hmm. Well, I’m not sure, maybe so? Or maybe it isn’t bath time? I hear they like to play dirty tricks, so they probably don’t bathe very often. Maybe just on Saturday nights?

Saturday night doesn’t make much sense to me, SPHP. I doubt the devils dress up and go to church on Sunday morning!

Good point, Looper. I really don’t know. Anyway, this is a beautiful spot, isn’t it? Let’s have a look around.

The Devils Bathtub wasn’t very big, so the “tour” didn’t take long at all.

Except close to the waterfall that raced down a slippery chute shaped like a waterslide into the Devils Bathtub, most of the pool wasn’t all that deep, just a few feet. That was plenty deep for a Carolina Dog, though. Lupe was not inclined to take a bath. She waded along the edge of the shallow downstream outlet getting her paws wet, but otherwise did not go in. SPHP avoided the water completely. July or August was really the time to be here.

The water was cold and clear. SPHP looked for fish, but they seemed to be just as scarce as devils.

Not all that much to the Devils Bathtub, is there, SPHP?

No, but it’s a scenic spot at the end of a nice hike, and quite a popular place to cool off in the summer.

I suppose its more exciting when the dirty devils show up. Want to go up by the waterfall, SPHP?

Sure!

To get to the waterfall meant scrambling up on another narrow ledge, but it was no big deal and gave a different perspective.

On the ledge leading to the waterfall that feeds the **Devils Bathtub**.

Neither Lupe nor SPHP was inclined to test the waterslide concept. Might not be as smooth and as slippery a ride as it looked, and it was October, after all. Would have been an exceedingly brisk experience.

Are we going any farther up the canyon, SPHP? Looks like we could!

No, think this is it, Loop. I went up there once a long time ago, before you were even around. Don’t really remember too much about it. There was a big old mine high on a steep hillside, the Cleopatra Mine, if memory serves, but the structure was crumbling away and dangerous even back then. From what I can remember, the Devils Bathtub is the last of these scenic larger pools along Squaw Creek.

If we aren’t going any farther then, SPHP, why don’t we relax right here for a while? Maybe we’ll get to see a devil!

Fine with me, but do you actually want to see a devil? They’re evil you know. Might be pretty dangerous if one comes along.

Oh, don’t worry about that, SPHP! I’ll bite any devils that try to give us a hard time.

That’s why I always travel with a Carolina Dog! You’re the best, Loopster!

A chocolate coconut bar, the American Dingo’s portion instantly inhaled, was shared at a sunny spot overlooking the Devils Bathtub. Sadly, not a single devil turned up for Lupe to do battle with before it was time to start back down the canyon.

At the outlet from the **Devils Bathtub**, ready to head back to the RAV4.

12:10 PM, 61ºF, Devils Bathtub trailhead along Hwy 14A, Spearfish Canyon – The return trek was just as gorgeous as the journey to the Devils Bathtub had been, but seemed to go even faster. It was barely even lunchtime when Lupe arrived back at the RAV4.

What now, SPHP? We aren’t done for the day already are we?

Oh, no! Want to visit Spearfish Falls and Roughlock Falls while we’re in the area? The trailheads aren’t that far away, just a few miles up Spearfish Canyon at Savoy.

The American Dingo was fine with that. SPHP was soon parking the RAV4 at the Latchstring Restaurant. The restaurant grounds bordered Spearfish Falls, but to actually get a good look, it was necessary to take a short trail down to the bottom of Spearfish Canyon.

A huge bald eagle was sitting on a stump out in front of the restaurant. Before hitting the trail, Lupe went over to take a look at it.

Checking out the bald eagle in front of the Latchstring Restaurant in **Spearfish Canyon**.

Although a handsome specimen, the eagle proved none too lively, sitting completely motionless on its stump. The action-oriented Carolina Dog quickly lost interest. Heading over to the Spearfish Falls trail, she started the short journey down to the canyon floor.

The Spearfish Falls trail leaves the Latchstring Restaurant grounds just ahead on the L.

View from a bench along the descent to the canyon floor.

The sign posted at the trailhead claimed that the Spearfish Falls trail was moderate difficulty and 1.5 miles round trip. Both were exaggerations. The wide, well-beaten path was mighty easy for Lupe, and it hardly seemed possible that it could have been 0.75 mile one way to the falls. Once down to the canyon floor, a short trek brought Lupe to a bridge over Spearfish Creek. The falls were only a little farther.

**Spearfish Falls** is on Little Spearfish Creek, which joins Spearfish Creek at the base of the falls. Got that?

Spearfish Falls may well be the tallest and most impressive waterfall in the entire Black Hills region. Certainly worth the minor effort required to go see it! Even at SPHP’s relaxed pace, the round trip took just a half an hour.

Next up was Roughlock Falls, only a mile away on USFS Road No. 222, which took off from Hwy 14A over by the Latchstring Inn across from the restaurant. The Carolina Dog still had plenty of time left in the day, though. Instead of driving all the way, SPHP merely moved the RAV4 over to the Roughlock Falls trailhead just past the inn.

The Roughlock Falls trail was broad and smooth. Most of it was flat, or nearly so. Super easy! It went up the scenic side canyon carved by Little Spearfish Creek. The trail generally wasn’t all that close to the creek, but shortly after Lupe set out, there was an opportunity to head down to it.

Little Spearfish Creek was cold, clear, and several feet deep. Below the surface, dark green plants swayed in a swift current. Small trout darted from one hiding spot to the next.

By **Little Spearfish Creek**. Photo looks upstream.

Same spot, looking toward the limestone cliffs across the creek. Photo looks N.

A mile went by fast. Loop was soon standing on the boardwalk next to the cascades below Roughlock Falls. From down here there was a great view of the cascades, but only a glimpse of the main waterfall could be seen at the far end of a narrow gorge.

On the lower boardwalk with a view of the **cascades below Roughlock Falls**.

For the best views of Roughlock Falls itself, Looper needed to get to the upper viewing platforms. Crossing a nice bridge over Little Spearfish Creek, a short stroll along a sidewalk quickly brought her to the first of the upper viewpoints.

Looking downstream from the bridge over **Little Spearfish Creek**.

**Roughlock Falls** from the first upper viewpoint.

To get to the final viewpoint, Lupe crossed another bridge just upstream of the falls. This viewpoint overlooked the brink of the falls.

Crossing Little Spearfish Creek again, this time just upstream of the falls.

After enjoying Roughlock Falls from all these different vantage points, Loopster completed her tour by wandering through the picnic ground immediately upstream.

**Little Spearfish Creek** from the Roughlock Falls picnic area.

It was mid-afternoon when Lupe got back to the RAV4. The sky had been clouding up on the way to Roughlock Falls, but it was getting sunnier again now. The Carolina Dog had completed everything planned in the Spearfish Canyon area for today, so what now? Tomorrow snow was in the forecast. It would be a shame to just go home instead of enjoying what remained of this beautiful day.

This Black Hills Expedition seemed to be all about water. Since Lupe had never been to Roubaix Lake before, SPHP decided a relaxing drive through the central hills to go see it might be just the ticket.

On the way, a stop was made up on Minnesota Ridge (6,240 ft.). Lupe enjoyed a short romp looking for squirrels while SPHP had a look at the fall colors.

Then it was on to Roubaix Lake!

Roubaix Lake wasn’t very big, sort of a glorified pond, but it did feature a campground with a sandy beach, plus a trail that went about halfway around the lake.

Arriving at **Roubaix Lake**, which is just a mile off Hwy 385 in the central Black Hills.

The trail started at a bridge over the outlet for Middle Box Elder Creek. After crossing both the bridge and the dam, the trail headed SW right along the shoreline.

On the bridge over the outlet for Middle Box Elder Creek. Photo looks SE.

Along the SE shore after crossing the dam. Photo looks W.

Getting a drink not far from the dam. Photo looks N.

Middle Box Elder Creek enters Roubaix Lake over at the far SW end. The trail began to fade away as Lupe drew near. This part of the lake looked very shallow, full of mud and thick stands of tall reeds. Late afternoon sunlight highlighted the reeds’ colors, making them glow.

By the colorful, glowing reeds. Photo looks SW.

**SW end of Roubaix Lake**. Photo looks W.

The trail went on, but appeared destined to disappear entirely. Probably about time to call it a day by now, anyway. A squirrel provided several minutes of excitement on the way back to the RAV4.

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 279 had been a success! Getting all the way to the Devils Bathtub for time ever had been the main objective, and Lupe had made it. Third time had been a charm! Really hadn’t been hard at all. Spearfish Falls, Roughlock Falls, and Roubaix Lake were all just icing on the cake.

A lovely Black Hills autumn day, but tomorrow, a first taste of winter!

**Roubaix Lake**, Black Hills, SD 10-11-21

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 251 – Bridal Veil Falls, the Devils Bathtub trail, Spearfish Falls & Roughlock Falls (10-17-19)

Want more Lupe adventures? Check out Lupe’s Black Hills, SD & WY Expeditions Adventure Index, Master Adventure Index, or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures!

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 61 – Roughlock Falls & Old Baldy Mountain (6-2-13)

10:47 AM, 66ºF, Latchstring Inn trailhead for Roughlock Falls at Savoy – So much for getting all the way to Cement Ridge (6,674 ft.) today! SPHP turned L on USFS Road No. 222 at Savoy in Spearfish Canyon, only to find the road blocked. Suddenly looking like Lupe would have to settle for Old Baldy Mountain (6,096 ft.) as an ultimate destination, instead of merely a preliminary goal.

The intention had been to drive past Roughlock Falls to a trailhead 5 miles away off USFS Road No. 134. From there, Lupe could have started out much closer to Old Baldy Mountain where Cement Ridge would have been within range, too. Oh, well! SPHP parked the G6 at the trailhead just beyond the Latchstring Inn instead.

Although Cement Ridge was not to be, the American Dingo didn’t care. Lupe was thrilled just to be out and about. Bounding out of the G6, she was soon on the pleasant one mile trail paralleling Little Spearfish Creek that went to Roughlock Falls. Good thing the trail was well above creek level! A week of cold, rainy weather had normally clear-running Little Spearfish Creek muddy and way out of its banks.

**Little Spearfish Creek** with USFS Road No. 222 beyond it on the way to Roughlock Falls. Photo looks NW.

Turned out, flood damage was the reason USFS Road No. 222 was closed in the first place. Roughlock Falls had tremendous flow when Lupe got there. Little Spearfish Creek was still flooding the picnic area above the falls, and the road damage was apparent up here.

**Roughlock Falls** with several times normal flow.

A popular Black Hills destination, **Roughlock Falls** seldom appears this robust.

Lupe took advantage of this opportunity to cavort in Little Spearfish Creek on what is normally dry ground.

Cooling off in **Little Spearfish Creek**. Not as “little” as it used to be!

**Little Spearfish Creek** was in the process of returning to its banks, but still flowing around this picnic table.

Continuing W beyond the Roughlock Falls picnic ground, Lupe and SPHP trudged along right on USFS Road No. 222.

Without a cloud in the sky, it was soon getting hot. After about a mile, SPHP noticed a trail N of the road. Turned out there were 2 trails. One went steeply uphill toward the canyon wall. Lupe took the other trail, which followed Little Spearfish Creek upstream, enjoying shady relief from the sun provided by trees growing along the trail.

After 0.5 mile, Lupe reached the Rod & Gun campground. Beyond the campground, the trail soon forked. Lupe took the Rimrock Trail, which climbed steadily up a side canyon leaving Little Spearfish Creek behind.

The upper rim of the canyon wasn’t much farther when a deer was seen fleeing through the forest. Upon reaching the place the deer had taken off from, a spotted fawn was seen laying quietly right beside the trail, its slender legs folded beneath it.

The fawn was alive, but remained completely motionless as Lupe and SPHP approached. Whether it was injured or not, was hard to say. The fawn was distressingly thin, with practically no meat on its bones. Its ribs stuck out a great deal. Was it starving? Without moving at all, the fawn regarded Lupe and SPHP with with sad brown eyes.

While it was tempting to examine the fawn more closely to determine its true condition, SPHP felt its chances were almost certainly best with its mother. The faster Lupe and SPHP left the area, the more quickly and likely she would return. Hard to abandon the defenseless, spotted fawn, but Lupe and SPHP paused only a moment before moving on.

10 minutes past the fawn, the terrain leveled out. A junction appeared with another trail shown as No. 76 on SPHP’s old Black Hills USFS map. A short break was taken here in the shade of a large pine tree. Lupe had Taste of the Wild, while SPHP consumed an orange.

After the break, Lupe headed W on Trail No. 76. It wound through the forest S of an area where there seemed to be a quarry or old mine, but Lupe didn’t stop to investigate.

A meadow surrounded by aspens appeared. Lupe came to USFS Road No. 134 just beyond it. A sign indicated that after crossing the road, the trail continued on to the Old Baldy Mountain trailhead, precisely where the American Dingo needed to go.

Happy Lupe in the meadow near USFS Road No. 134.

15 minutes after crossing No. 134, Lupe reached the Old Baldy Mountain trailhead. No vehicles. Not a soul here. SPHP paused long enough to take a look at a posted map.

The map showed 2 trails going to Old Baldy Mountain (6,096 ft.), still nearly 1.5 miles NW. An E route and a W route linked up again not too far from the mountain near a small lake named Baldy Lake. SPHP’s USFS map also showed a Trail No. 66 with two routes, and an unlabeled tiny blue speck close to where they rejoined.

At first, it wasn’t clear where to go. The only trail that left the trailhead went W, so Lupe followed it. The E route to Old Baldy Mountain soon split off to the R. Deciding to go that way, SPHP led the Carolina Dog N.

Trail No. 66 went uphill a bit before leveling out. Turning NE, it then started downhill. With all the recent wet weather, Lupe began coming to marshy areas feeding numerous little streams. Despite brief uphill sections, she lost elevation most of the time.

Aspens sprouting new leaves along the E route of the Trail No. 66 loop.

More and more water seeped from the hillsides. The trail became a small creek. Every drainage Lupe passed had its own stream running down it. These were all seasonal streams which wouldn’t ordinarily have had more than a trickle, if that. Lupe enjoyed splashing along through all the water, free to get a drink whenever she felt like it.

Trail No. 66 finally turned NW and went down a steepish, soggy slope. Upon reaching a low point, the trail bounced up and down, still winding along in the same general direction. SPHP concluded that the trail was destined for a particular mountain to the W that didn’t look very high.

No. 66 eventually started down a slope where the forest gave way to a lush, green field. Two streams, one from the SW and one from the SE, merged immediately upstream of a small earthen dam. The combined stream had succeeded in eroding a gap right through the dam, which no longer backed up any water.

So much for Baldy Lake!

Overlooking the broken earthen dam that used to back up Baldy Lake. Photo looks W.

As if to remove any doubt, a sign saying “Baldy Lake” still stood along the edge of the meadow. Even while in good repair, the earthen dam couldn’t have ever held back much water. In the best of times, Baldy Lake must not have been any bigger than a typical stock pond.

Due to the circuitous route the E half of Trail No. 66 had taken, a check of SPHP’s USFS map showed that Old Baldy Mountain was still more than 0.5 mile away. Crossing a small bridge below the broken dam, Lupe went W up the hillside beyond it, as the trail took her up into a stand of aspens. After going over a ridge, the Carolina Dog reached the junction where the W branch of the Trail No. 66 loop joined in again.

Taking the spur to Old Baldy Mountain, Lupe followed a long stretch of trail serving double duty as a mucky stream bed. Once beyond this area, the trail began climbing. Near the end, Lupe gained more elevation than SPHP thought she would, as the trail switchbacked higher.

**Beaver Creek** (L) from a switchback near the top. Photo looks SSW.

The top of Old Baldy Mountain (6,096 ft.) was forested and plenty roomy enough to move around quite comfortably. A sign stood at the end of the trail. From here, the summit area extended somewhat farther SW. Exploring out that way, Lupe could see Beaver Creek down in a big meadow to the S, a scene she had caught glimpses of on the way up.

From along the summit’s W edge, Lupe saw the deep forested canyon that Beaver Creek drains into sinking N toward a spot where tall cliffs of dark rock were visible along the upper rim of the gorge. Several ridges significantly higher than Old Baldy Mountain were in sight off to the W. SPHP spotted the Cement Ridge fire lookout tower on the ridge farthest N. It looked dauntingly high and far away. Clearly, Lupe wasn’t going to get that far today.

Relaxing in the shade, Lupe snapped at flies while having more Taste of the Wild. SPHP ate some fruit. Too bad Lupe didn’t have enough time to continue on to Cement Ridge (6,674 ft.), but the distant start due USFS Road No. 222 being closed had pretty much put it out of reach.

On the return trip, Lupe explored the W portion of the Trail No. 66 loop. Shortly after splitting off from the E route, the trail entered the huge meadow Lupe had seen S of Old Baldy Mountain. The Carolina Dog was nearly across the meadow when she came to a little stream that drained W into Beaver Creek. Leaving the trail, Lupe went down to have a look at the much larger stream.

Much of the ground near Beaver Creek was marshy, or just plain under water. Side streams with good volume were pouring in from every little valley and low spot.

After enjoying the view of Beaver Creek, Lupe turned SW toward a side valley where yet another tributary could be heard, but not seen. Upon reaching the valley, she turned SE climbing into the forest. This hillside was also full of springs, but Lupe quickly found the trail again.

No. 66 proceeded S steadily gaining elevation, before eventually turning E and winding its way back to the Old Baldy Mountain trailhead. From the trailhead, Lupe proceeded E to USFS Road No. 134, crossing it at the same place as she had earlier in the day.

Flowers along the trail E of the Old Baldy Mountain trailhead.

Instead of getting on Trail No. 76 again, Lupe took a logging trail farther N that SPHP thought might be a shortcut. Heading E, the logging trail climbed over a modest hill past a series of little ponds where frogs sang cheerfully until the entire choir would suddenly go silent when the American Dingo got too close.

The shortcut worked. Lupe made it back to Trail No. 76 again not too far from the junction with the Rimrock Trail. Another short rest break was taken here beneath the same big pine tree as before.

Although curious, SPHP didn’t think it was a good idea to take Lupe past the spotted fawn again. Instead of going down that way, Lupe continued E on Trail No. 76, staying on high ground for another 0.75 mile. At that point, the trail suddenly turned sharply NW, whereupon it immediately turned E again, descending a big gulch.

Partway down, the American Dingo came to an unexpected divide. The clearest trail headed uphill over a ridge to the ENE, while a more faded path continued down the gulch. When SPHP started on the higher trail, Lupe raced ahead, but SPHP was soon having second thoughts. Probably should have gone down the gulch in search of USFS Road No. 222.

Returning to the lower path, it curved SE into a narrow gorge. Lupe came to a very secluded and private place where water dripped down tall rock walls covered with moss. Only a short stretch was flanked on both sides with scenic rock walls like that, but it was very cool.

Going around a bend, the roar of Little Spearfish Creek was suddenly heard down in the much larger canyon. Descending a forested slope, Lupe found herself at the same point where she had left USFS Road No. 222 to take the shady trail to the Rod & Gun campground much earlier in the day.

The rest of the return was identical to the route Lupe had taken this morning. SPHP collected Lupe treasures along No. 222, coming up with quite a few of them in short order. At the Roughlock Falls picnic ground, the water had receded from where it had been this morning, leaving mud drying in the evening sun.

7:32 PM, 62ºF, Latchstring Inn trailhead at Savoy – Expedition No. 61 was over and done with except for the drive home. Old Baldy Mountain had been a fun day, but the skinny spotted fawn’s fate would forever remain a mystery. At home, Lupe was happy to see Guille’s car, and rushed into the house to greet her.

Evening in **Little Spearfish Creek canyon**.

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Black Hills, SD & WY Expedition No. 141 – Old Baldy Mountain & Cement Ridge (10-11-15)

Want more Lupe adventures? Check out Lupe’s Black Hills, SD & WY Expeditions Adventure Index, Master Adventure Index, or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures!