Lookout Mountain

Updated on December 9, 2023  •  3 minute read  • 523 words

 3.6 mile hike  • 826 feet elevation

Lookout mountain looks over the city of Spearfish, South Dakota and provides views of the entire city and its surrounding area. It’s a common trail for hiking, running, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Two main trails exist for hiking the mountain with varying difficulty. The mountain is a part of Spearfish’s history and original settlement.

Useful Information

• There are two trailheads. Both are free and both are located in residential areas.
• There is no drinking water or bathrooms available on the trail.
• Leashed pets are allowed.
• The trail is open year-round and doesn’t get much more difficult in the winter months.
• The entire trail is exposed to the sun and can get very hot in the summer months.
• Rattle snakes are common on the trail and hikers should be cautious.

Directions

There are two trailheads for Lookout Mountain. Both trailheads are free and have room for multiple vehicles.

The first is located on Pony Express Lane in the residential area of Sandstone within Spearfish.

The second is located on Nevada Street on the front side of Lookout Mountain and is the official trailhead for the Lookout Mountain Trail.

The Trails

The trail starting on Pony Express Lane, follows the vehicle service road up the backside of Lookout Mountain. Gates are in place to keep resident’s vehicles from using the service road along with door gates to let hikers easily pass. The service road provides an easy hike for the majority of the mountain. The last section of the hike requires climbing a rock pile to get to the top. A well-traveled trail exists up the rocks but caution should still be taken not to miss-step.

The second trail takes you up the front side of Lookout Mountain. The trail begins by traveling through an underpass for I-90. This is the more difficult of the trails. Most of this trail is a worn foot trail before reaching the same pile of rock for the final climb to the top. Rattlesnakes are especially prevalent on this trail and hikers should be extra cautious.

The view from the top of Lookout Mountain is spectacular. The entire city of Spearfish can be seen along with the surrounding area. The top of the mountain is a great place to watch the sunrise or sunset.

History

It’s believed that Native Americans first used Lookout Mountain as a lookout and that is how the mountain gained its name. Initial settlers are believed to have chosen the location for the same reason.

The Thoen Stone is a piece of sandstone that was found on Lookout Mountain describing the events of some of the area’s first gold miners as early as 1833. The stone contains etchings from the single survivor of the mining party. A replica of this stone can be found on The Thoen Stone hike on the southwest side of Spearfish. The etchings were done by Ezra Kind and talk of the seven others in his group being killed by Native Americans. He mentions getting all the gold he could carry but their horses were all dead, he’d lost his gun, had nothing to eat, and was still being hunted.