Spearfish Canyon Half Marathon
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Spearfish Canyon Half Marathon and 5K
The Spearfish Canyon Half Marathon and 5K is an annual running event held in Spearfish, South Dakota. Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026, the race functions as a fundraiser for the Northern Hills Area CASA Program, supporting children across eight counties in western South Dakota. The event offers two primary distances:
- Half Marathon (21.0975 km)
- 5K Run/Walk
The Half Marathon is a USATF certified road race (Certificate SD16003BK) that takes place on the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. The route begins in Savoy and follows Highway 14A, descending past limestone canyon walls and forests of coniferous and deciduous trees along Spearfish Creek. Participants must run on the left side of the road. There is a course time limit of 3 hours and 20 minutes. All finishers in this category receive a participation medal.
The 5K Run/Walk begins and ends at Spearfish City Park. The course leads participants through a local campground and onto a bike path that reaches the Spearfish Canyon parking lot before returning via the scenic byway and the bike path to the park. This distance is open to individuals and groups, though formal team registration options are not provided.
Transportation via buses is available to move participants from Spearfish City Park to the half marathon starting line in Savoy. For participants registered by June 23, a complimentary commemorative race shirt is included. Awards are presented to the top three overall male and female finishers in both distances, as well as the first-place finishers in various age categories ranging from under 11 to over 80. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
