Devil’s Bathtub
Devil’s Bathtub
4.5

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  • Margaret L
    Pickerel, Wisconsin64 contributions
    Be prepared!
    Imagine your wife seeing a sign on the side of the road pointing out parking for Devil's Bathtub. Of course, I said "Let's check it out!" The parking lot was packed with no one in sight. My husband, son, and I begin walking along the creek on a narrow path. We come across others returning from their trek, telling us it's well worth it. We keep going along, into the forest, up, down, and around trees, rocks, and cliff faces. Clouds loom over the canopy. We keep going without knowing what lies ahead. Soon lots of people are coming back in swimwear with towels and such. Thunder and sprinkles, but we have come a long way crossing the creek many times on rocks and trees. It has become a path to conquer. We take cover under trees here and there and finally an overhang in the cliff wall. When the rain stops, we find Devil's Bathtub empty of people. What a wonderful hike and a beautiful path. Take water shoes if you can and plan for several hours!
    Visited July 2020
    Traveled with family
    Written August 8, 2020
  • jackbauerTX
    Saltillo, Mississippi346 contributions
    Great experience but be ready!
    Went here on a Monday and it was a great time for the family. We have kids ranging from 9-12. They did the hike just fine. This is a little gem hidden in spearfish canyon. The water run off isn’t so great right now due to not so much snow this past winter so the creek is really low. Having said that, the hike is strenuous and requires lots of hand holding (boulders and crossing the creek multiple times)I highly recommend, but just know what you are getting into.
    Visited July 2021
    Traveled with family
    Written July 19, 2021
  • emiburr
    Eitzen, Minnesota6 contributions
    Fun Hike for the kids
    Really glad we did this hike with our kids (ages 7 and 9). There are a lot of rocks to step on while crossing the creek, so our shoes didn’t really get we (unless you slip). Our parents (in their 60’s) also did the hike with no issue. The kids wore their swimming trunks and water shoes and had a great time playing in the water the whole hike (not just at the devils bathtub). We got there around 10 am and it wasn’t crowded at all. Parking lot near trailhead was pretty full around 12:30 when we returned. Devils bathtub isn’t huge, but still a fun side trip if in spearfish canyon.
    Visited August 2022
    Traveled with family
    Written August 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Will H
Dubuque, IA65 contributions
Jul 2020
This is a hike that is both good and bad. First, the bad... it's really crowded. We got started hiking at about 9 am on a Friday morning and saw a few people and even got to the 'bathtub' and had it to ourselves for about 2 minutes. Then the people started showing up in droves and we probably saw 100-150 people making their way up the trail as we headed back. Also, if you want an easy hike this isn't it - the trail isn't well marked at all, there's A LOT of poison ivy to avoid (and no warning signs about it, we saw plenty of people walking right through it in their bathing suits) and I can't imagine doing it without getting your feet wet.

The good: it's really beautiful and if you do it when there aren't many people around you can have a great time. It's also a fun hike with lots of different routes to explore. My wife and three kids and I all ended up just hiking back almost the whole way in the creek rather than getting in and out and following the trail. It was more fun (and in some ways easier) than using the trail (plus no poison ivy to worry about!)

I feel like this is a hike that Instagram and social media has ruined by bringing in too many people to the area.
Written July 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Amy B
Johnstown, CO772 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
Trail is not clearly marked so difficult to know where your going. Tons of people on this little trail. Water shoes are a mush and average physical condition requires. This is not a smooth flat hike. It requires creek crossings (many), rock climbing and excellent balance. Some places were quite scary and dangerous. If your take small children make sure you have a back pack to carry them.
Written July 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kori J
Bennington, NE90 contributions
Aug 2020
We hiked on a Thursday morning in August in a group of 4 adults and six kids ages 1-10. The trail was getting crowded by 10am so GO EARLY! We took the hike slowly and stopped to play along the way. Its a fun easy hike for kids. Everyone but the really little ones did the slide at the top. Prepare to get wet and encounter lots of other hikers.
Written February 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sonia H
3 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
This place topped our list of things that we did on our vacation to the Black Hills. My boys and I were amazed at the beauty of the hike and how challenging it became at the end. It was amazing! We loved how often we had to cross the creek and climbing the rocks to make it the final stretch. There were lots of little kids even who made it to the end and were sliding down devils bathtub. The water was freezing cold but we slid down it too! My 12 year old did it 4 times. The water does pull your down so you have to be ready to swim out cause you can't touch once you slide into the bathtub. They wanted to go back the next day and do it again. Such an amazing experience for us. There were alot of people on the trail which was great cause I wasn't sure where the end was. I thought we were there but they told us we had to keep going to get to the bathtub.
Written July 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John F
5 contributions
Jun 2021 • Solo
This hike is hard to find because the trailhead is 1/4-mile from the parking lot with no signage. Once you park in the lot labeled Devil’s Bathtub Trailhead on Google Maps, hike north along the creek until you hit the gravel road (Cleopatra Pl) and cross the bridge. There you’ll finally see some signs for the actual trailhead.
(Note: there is no cell service on US-14, the parking lot, or the trail).

The hike is just under 1 mile from parking lot to bathtub, according to my GPS watch.

My kids, 10 and 12, loved the hike which crossed the creek about 15 times on the way up to the bathtub. Crossing on the rocks was occasionally tricky but coming back we just walked in the stream at crossings, which was rarely more than shin deep. We saw folks on the trail from 2 years to 70 years, although you’d need help at either extreme.
Written July 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sheryl H
Saint Francis, MN1 contribution
Jul 2020 • Couples
Wish there had been clear signs stating where it is, how far, that it is not an easy walk. It was rough terrain, many water crossings, you have to follow others, there are multiple trail options along the way. I broke my sandal on the way back when sliding down a slippery rock, when crossing the crick. Wear durable shoes for hiking yet able to get wet. I got 10,000 steps in during this hike.
Written July 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lori, IA
14 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Hike was difficult. Had to cross creek numerous times. Trail and rocks were slick. Once we got there the bathtub was fun. But I was already dreading the hike back out. My teenage kids loved the hike
Written July 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sandandfreckles
Canada123 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
Worth it!!! The walk is a bit long but relatively easy - crossing the creek a few times. Wear appropriate footwear for wet feet (water shoes, crocs, gator waders). A few slippery rocks but nothing crazy. This was the highlight of my trip.
Written July 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NebraskaTravelBuddy
Lincoln, NE170 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
I was grateful to have good hiking boots and a walking stick. You’ll maneuver through a lot of rocks and water, but it’s worth it. Takes about an hour to walk to the “tub.” There’s signage for “designated trail” at the beginning, but then you’re on your own. Peaceful, stunning. We only saw a handful of other hikers.
Written October 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carrie N
Eagle Grove, IA462 contributions
Jul 2019
This hike provided great exercise and beauty! The hike was a lot more intense than what had been described online! There was a lot of climbing, descending, and hiking through the water. It would be very difficult to do this hike without getting wet! The 'bathtub' at the end was neat. You can go down a sort of waterslide like formation if you choose to.
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Devil’s Bathtub (Spearfish) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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