Devil’s Bathtub
Devil’s Bathtub
4.5
Full view










Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Attractions
17 within 6 miles
See what other travelers are saying
- Margaret LPickerel, Wisconsin64 contributionsBe 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 2020Traveled with familyWritten August 8, 2020
- jackbauerTXSaltillo, Mississippi346 contributionsGreat 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 2021Traveled with familyWritten July 19, 2021
- emiburrEitzen, Minnesota6 contributionsFun Hike for the kidsReally 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 2022Traveled with familyWritten 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.
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
101 reviews
Excellent
70
Very good
17
Average
8
Poor
3
Terrible
3
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.
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.
(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.
Zuolin C
Houston, Texas, USA5 contributions
Anyone done this hike with kids in the summer (July)? I have a 4, 6 , 8 and 10 year old who are well traveled and good hikers (my kids all do scouting so they are outdoors/hike a lot). I have seen all the videos and read the articles and it seems doable with some assistance for my youngest. But I just wanted to see if there is personal experience for those who went with little kids.
karakara1
Minneapolis, MN107 contributions
I’ve seen photos of what looks like a waterfall. Is that the slide people are talking about? My teen daughter REALLY wants to swim by a waterfall, would it be the same kind of feeling?
Jennifer B
Avon, MN5 contributions
I would say more of a rushing stream than a waterfall. But my daughters loved it today.
How far is this attraction from Mt.Rushmore?
kmiller8410
Sioux Falls, SD28 contributions
About 1.5 hours. There are multiple routes to get there, but even the route that is 15 miles shorter still takes an hour and a half. Enjoy the drive and the scenery!
aspoe093
Pierre, SD616 contributions
How deep is the water once you get to the bathtub? I plan on bringing my 5 year old and want to know if he can go down the slide at the end by himself or if I would have to catch him?
grandforksfoodie
Grand Forks, ND130 contributions
I didn’t go down the slide but I watched as people did. Looks like the bottom drops off and has a little current and you swim just a little bit and then it’s shallow. Unsure of the depth. You can see the main spot in the pictures that is deep and then shallow. If he’s a good swimmer and knows what to expect, he should be okay but I’d definitely be near the bottom waiting just in case.
dhs
Pearl River, LA14 contributions
Where do you stop for this trail?
Stegall2016
14 contributions
There is a road on the left past Bridal Veil Falls. The road is Cleopatra, turn down this road into a gravel parking lot. Park there and walk down a path the trailhead is off to the right.
Could you bring dogs on this trip?
grimm2012
Clearwater, FL9 contributions
If you have a bigger dog that doesnt mind getting wet it should be fine for most of the trail. We had to cross the creek multiple times by steping on rocks but the water was less than ankle deep. You may not be able to get all the way to Devils tub, as there were 2 spots were we had to walk on a fallen tree. Even if you dont make it all the way there it's still a beautiful hike.
Recently viewed
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingDevil’s Bathtub (Spearfish) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Devil’s Bathtub
- Hotels near Devil’s Bathtub:
- (7.22 mi) Town Hall Inn
- (8.54 mi) 1899 Inn
- (3.92 mi) Spearfish Canyon Lodge
- (8.84 mi) The Lodge at Deadwood
- (8.39 mi) Comfort Inn & Suites Hotel In The Black Hills
- Restaurants near Devil’s Bathtub:
- (6.37 mi) Leones' Creamery
- (6.25 mi) Dough Trader Pizza Company
- (8.27 mi) Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates
- (6.25 mi) Killian’s Food & Drink
- (8.26 mi) Deadwood Legends Steakhouse at The Franklin Hotel
Devil’s Bathtub Information
| Excellent Reviews | 70 |
|---|---|
| Very Good Reviews | 17 |
| Devil’s Bathtub Photos | 82 |
































































