Cascade Springs

Cascade Springs, located approximately six miles south of Hot Springs along Highway 71, is one of the most ecologically remarkable and serene natural sites in all of South Dakota. This is the headwater source for Cascade Creek, the largest single springs complex in the Black Hills, where six known artesian discharge points push crystal-clear water to the surface at a constant 67 degrees, flowing at an astonishing 22.5 cubic feet per second year-round. The consistently warm water creates a microhabitat so unique that it supports rare plant species found nowhere else in the state, including a southern maidenhair fern, tulip gentian, beaked spikerush, and stream orchid. The site is managed jointly by the U.S. Forest Service at J.H. Keith Park and by The Nature Conservancy at the adjacent Whitney Preserve, which features a gentle, less-than-one-mile nature trail winding through spring-fed creeks and lush riparian vegetation. Benches, a paved walkway, picnic facilities, and restrooms make it a peaceful stop for all ages.