Lawrence County, South Dakota
Waterfalls Near Lead, SD
There are 4 named waterfalls within a 30-mile radius of Lead, 3 of them inside 10 miles. The nearest is Bridal Veil Falls, 7.3 miles northwest of town. Spearfish Falls earns the best visitor rating nearby (4.8 stars from 174 Google reviews).
Distances are straight-line from the town center. Driving routes are longer.
Best Waterfalls Near Lead at a Glance
5 Waterfalls Near Lead, Ranked by Distance
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Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls is the closest named waterfall to Lead, 7.3 miles to the northwest in Lawrence County. It ranks 3rd for review count among waterfalls near Lead. Its own nearest town is Spearfish.
- Rating
- 4.6 (18 Google reviews)
- Address
- North Lawrence, SD 57783
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Spearfish Falls
Spearfish Falls lies 8.1 miles west of Lead in Lawrence County, number 2 of 5 by distance. It draws more Google reviews than any other waterfall near Lead.
- Rating
- 4.8 (174 Google reviews)
- Address
- North Lawrence, SD 57754
- Known for
- walk to falls, trail to bottom, pretty waterfall, view from bottom, easy walk
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Roughlock Falls
Roughlock Falls lies 8.8 miles west of Lead in Lawrence County, number 3 of 5 by distance. It ranks 2nd for review count among waterfalls near Lead.
- Rating
- 4.8 (127 Google reviews)
- Address
- South Lawrence, SD 57754
- Known for
- low cascading falls, walk to falls, streams, not too crowded, pretty area
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Thunderhead Falls
Thunderhead Falls lies 27 miles southeast of Lead in Pennington County, number 4 of 5 by distance. It ranks 4th for review count among waterfalls near Lead. USGS notes: Falls located 600 ft inside Thunderhead Falls tunnel and drop over a 32 ft precipice.
- Rating
- 2.8 (5 Google reviews)
- Address
- Mount Rushmore, SD 57702
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Grizzly Bear Falls
Grizzly Bear Falls lies 37 miles southeast of Lead in Pennington County, number 5 of 5 by distance. It ranks 5th for review count among waterfalls near Lead. Its own nearest town is Custer.
- Rating
- 2.7 (3 Google reviews)
- Address
- Mount Rushmore, SD 57751
Where the Waterfalls Are
Lead sits in or near the Black Hills area of South Dakota. Spearfish Canyon in the northern Black Hills is the state's waterfall showcase, a deep limestone canyon followed by a scenic byway. Bridal Veil Falls is visible from a roadside pullout, while Spearfish Falls and Roughlock Falls are reached by short trails near the community of Savoy; Roughlock Falls lies in a state-managed nature area on Little Spearfish Creek. Near Rapid City, Pennington County's falls include Thunderhead Falls, which drops inside an old mining tunnel as a private attraction. In the far southern Hills, Cascade Falls near Hot Springs is fed by warm springs, giving it a mild temperature and a popular swimming hole. Read the South Dakota waterfall guide.
By direction from Lead: 2 to the west, 1 to the southeast, and 1 to the northwest. They are spread across Lawrence County (3) and Pennington County (1). The average distance is 12.7 miles.
By Distance
Within 10 miles of Lead
Bridal Veil Falls (7.3 mi), Spearfish Falls (8.1 mi), Roughlock Falls (8.8 mi)
20 to 30 miles of Lead
Thunderhead Falls (27 mi)
Nearby Towns With Waterfalls
Waterfalls Near Lead: FAQs
How many waterfalls are near Lead, SD?
4 named waterfalls lie within 30 miles of Lead: 3 within 10 miles, 0 10 to 20 miles, 1 20 to 30 miles. Distances are straight-line from the town center.
What is the closest waterfall to Lead?
Bridal Veil Falls in Lawrence County is the closest, about 7.3 miles northwest of Lead.
What is the best-rated waterfall near Lead?
Spearfish Falls has the highest Google rating among nearby falls with at least 10 reviews: 4.8 stars from 174 Google reviews.
Which counties are the waterfalls near Lead in?
Lawrence County (3) and Pennington County (1).
How does Lead compare with other South Dakota towns?
Lead ranks 1st of the 6 South Dakota towns in our directory for the number of waterfalls within 30 miles.