Last updated: January 29, 2021
Place
Stop #7: Spearfish Formation / Inyan Kara Group
NPS Photo
Quick Facts
Location:
43.612048, -103.401745
Significance:
Native oral traditions speak of how a great race was held among the living creatures which created the Red Racetrack around the Black Hills, also known as the Spearfish Formation or Red Valley.
Amenities
1 listed
Parking - Auto
Spearfish Formation: Permian and Triassic
Inyan Kara Group: Cretaceous and Jurassic
The distance is 8.4 miles from Stop #6 to Stop #7. Continue north on route 87 for 4.4 miles. Just before you enter Custer State Park, turn onto a gravel road called NPS 5. Drive 4 miles to a lone pine tree on the right side of the road. Park at the gravel parking area to the left. Look to the valley below.
The Spearfish Formation is composed of red shales and siltstones, both are extremely fine grained sedimentary rocks. The red color comes form iron oxides. The Spearfish Formation is often called Red Valley. The shales and siltstones have formed a valley because they are easily eroded in the semi-arid Black Hills climate.
The Inyan Kara Group consists of iron rich sandstones and claystones that form the hogback ridge that defines the outer rim of the Black Hills.
If you want, take a walk toward the valley. Can you see evidence that water has eroded the shales and siltstones?
As the last stop on the geology driving tour, you are invited to continue your drive through the park. Driving north along NPS 6 will take you along Red Valley into Custer State Park. Alternatively, continuing south on NPS 5 will take you out of the park to 7-11 Road (Custer County Road 101). You can also explore the park's geology up close by hiking one of Wind Cave's many trails.
Inyan Kara Group: Cretaceous and Jurassic
The distance is 8.4 miles from Stop #6 to Stop #7. Continue north on route 87 for 4.4 miles. Just before you enter Custer State Park, turn onto a gravel road called NPS 5. Drive 4 miles to a lone pine tree on the right side of the road. Park at the gravel parking area to the left. Look to the valley below.
The Spearfish Formation is composed of red shales and siltstones, both are extremely fine grained sedimentary rocks. The red color comes form iron oxides. The Spearfish Formation is often called Red Valley. The shales and siltstones have formed a valley because they are easily eroded in the semi-arid Black Hills climate.
The Inyan Kara Group consists of iron rich sandstones and claystones that form the hogback ridge that defines the outer rim of the Black Hills.
If you want, take a walk toward the valley. Can you see evidence that water has eroded the shales and siltstones?
As the last stop on the geology driving tour, you are invited to continue your drive through the park. Driving north along NPS 6 will take you along Red Valley into Custer State Park. Alternatively, continuing south on NPS 5 will take you out of the park to 7-11 Road (Custer County Road 101). You can also explore the park's geology up close by hiking one of Wind Cave's many trails.