3 Best Bars in Spearfish, The Northern Black Hills

Few if any nightspots in the Black Hills can beat the atmosphere at Sawyer Brewing Company, with its modern, sawmill-inspired building and massive outdoor patio, which opens onto a greenway and walking path alongside Spearfish Creek. Besides the craft beer brewed on-site, there's also pizza made in a brick oven. This is one of the newest areas of the city, where great care has been shown to incorporate the natural surroundings.

The fun-loving, adventurous, outdoorsy side of Spearfish shines through at Killian's, where the wood on the walls is imbued with character, bicycles are used as decoration, and the carefully curated beer and wine lists are ever evolving. A local chef sources local and exotic ingredients to create creative dishes, including some vegetarian options, which add surprising sophistication to the publike atmosphere.

Although not actually alongside the creek as its name implies, this quiet spot has a wood privacy fence surrounding the outdoor seating area, and vines growing around the entrance. It's a great place to enjoy a relaxing glass of wine on a warm summer evening. There's also a small indoor seating area, and often live, acoustic music from local and regional performers.