As Rapid Creek rushes out of the Pactola Reservoir spillway, it's off to the races, descending thirteen hundred feet or so off the limestone plateau into the red beds on the outskirts of Rapid City, before it threads the gap between M and Hangman Hills in the Dakota Hogback. On the way it carves deep, serpentine canyons.
From Perrin Mountain to the junction with Cleghorn Canyon, it's a dramatic run, vaulted steeply (most often) on both sides, with occasional fissures in the walls as tributaries wend their way in. Foreboding talus slides rise from horsetail reeds at be-willowed bottoms to craggy peaks like Thrall Mountain, Tomaha Point, Commissary Point and Buzzard's Roost.
Trout luxuriate in the authenticity of the mayfly supply. Rapids widen into cool green pools.
This country offers stunning overhead views, creekside walks, icy-cool swims and solitary flyfishing, all just barely outside city limits.
From the Buzzard's Roost trailhead, trails on the West side of Buzzard's Roost Ridge lead South to a Forest Service Road that cuts close to the creek. From atop your choice of rocky overhangs you can roost for a buzzard's eye view of the creek and Commissary Point above.
Just a short hop down Highway 44, you can pull off in the first parking area on Falling Rock Road, and walk straight east to a boulder-strewn draw between sheer cliffs of Dark Canyon. This labyrinth is fit for a Minotaur, and here you can be Theseus, tracing your path with Ariadne's thread. The golf balls among the equisetum are detritus left by the hangry beast.
At bottom, the creek is crossable with water shoes. From there you can walk more or less straight South, as the ground rises from a low peninsular bend. Eventually you'll run into some of those forest service roads with no connection to any hardtop. There are small parcels of private land here, so you'll need a map.
The trees are widely spaced, with some deadfall, but easy meadow walking mostly. Pasque and shooting star abound. To get to the height of Commissary Point, you'll have to cut West away from the Road, maybe a quarter mile. For views you'll need to descend a little creekward to one of several rocky outcrops that overlook the Canyon.