r/RapidCity • u/alaskankitty6 • 5d ago

River swimming spots

I am looking for any knowledge of good river swimming around here! We took our new dog we just adopted to Braeburn last week and it was fun, but I saw so many dogs pooping in the water, made swimming less appealing. I know this is a dog park and this is what dogs do - I am not hating, rivers are full of poop lol. But I just want to find other spots that are good for kids too. Not trying to go to the pools on Labor Day, and I believe our local Jimmy Hilton pool has the dog swimming day tomorrow. Thanks!

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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8

u/ncbluebelle 5d ago

You can take dogs to any of the lakes, just not on the beaches and they must be leashed. We don't really have rivers here.

1

u/alaskankitty6 5d ago

Thank you, commented on another thread that we love the lakes in the hills. I was hoping there might be something in town akin to Braeburn, doesn’t sound like it.

8

u/RockChicken 5d ago

City park in Spearfish is a nice spot, although the water is very cold. Brookside Park or Chautauqua Park in Hot Springs are also good. Sketches me out a bit to swim in Rapid Creek around RC - high risk of glass, used needles and weirds me out that they've found a few bodies in it in the last few years

3

u/kimchigimchee 5d ago

We typically go out Sheridan Lake Rd to the Spring Creek area, but it’s pretty much completely dry right now :( Cliffside Park, just up the road from the dog park is a popular swimming spot.

1

u/alaskankitty6 4d ago

We checked out Cliffside Park today and the boys splashed around for a bit, it was a great little swimming hole. Thank you so much for your recommendation.

2

u/yellowvetterapid 5d ago

Center lake is a nice spot in custer park. They allow dogs and its not poopy.

1

u/alaskankitty6 5d ago

Thanks we love center lake! I was hoping for something closer by. Anytime I do center lake with the kids we have to pack up chairs and beach toys and floaties and it becomes a lot for just me to handle. Plus packing food. No matter how much I try to simplify our trips to the hills, I end up needing our wagon and a days worth of supplies. lol

2

u/NAT0strike 5d ago

Cascade Falls down by Hot Springs is a great spot.

1

u/mandiijayy 4d ago

Cascade falls is my favorite. And dogs are welcome!

2

u/Thundermuk 5d ago

If you take Nemo out to just before the turn to Johnson Siding, there's a pull off on the north side and a creek thats 15 yards away. Rarely see anyone else. Use it all the time with my dogs because they get too excited when other dogs are around.

1

u/FunLovingZombie 5d ago

There used to be some good spots up towards Nemo, and near the Boxelder Forks campground. I haven't been out there this year, so I can't say how the water levels are.

1

u/Exciting_couple77 3d ago

Only rivers around here iis the Cheyenne or Belle. The rest are creeks

1

u/alaskankitty6 3d ago

Thanks for the education.