Kinney Canyon Walk In Fishery Trailhead

The Kinney Canyon Walk In Fishery is a favorite among fly fishers. A four mile trail (round-trip), follows along Castle Creek and leads to the Deerfield Dam.  In summer 2023, construction took place at the Kinney Canyon Walk-in Fishery, just north of Deerfield Reservoir (Hill City, SD). This fishing access improvement project was a partnership project with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP), the Black Hills Flyfishers (BHFF), Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), and the United States Forest Service (USFS). A three rail wood fence with two angler access gates was constructed to exclude livestock from a portion of Castle Creek and improve function in the riparian area fishery. In addition to fencing, willows will be planted in 2024 and serve as bank stabilization, a forage base for wildlife, and add potential shade and overhang to further enhance the fishery. Directions: From Hill City, travel west on Deerfield Road for 10 miles. Turn north (right) onto Slate Prairie Road and travel for 2.8 miles.  The trail is just off the road to the west (left). This Trailhead is the westernmost trailhead for the Deerfield Trail (#40).