Land Providing Access to Spearfish Falls Mired in Lawsuit

SPEARFISH, S.D. (AP) — As South Dakota moves forward with its plan to turn Spearfish Canyon into a state park, some private land that provides a bridge to Spearfish Falls remains mired in a lawsuit.

The Rapid City Journal reports that the Romano family sued property owner Barrick Gold and the Spearfish Canyon Foundation after hikers began skirting the edge of their private cabin retreat to access the falls.

The legal fight intensified when the Romanos put a fence across the path that leads to the falls. A judge ordered the fence removed.

The tract that includes the controversial bridge was removed from the state's land purchase to allow it to proceed. Park officials plan to provide access to the falls by rebuilding an old wooden bridge washed out in 2013.

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