Spearfish, South Dakota · field elev 3,933 ft
Density Altitude at Black Hills-Clyde Ice Field (KSPF)
From a field elevation of 3,933 ft, a typical July afternoon at Black Hills-Clyde Ice Field (84 °F) raises density altitude to about 6,382 ft — solidly into the range where performance charts deserve a close read.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25.8 | 2,659 ft | 35.9 | 3,348 ft |
| February | 26.6 | 2,714 ft | 36.9 | 3,415 ft |
| March | 35.0 | 3,287 ft | 45.8 | 4,006 ft |
| April | 43.5 | 3,855 ft | 54.9 | 4,598 ft |
| May | 53.1 | 4,482 ft | 64.3 | 5,195 ft ▲ |
| June | 63.3 | 5,132 ft | 75.3 | 5,878 ft ▲ |
| July | 70.6 | 5,588 ft | 83.6 | 6,382 ft ▲ |
| August | 69.5 | 5,520 ft | 82.9 | 6,340 ft ▲ |
| September | 60.8 | 4,974 ft | 74.0 | 5,798 ft ▲ |
| October | 46.8 | 4,072 ft | 58.1 | 4,803 ft |
| November | 35.7 | 3,334 ft | 45.9 | 4,013 ft |
| December | 27.3 | 2,762 ft | 37.2 | 3,435 ft |
▲ above 5,000 ft · ⚠ above 8,000 ft. These are planning references at standard pressure and dry air — afternoon humidity and low pressure both push the real number higher. Run today's values below.
Run today’s numbers for KSPF
DENSITY ALTITUDE caution
Field elevation 3,933 ft — the air behaves like 6,406 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 3,935 ft
- ISA DEVIATION
- —
- RULE-OF-THUMB DA
- —
- AIR DENSITY INDEX
- —
- AIR DENSITY
- —
- WATER · GRAINS/LB
- —
For training and reference · verify with official sources and your POH before flight · no tool on this site renders a go / no-go judgment
Nearby South Dakota fields
- KEFC — Belle Fourche Municipal
Belle Fourche · elev 3,191 ft
- 49B — Sturgis Municipal
Sturgis · elev 3,255 ft
- KRAP — Rapid City Regional
Rapid City · elev 3,204 ft
- KCUT — Custer County
Custer · elev 5,620 ft
- 9D2 — Harding County
Buffalo · elev 2,891 ft
- KHSR — Hot Springs Municipal
Hot Springs · elev 3,150 ft
- 6V0 — Edgemont Municipal
Edgemont · elev 3,594 ft
- 6V4 — Wall Municipal
Wall · elev 2,813 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KSPF in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 84 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Black Hills-Clyde Ice Field reaches roughly 6,382 ft at standard pressure. Hotter-than-normal days, low pressure, and humidity all push it higher, so run the day's actual numbers before flying.
What is the density altitude at KSPF on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 2,659 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 5,588 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 3,933 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Black Hills-Clyde Ice Field?
3,933 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KSPF (ICAO) / SPF (FAA), in Spearfish, South Dakota.