Thank you to our 2025 Season Sponsors
Thank you to our 2025 Season Sponsors
October 3, 2025
This is the final Spearfish Canyon Leaf Report of 2025. Spearfish Canyon displayed peak levels of fall colors earlier this week. Fall foliage is currently at 90% of its greatest color saturation. Breezy conditions this week have contributed to heavy leaf drop at the mouth of the Canyon and south of Devil’s Bathtub.
There are still many spots in the Canyon to enjoy the fall season. Look for lime green grapevine turning yellow as it climbs from Split Rock through Bridal Veil Falls. Ash and elder in this area will continue to golden throughout the next week. Also watch for the deep purple berries from Virigina creeper vines.
October 3, 2025
Color Change: Past-peak at 90% of full color
Leaf Drop: Moderate
This is the final Spearfish Canyon Leaf Report of 2025. Spearfish Canyon displayed peak levels of fall colors earlier this week. Fall foliage is currently at 90% of its greatest color saturation. Breezy conditions this week have contributed to heavy leaf drop at the mouth of the Canyon and south of Devil’s Bathtub.
There are still many spots in the Canyon to enjoy the fall season. Look for lime green grapevine turning yellow as it climbs from Split Rock through Bridal Veil Falls. Ash and elder in this area will continue to golden throughout the next week. Also watch for the deep purple berries from Virigina creeper vines.
My favorite spots in the Canyon right now are south of Rim Rock Lodge and south of 11th Hour. Shimmering aspens are in their prime around Devil’s Bathtub, across the Scenic Byway from the parking area. As you approach Savoy on the Byway, look west to the tip-top of the cliffs for clusters of golden birch.
Last year I shared a video of the “Savoy Bowl” of deciduous trees changing throughout the month of September: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBusk3fRmYc
This year, I captured the leaves changing at another of my favorite leaf-watching spots, Long Valley: https://youtu.be/2B-NRZ0CXhA
In the Long Valley video, you will first notice the shrubs changing from greens and yellows into reds and burgundies. Next, look along the Canyon walls, where deciduous trees change into their golden hues. Finally, along the roadway the birch and aspen pop out behind the evergreens and line the Scenic Byway.
Long Valley showcases the Canyon’s diverse flora. But what makes this area extra special is the beautiful display of limestone as a backdrop to the fall foliage. I talked with a local geologist who shared that the top tier of Long Valley is Paha Sapa limestone that is 600 feet thick. Lower down we see lavender-colored Englewood limestone.
Your Leaf Reporter is signing off for 2025; enjoy fall in Spearfish Canyon!
September 30, 2025
It is peak leaf watching time in Spearfish Canyon! Birch and aspen are showing off their yellow hues around Kissing Rocks all the way past Roughlock Falls. Sumac and dogwood are still sparkling with deep reds and purples. The first miles of the byway are seeing significant leaf drop after a rainstorm rolled through town last evening. But the foliage colors and leaf abundance start to perk up after Bridal Veil Falls. In this area especially, the marsh elder are towering high with orange-ginger shades until Maurice Intake.
September 30, 2025
Color Change: 100% (High)
Leaf Drop: Moderate
It is peak leaf watching time in Spearfish Canyon! Birch and aspen are showing off their yellow hues around Kissing Rocks all the way past Roughlock Falls. Sumac and dogwood are still sparkling with deep reds and purples. The first miles of the byway are seeing significant leaf drop after a rainstorm rolled through town last evening. But the foliage colors and leaf abundance start to perk up after Bridal Veil Falls. In this area especially, the marsh elder are towering high with orange-ginger shades until Maurice Intake.
Here's a treat for insect lovers today. Check out the photo in today’s report of the pinecone-looking growth on the willow leaf. The pinecone actually houses a small midge, a two-winged fly. The larvae live on the willow branch which prompts the gall (pinecone formation). These late September days are when the larvae reach maturity. On this particular willow tree, several gall were already dried up and had taken on a black color. Luckily for the tree, the midge do not cause serious harm to the host. The tree serves as a neighborhood to build the midge gall homes for a few months. Sometimes the midge will stay the winter in their pinecone gall.
September 25, 2025
Fall foliage in Spearfish Canyon is approaching its most vibrant colors of the season, with 86% color saturation. Botany Bay and the areas south of Bridal Veil Falls and Devil’s Bathtub parking area are at or near peak colors. You can observe the season still in transition around Maurice Intake and south of 11th Hour Gulch where trees will continue to golden throughout the weekend.
Color Change: 86% (High)
Leaf Drop: Low
Fall foliage in Spearfish Canyon is approaching its most vibrant colors of the season, with 86% color saturation observed Sept. 25, 2025.
Botany Bay and the areas south of Bridal Veil Falls and Devil’s Bathtub parking area are at or near peak colors. You can observe the season still in transition around Maurice Intake and south of 11th Hour Gulch where trees will continue to golden throughout the weekend. Savoy and the locations around Spearfish Canyon Lodge are very close to peak, but some green can still be observed in the deciduous trees.
Crimson Virginia creeper is scaling the trees near Rim Rock Lodge. Wildflowers are still present throughout the Canyon, including a beautiful display of forget-me-nots on the banks of Spearfish Creek on Iron Creek Trail.
Leaf drop is still low, but you will see fallen leaves at the mouth of the Canyon and on the hiking trails. Take time to bask in the Canyon this weekend and you might just see a leaf fall!