Thank you to our 2025 Season Sponsors
Thank you to our 2025 Season Sponsors
September 12, 2025
The colors are beginning to pop at 40% of peak color in Spearfish Canyon. The ash, boxelder, and birch trees along the Scenic Byway’s first few miles look like fall has arrived. Lighter green and golden hues continue but are sparser as you weave through the forest. The shrubs continue to thrill with red sumac, yellow dogbane, and multi-colored Western poison ivy.
Color Change: 40% (Moderate)
The colors are beginning to pop at 40% of peak color in Spearfish Canyon. The ash, boxelder, and birch trees along the Scenic Byway’s first few miles look like fall has arrived. Lighter green and golden hues continue but are more sparse as you weave through the forest. The shrubs continue to thrill with red sumac, yellow dogbane, and multi-colored Western poison ivy. A good place to see both sumac and ivy is along the hillside west (across the Byway) from Kissing Rocks. Sumac has thinner leaves with many on a stem. Sumac is generally reaching a deep, bright red right now. Poison ivy has a cluster of three, droopy leaflets and is ranging from green to dark orange in the Canyon.
During last year’s Leaf Reports, we dove into some of the history and ecology of the landmarks of Spearfish Canyon (Split Rock, Bridal Veil Falls, Spearfish Falls, 76 Trail, & Maurice Intake). You can locate all these landmarks on this Leaf Watching Map.
Today, let’s take a look at Botany Bay. Botany Bay is about 4 miles from the Scenic Byway Information Pull-Off as you’re entering the Canyon from Spearfish. I’ve heard that this area got its name because of the wide variety of flora at this specific spot. This site was formerly a U.S. Forest Service picnic site, but it was decommissioned more than a decade ago.
Looking for a great picnic spot in the Canyon? Here’s my recommendations!
Long Valley Picnic Area. Seven parking spots for vehicles less than 25 ft long. Five picnic tables, some with camping stoves. Primitive restrooms. Long Valley is right next to Spearfish Creek. My family and I picnicked with friends visiting from Texas in this spot this summer.
Roughlock Falls. Five picnic tables and grassy areas for blankets are available just a few steps away from the parking lot. The walk around the Falls is paved, but has some inclines. You can do as much or as little of the path as you like and easily return to your table or vehicle.
September 9, 2025
Spearfish Canyon is beginning to show us its fall colors. At present, the Canyon’s trees and shrubs are at 25% of their full peak color. The forest regions around Bridal Veil Falls and Devil’s Bathtub parking area are showing lighter greens and some yellows.
Color Change: 25% (Low)
Spearfish Canyon is beginning to show us its fall colors. At present, the Canyon’s trees and shrubs are at 25% of their full peak color. The forest regions around Bridal Veil Falls and Devil’s Bathtub parking area are showing lighter greens and some yellows.
As you approach Savoy, you will spot golden birch and dogbane. It almost looks like the trees are shedding their leaves on the forest floor at some spots, the low-lying dogbane is that vibrant right now. The emerging reds in the Canyon are from the sumac plant. It comes in various sizes throughout the Scenic Byway. Red sumac is hard to miss on the Canyon’s rocky hillsides.
Spearfish Canyon has the distinction of being one of the first places in the U.S. to see peak colors in its deciduous trees each year. This is because of the Canyon’s higher elevation, drier climate, and tree types. Places like the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee or Acadia National Park in Maine see their peak colors later, in mid-October to even early November in some years. Spearfish Canyon is a great place to get that first taste of fall.
September 5, 2025
This is the first Spearfish Canyon Leaf Report of 2025. The Canyon foliage is currently at 10% of its total fall color change. Green and lush at present, the forest will fully reveal its autumn hues in the next few weeks. Read on for my predictions about when we’ll see “peak” Canyon colors!
Color Change: 10% (Very Low)
This is the first Spearfish Canyon Leaf Report of 2025. The Canyon foliage is currently at 10% of its total fall color change. Green and lush at present, the forest will fully reveal its autumn hues in the next few weeks. Read on for my predictions about when we’ll see “peak” Canyon colors!
Yellows in the Canyon are emerging from ash trees lining the byway as you enter Highway 14A. Watch for turkeys crossing the road! We are also seeing yellows from dogbane, a perennial herb. Look up onto the rocky plateaus to see spreading dogbane and red sumac.
Wildflowers are sprinkled throughout the Scenic Byway. Today I spotted forget-me-nots near the creek on Iron Creek Trail and even a few daisies near Long Valley Picnic Area. Flowers can be hard to see from the road. It’s worth utilizing one of the Canyon’s many parking pull-offs for a walk to spy wildflowers up close.
I predict we’ll see the “peak” or most saturated fall tree colors in Spearfish Canyon sometime between September 23 and October 3, likely more toward the later end of those dates. The above-average rainfall we’ve received in 2025 means the trees are not stressed because of drought. This could mean a later fall foliage season.