September 10, 2026
September 10, 2026
Color Change: 29% (Low)
The fall foliage in Spearfish Canyon is currently at 29% toward its peak seasonal colors. The Canyon will be the perfect backdrop for those ready to embrace the cooler, fall-like temperatures forecasted this weekend.
As you drive along the Scenic Byway, watch for golden trees around Split Rock (about 1.7 miles into the Canyon from Spearfish). Then, on the western side of the road, consider parking at the large semicircle near Botany Bay. The flora here is reaching peak colors into the mountain inclines. Look for additional buttery yellows in the birch trees on the western side of the byway as you approach Bridal Veil Falls.
I anticipate the vibrant greens across from Maurice Intake will begin to lighten their leaves into yellow hues over the next week. Iron Creek Trail hikers will notice golden dogbane at the trail entrance. Dogbane is giving us the most substantial color of all foliage right now throughout the Canyon.
Be sure to gaze beyond the vertical trucks of the evergreen trees this weekend. Doing so will give you glimpses of the seasonal changes on the forest floor, along with swaths of green deciduous trees ready to reveal their colors.
