September 5, 2025
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.
