September 7, 2026
September 7, 2026
Color Change: 18% (Very Low)
This is the first Spearfish Canyon Leaf Report of 2026. Our prayers are with our firefighters and neighbors impacted by the fire on Lookout Mountain that started Monday afternoon, September 7. For our out-of-town readers, Lookout Mountain is two miles north of Spearfish Canyon across Interstate 90.
The fall foliage in Spearfish Canyon is currently at 18% of its peak color saturation. As you enter the Scenic Byway 14A, you will see yellow dogbane with its distinctive red stems sprinkling the forest floor. Ground cover and shrubs are the stars of the Canyon right now! There are patches of radiant red Virigina creeper and sumac making their presence known throughout the Canyon, with more color saturation to come.
Mostly notably, we are seeing changes in the deciduous trees about four miles into the Canyon from Botany Bay through Bridal Veil Falls. Watch for bright greens and emergent yellows in some hop-hornbeam and birch trees in this area. The leaf colors create a striking contrast with the warm layers of sandstone rock, which is about 300 million years old.
We typically see the height or “peak” fall colors in Spearfish Canyon between September 23 to October 3. The hot, dry weather we have been experiencing in Spearfish during the later summer could indicate an earlier peak color season.
