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Thank you to our 2026 Season Sponsors
September 27, 2022
The colors in the Canyon are now the most vibrant I have seen yet this season. From the golden yellows of aspen and birch popping out of the highest points of the Canyon walls, to the glowing red of sumac along the roadway, your senses are in for a treat! Leaf drop remains low, despite a windy end to last week. Yesterday, the mountain goats were showing off their climbing skills near Bridal Veil Falls.
Elm Trees in Spearfish Canyon
Color Change: 75% (High)
Leaf Drop: Low
The colors in the Canyon are now the most vibrant I have seen yet this season. From the golden yellows of aspen and birch popping out of the highest points of the Canyon walls, to the glowing red of sumac along the roadway, your senses are in for a treat! Leaf drop remains low, despite a windy end to last week. Yesterday, the mountain goats were showing off their climbing skills near Bridal Veil Falls.
Areas near Spearfish Canyon Lodge are at 90% of peak color change. At the entrance to the Canyon up until Devil’s Bathtub, we will continue to see progression towards peak color this week, most noticeably in the trees that border the byway.
It amazes me how different the Canyon looks while driving in from Spearfish going south and then back out on the same road heading north. Especially with the peak color we are seeing near Savoy, it is worth your time to make a longer loop and enjoy the sights. You will get a completely new vista seeing the Canyon walls and rocks from a different direction on the way back towards Spearfish. The way the sun hits the trees is distinctive, and the panorama of the colorful foliage along the creek changes.
Drive through the Canyon with me in this video: https://youtu.be/bKBXEHObg6k
September 23, 2022
It is officially fall! We will likely see the peak color change in Spearfish Canyon this week. Of all the places in the Canyon, the swath of trees near the hydroplant building at Devil’s Bathtub trailhead, the bowl at Savoy, and Roughlock Falls are the closest to nearing peak color change.
Roughlock Falls
Color Change: 50% (Moderate)
Leaf Drop: Low
It is officially fall! We will likely see the peak color change in Spearfish Canyon this week. Of all the places in the Canyon, the swath of trees near the hydroplant building at Devil’s Bathtub trailhead, the bowl at Savoy, and Roughlock Falls are the closest to nearing peak color change.
Today is windy in Spearfish. It is disheartening to see leaf drop when we are nearing peak color change. Yet, science tells us it is not the wind making the leaves drop, it is the tree. As the nights get longer and the days get shorter, a hormone is triggered in the Canyon’s birch and aspen that sends a chemical message to the leaves to drop. A gust of wind may help the progress along, but wind is not the only factor. I am taking solace in the fact that we are not quite at peak color change yet. That means many of the leaves are not yet at their “drop” stage, and hopefully they will hang on! I will continue to report on leaf drop throughout my next leaf reports. Read more about the science behind leaf drop here: https://www.npr.org/2009/10/30/114288700/why-leaves-really-fall-off-trees
Do not let the wind stop you. It is a spectacular weekend to visit Spearfish Canyon!
September 20, 2022
The winding roads of Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway are now lined with a sprinkling of golden leaves. Birch and aspen trees are still mostly green, but a few limbs on some of the trees are now transitioning into their fall hues. The best places to catch the colors right now are around Mile Marker 18 and at the Long Valley Picnic Area. At Long Valley especially, the layering of colors is breathtaking - from the purple and red groundcover, to the contrasting deciduous and conifer trees, and the framing of the limestone cliffs.
Mountain Goats Near Bridal Veil Falls
Color Change: 40% (Low-Moderate)
The winding roads of Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway are now lined with a sprinkling of golden leaves. Birch and aspen trees are still mostly green, but a few limbs on some of the trees are now transitioning into their fall hues. The best places to catch the colors right now are around Mile Marker 18 and at the Long Valley Picnic Area. At Long Valley especially, the layering of colors is breathtaking - from the purple and red groundcover, to the contrasting deciduous and conifer trees, and the framing of the limestone cliffs.
My husband and I biked the Canyon this weekend to celebrate our anniversary. As we trekked up the Canyon I wondered about the elevation change. There is a 1.7% gradient and total elevation change of nearly 2,000 feet as you cruise the Canyon. We are a little sore recovering from the 30+ mile up-and-back bike ride, but the views are so worth it.
I spotted some mountain goats on Monday evening! Check out this video to see more and learn about the Black Hills Mountain Goats. Their history in the Black Hills may surprise you!