Thank you to our 2026 Season Sponsors
Thank you to our 2026 Season Sponsors
September 7, 2023
This is the first Spearfish Canyon Leaf Report of 2023. Color change is very minimal at this time, with a sprinkling of yellow from low-lying dogbane and stripes of red emerging from sumac and woodbine. Even this sampling of color change is still very sparse in the Canyon. Yellow dogbane can be observed near Victoria on the western side of the road and near Long Valley Picnic Area on the eastern side of the byway. No emergent fall colors were yet observed in birch and aspen. It is time to enjoy the lush greens resulting from a wet summer as we await the fall foliage.
Color Change: 1% (Very Low)
This is the first Spearfish Canyon Leaf Report of 2023. Color change is very minimal at this time, with a sprinkling of yellow from low-lying dogbane and stripes of red emerging from sumac and woodbine. Even this sampling of color change is still very sparse in the Canyon. Yellow dogbane can be observed near Victoria on the western side of the road and near Long Valley Picnic Area on the eastern side of the byway. No emergent fall colors were yet observed in birch and aspen. It is time to enjoy the lush greens resulting from a wet summer as we await the fall foliage.
Within boundaries of green trees and grasses, the Canyon’s scenic waterways are on show. Spearfish Creek is one of the Black Hills’ major streams. The Creek gets its start as a spring in the limestone plateau south of Spearfish, on the western side of the Black Hills. Flowing north through the Canyon, Spearfish Creek later joins the Redwater River (Belle Fourche River). Waterways in Spearfish Canyon have their own story and history, being utilized as food source by Native Americans and later Homestake Mining Company harnessing the power of the creek in their expansion in the early 1900s. Landmarks from Homestake’s expansion are still visible in the Canyon today, namely Hydropower Plant No. 2 and the hydroelectric plant at Maurice.
Download the Spearfish Canyon Leaf Watching Map to locate the landmarks and leaf watching spots mentioned in this report. It’s going to be a beautiful season watching the Canyon reveal her fall colors!
October 4, 2022
This is the last Spearfish Canyon leaf report of 2022. After a stormy weekend which included rain, wind, and hail in Spearfish, I can report the Canyon still stands and is still worth seeing! The mouth of the Canyon is bursting with colors from the cottonwoods and oaks. Sumac is reaching its own peak color change taking on a gorgeous deep red color from Rim Rock Lodge past Bridal Veil Falls. Low-lying Canyon grasses are also hinting at a crimson hue.
Trees and shrubs at their peak behind Spearfish Canyon Lodge
Color Change: 85% (High – Post-Peak Color)
Leaf Drop: Moderate
This is the last Spearfish Canyon leaf report of 2022. After a stormy weekend which included rain, wind, and hail in Spearfish, I can report the Canyon still stands and is still worth seeing! The mouth of the Canyon is bursting with colors from the cottonwoods and oaks. Sumac is reaching its own peak color change taking on a gorgeous deep red color from Rim Rock Lodge past Bridal Veil Falls. Low-lying Canyon grasses are also hinting at a crimson hue.
Bridal Veil Falls is perhaps its most beautiful now with the trees surrounding its Canyon walls finally making their seasonal transition. Something to look forward to in the spring: Bridal Veil Falls will flow with more water in the spring as the snow melts at higher elevations.
Leaf drop is moderate and especially noticeable around the Maurice Intake. While you will certainly notice leaves on the ground as you drive through the Canyon, the dropped golden leaves add their own beauty to the groundcover. The areas around Savoy and Spearfish Canyon Lodge continue to hold strong with yellows, oranges, and greens. Mild, cooler weather is in the forecast for the remainder of this week. Enjoy fall in Spearfish Canyon!
September 30, 2022
We are now at peak color change in Spearfish Canyon. Nearly every glimpse and glance you take reveals bountiful colors. Some of the goldens I mentioned this season are now taking on an orange hue. The bowl at Savoy and the trees behind Spearfish Canyon Lodge are obvious stunners right now. If you drive slow, you will notice birch and aspen that seem to climb the Canyon ridges behind the Victoria Lane road sign and looking south from Kissing Rocks. From Rim Rock Lodge to Bridal Veil Falls, the woodbine is a dazzling red, latching on and ascending the Canyon’s trees.
Bowl at Savoy
Color Change: 100% (High – Peak Color)
Leaf Drop: Low
We are now at peak color change in Spearfish Canyon. Nearly every glimpse and glance you take reveals bountiful colors. Some of the goldens I mentioned this season are now taking on an orange hue. The bowl at Savoy and the trees behind Spearfish Canyon Lodge are obvious stunners right now. If you drive slow, you will notice birch and aspen that seem to climb the Canyon ridges behind the Victoria Lane road sign and looking south from Kissing Rocks. From Rim Rock Lodge to Bridal Veil Falls, the woodbine is a dazzling red, latching on and ascending the Canyon’s trees.
As I teased in my last report, the trees that will follow you along the Canyon byway have greatly progressed in their color change since earlier this week. We could still see more color emerging around the road’s borders in the coming days. The weather forecast includes a chance of thunderstorms this weekend, followed by cooler temperatures next week. Be safe and drive safe!