The leaves in Spearfish Canyon are still very green today. We are at 2% towards the peak color change of the fall season. There is lightning of the birch trees’ green hues on the western side of the road after Long Valley Picnic Area. This cropping of trees may be among the first on the Canyon Byway to transition to autumn golds. Right now, you’ll also notice clusters of wild carrot/Queen Anne’s lace, the tall white flowering plant bordering the road. If you’re able to park for a hike or stroll, you might also see purple asters and white daisies. Today was also a day for spotting wildlife in the Canyon. Read more to find out which three animals I spotted today!

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.

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.