September 28, 2023

76 Trail near Spearfish Canyon Lodge

Afternoon Goat Nap

Color bursts near Victoria Tower

Fall colors before Rim Rock Lodge driving south

Spearfish Canyon Fall Foliage Late September

Spearfish Canyon Looking North

Spearfish Canyon Looking South

Spearfish Falls Late September

Victoria Tower

Savoy Late September

Spearfish Canyon Leaf Report

September 28, 2023

Color Change: 100% (High)

Leaf Drop: Low to Moderate

It’s peak leaf watching time in Spearfish Canyon! The Canyon foliage has reached 100% of its autumnal color change. Most trees are now at their most beautiful and brightest colors. It's not too late to enjoy Spearfish Canyon’s fall beauty! Download the Leaf Watching Map to follow along with the spots mentioned in this leaf report.

As you’re driving into the Canyon, before the Scenic Byway Information Pull-Off, look east and you’ll see a preview of what’s to come along the byway. Here and throughout the Canyon, the bursts of yellow deciduous trees show off the “depth” of the Canyon’s trees. The trees grow deep in the rocky crevices, and layer by layer the trees remind us why the hills look almost black with dense evergreens.

The yellows of the Canyon’s birch and aspen are vibrant along the Canyon’s top ridges. The ruby red shrubs and vines that leaf peepers will notice in the Canyon this week are sumac and woodbine. These shrubs and vines are accompanied by glowing grasses along the eastern side of the byway. In just a few weeks we’ll likely see those same grasses poking out of our first seasonal snow.

Savoy and the area around the Latchstring, Spearfish Canyon Lodge, and Roughlock Falls continue to be stunners with abundant golden leaves. Yellow tree-lined roads greet leaf peepers throughout the Canyon. There are certainly a few twists and turns on the byway where the leaves will continue to transition this weekend, and the colors will deepen. Areas to watch that are still green and transitioning to their fall colors include Kissing Rocks to Long Valley Picnic Area and the sumac west of Bridal Veil Falls.

The weather forecast is warm and mild over the weekend. I expect minimal leaf drop until mid-week with rain forecast on Tuesday, Oct. 3.

This is the last Spearfish Canyon Leaf Report of 2023. It’s been another beautiful year, but I have a theory based on what I’ve observed over the last three years of leaf watching. This year I kept waiting for the purple dogwood around Long Valley Picnic Area to deepen and reveal its fall colors. While the dogwood is a sight to see, it’s still not as deeply colored as I’ve seen in past years. My theory is that in a year like 2023 with more precipitation, especially spring and summer precipitation, some Canyon foliage colors may not be as bright. As I’ve mentioned in past reports this year, a fall rain will make the foliage colors pop for a brief time (great for taking photographs). But overall, my theory is that a dry, hot summer produces more vibrant fall colors in Spearfish Canyon, while a cooler, wet summer mutes the colors. That being said, I had more mountain goat sightings this year than ever before (going into the Canyon the same number of times). So maybe the goats are feeling friendlier after a wet summer.

These are theories I will watch for in future years. Until then, enjoy fall 2023 in Spearfish!

September 25, 2023

Iron Creek Trailhead

Iron Creek

Water Forget-Me-Nots at Iron Creek Trail

Roughlock Falls Trail (9/23/25)

Roughlock Falls Trail (9/23/25)

Roughlock Falls Trail (9/23/25)

Color Change: 80% (High)

Leaf Drop: Low to Moderate

It’s officially fall! Spearfish Canyon is at 80% of its peak leaf color change. The deeper you drive into the Canyon, the more vivid colors you will see. Savoy and Roughlock Falls are spectacular sights right now. The golden hues of the birch and aspen seem to cascade amongst the Canyon rocks at Savoy. This is a great spot to view a season in transition, where many trees are at peak beauty while others will still reveal their colors throughout this week. Take advantage of the car pull-off spots as you enter Savoy to take in the fall splendor in all directions.

While hiking to Roughlock Falls on Saturday, I was reminded that each of the Canyon’s trails has its own unique treasures from unique creek views and sounds, to distinctive foliage and wildlife. Today at Iron Creek Trailhead, for example, my fellow leaf peepers (my son and aunt) spotted a chipmunk while I spied purple forget-me-nots near the waterway. We marveled at the golden birch lining the trail and sumac covering the castle-like rocks.

According to our calendars, the fall season started at 12:50 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23. Why is it that our fall equinox and peak leaf watching season seem to coincide? The fall equinox on Saturday was the exact moment when the sun’s rays shone over the equator. On the equinox, we have equal hours of daylight and dark night (12 hours each). The amount of daylight contributes to the extraordinary changes we see in the leaves in late September, when the fall equinox occurs.

There are three factors that influence autumn leaf color: Leaf pigments, length of the night, and the weather. Now that we are past the equinox, the Northern Hemisphere will get less hours of daylight. Longer and cooler nights in the fall signal to the trees to begin their biochemical processes to prepare for winter. Chlorophyll is what gives the leaves their green color and is necessary for photosynthesis, when sunlight is used to make leaf food. In the autumn, chlorophyll production slows down, then stops, and is eventually destroyed. When this happens, the leaf pigments become unmasked revealing their fall colors.

It's not too late to enjoy Spearfish Canyon’s fall beauty! Download the Leaf Watching Map to follow along with the spots mentioned in these leaf reports.   

September 20, 2023

Curve after Long Valley Picnic Area

Kissing Rocks

Maurice Gulch

Woodbine/Thicket Creeper

Color Change: 50% (Moderate)

Leaf Drop: Minimal

Spearfish Canyon is now at 50% of peak leaf color change. As you drive into the Canyon, the fall colors get deeper and more noticeable after Bridal Veil Falls and all the way to Savoy. Picking a favorite side of the Canyon’s byway is like picking a favorite child. As you can see on this map, Spearfish Creek winds along the Scenic Byway route. But, after Maurice Gulch the Creek hugs the Byway to the east and south, making a very picturesque sight for the senses. At Kissing Rocks, for example, golden birch and spruce trees frame the rocks and stream. With a closer look you’ll see multi-colored poison ivy peeking out from behind Kissing Rocks and lively shrubs and grasses revealing their fall colors alongside the Creek.

The summer greens of the birch and aspen are fading, and in their place golden yellows are emerging. A couple spots to watch this weekend are Maurice Gulch and Devil’s Bathtub. After you come to Maurice Gulch, look all the way to the top of the Canyon walls and down to the Canyon road. You will see bursts of light-green and golden deciduous trees cascading down the Canyon walls. The area southeast of the Devil’s Bathtub parking area and Hydro Plant No. 2 continue to be a spot to see bright, golden leaves that are nearing peak color change. Don’t miss the red sumac on the western Canyon wall at the Iron Creek Trailhead! You may need to park at the Trailhead to really see it.

As we learned last week, the Canyon’s colors really sparkle after the rain. With a chance of rain and cooler temperatures this weekend, the Canyon will be a beautiful sight to see!