Thank you to our 2026 Season Sponsors
Thank you to our 2026 Season Sponsors
September 18, 2025
The fall colors are arriving in Spearfish Canyon. Autumn foliage is currently at 65% of its peak, or fullest color saturation. The tree-lined road at the entrance to Spearfish Canyon is bursting with golden ash, box elder, and birch. We continue to see some lighter greens until Bridal Veil Falls. Look west of the Falls where you’ll see yellow birch and hophornbeam amongst the volcanic rock. The red sumac northeast of Botany Bay is reaching 80% of peak. Foliage is also reaching peak colors around Kissing Rocks.
Color Change: 65% (High)
Leaf Drop: Low
The fall colors are arriving in Spearfish Canyon. Autumn foliage is currently at 65% of its peak, or fullest color saturation.
The tree-lined road at the entrance to Spearfish Canyon is bursting with golden ash, box elder, and birch. We continue to see some lighter greens until Bridal Veil Falls. Look west of the Falls where you’ll see yellow birch and hophornbeam amongst the volcanic rock. The red sumac northeast of Botany Bay is reaching 80% of peak. Foliage is also reaching peak colors around Kissing Rocks.
The countdown is on until the first day of fall on Monday, September 22, 2025. Fellow leaf watchers, prepare to enter the “photoperiod.” The photoperiod is especially important to the leaves’ color change. Photo means light. So, we are talking about the periods of light (or day length) as we transition into the fall season.
First, daylight is gradually becoming shorter as we enter fall. This tells the leaves to slow down in making chlorophyll. Chlorophyll gives the leaves their green hue. As chlorophyll production decreases in the fall, the leaves slowly reveal their true colors, the brilliant golden hues we see in the deciduous trees in Spearfish Canyon.
In my next report, I’ll tell you the second most important factor that influences when the leaves reach their “peak” or most vibrant colors. Stay tuned!
September 16, 2025
Leaf foliage has reached 50% of its full color in Spearfish Canyon. Lime greens are emerging in the rocky layers south of Bridal Veil Falls. The lime hues will fade into yellow throughout the next week. Around Devil’s Bathtub we are seeing orange colors in the leaves. This area is best viewed as you drive slowly northeast towards Spearfish. Savoy and the area behind Spearfish Canyon Lodge is a sight to see, as the seasonal transition to fall is on full display.
Color Change: 50% (Moderate)
Leaf foliage has reached 50% of its full color in Spearfish Canyon. Lime greens are emerging in the rocky layers south of Bridal Veil Falls. The lime hues will fade into yellow throughout the next week. Around Devil’s Bathtub we are seeing orange colors in the leaves. This area is best viewed as you drive slowly northeast towards Spearfish. Savoy and the area behind Spearfish Canyon Lodge is a sight to see, as the seasonal transition to fall is on full display.
Last evening around 6-7pm we had a rain, wind, and small hailstorm roll through town. Luckily, the Spearfish Canyon leaves are still hardy enough that the wind did not shake them off.
But what could the rest of the month bring, and when might we see our first snowfall?
My thanks to David Stradling, Chief Meteorologist at KOTA Territory News, for sharing reflections and predictions on our 2025 weather.
In 2025, Spearfish experienced cooler temperatures and more moisture, but less overall snow, than in 2024. Looking at January 1 through August 31, 2025, Spearfish temperatures were 0.6° below normal, total moisture received was 19.06" (2.67" above normal), and the 2024 snow season saw 13.5" more snow compared to the 2025 snow season (43.8" total inches).
Stradling predicts that “our fall months, September, October and November, will likely stay slightly warmer than average with moisture numbers near to slightly below normal.”
We can expect the first measurable snowfall for Spearfish, 0.1" or greater, around October 21. Stradling said he does not see any strong signals that point to an early snowfall but said we can expect to see snow sometime in the month of October. Our region could see above normal moisture during late fall and into winter (November to January).
September 12, 2025
The colors are beginning to pop at 40% of peak color in Spearfish Canyon. The ash, boxelder, and birch trees along the Scenic Byway’s first few miles look like fall has arrived. Lighter green and golden hues continue but are sparser as you weave through the forest. The shrubs continue to thrill with red sumac, yellow dogbane, and multi-colored Western poison ivy.
Color Change: 40% (Moderate)
The colors are beginning to pop at 40% of peak color in Spearfish Canyon. The ash, boxelder, and birch trees along the Scenic Byway’s first few miles look like fall has arrived. Lighter green and golden hues continue but are more sparse as you weave through the forest. The shrubs continue to thrill with red sumac, yellow dogbane, and multi-colored Western poison ivy. A good place to see both sumac and ivy is along the hillside west (across the Byway) from Kissing Rocks. Sumac has thinner leaves with many on a stem. Sumac is generally reaching a deep, bright red right now. Poison ivy has a cluster of three, droopy leaflets and is ranging from green to dark orange in the Canyon.
During last year’s Leaf Reports, we dove into some of the history and ecology of the landmarks of Spearfish Canyon (Split Rock, Bridal Veil Falls, Spearfish Falls, 76 Trail, & Maurice Intake). You can locate all these landmarks on this Leaf Watching Map.
Today, let’s take a look at Botany Bay. Botany Bay is about 4 miles from the Scenic Byway Information Pull-Off as you’re entering the Canyon from Spearfish. I’ve heard that this area got its name because of the wide variety of flora at this specific spot. This site was formerly a U.S. Forest Service picnic site, but it was decommissioned more than a decade ago.
Looking for a great picnic spot in the Canyon? Here’s my recommendations!
Long Valley Picnic Area. Seven parking spots for vehicles less than 25 ft long. Five picnic tables, some with camping stoves. Primitive restrooms. Long Valley is right next to Spearfish Creek. My family and I picnicked with friends visiting from Texas in this spot this summer.
Roughlock Falls. Five picnic tables and grassy areas for blankets are available just a few steps away from the parking lot. The walk around the Falls is paved, but has some inclines. You can do as much or as little of the path as you like and easily return to your table or vehicle.