Thank you to our 2025 Season Sponsors
Thank you to our 2025 Season Sponsors
September 23, 2025
The Spearfish Canyon trees and flora have reached 72% of their most vibrant fall colors. Prominent yellow leaves in the Canyon right now are from the birch trees. Birch have been captivating us all season near Savoy, but as of late we have been waiting to see those golden hues emerging south of 11th Hour Gulch. Finally today we see hints of the brilliant yellow colors to come in that area. Prominent red leaves in the Canyon right now are from the Virginia creeper, also called five-leaf ivy.
Color Change: 72% (High)
Leaf Drop: Low
The Spearfish Canyon trees and flora have reached 72% of their most vibrant fall colors.
Prominent yellow leaves in the Canyon right now are from the birch trees. Birch have been captivating us all season near Savoy, but as of late we have been waiting to see those golden hues emerging south of 11th Hour Gulch. Finally today we see hints of the brilliant yellow colors to come in that area.
Prominent red leaves in the Canyon right now are from the Virginia creeper, also called five-leaf ivy. You will see this vibrant plant climbing tree trunks and spreading on the ground south of the Devil’s Bathtub parking area.
In the Sept. 18 Leaf Report, I shared one of the two most important factors that influence when leaves reach their peak: the decrease in daylight hours.
The second most important factor in the fall leaf transition is cooler temperatures. Forecasted weather for this week is warm and sunny, with daytime temperatures in the high 70s. It looks like a beautiful weather week to hike, bike, and cruise in the Canyon. The warm weather we are currently experiencing may be slowing down the leaves’ progression towards fall colors.
This month’s balminess is actually on par with what Spearfish typically experiences in the month of June. Yet in late September, it is the combination of 1) less daylight hours along with 2) cooler, longer evenings (nighttime temperatures in the 50s this week) that are signaling to the leaves it is time to prepare for winter.
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).