Spearfish Canyon is presently displaying 33% of its peak fall colors. A lightning strike sparked a quarter-acre forest fire on the north side of Spearfish Peak (on a hill close to Spearfish Canyon’s entrance) in the early morning hours of Monday, Sept. 14.

The fall foliage in Spearfish Canyon is currently at 29% toward its peak seasonal colors. The Canyon will be the perfect backdrop for those ready to embrace the cooler, fall-like temperatures forecasted this weekend. As you drive along the Scenic Byway, watch for golden trees around Split Rock (about 1.7 miles into the Canyon from Spearfish). Then, on the western side of the road, consider parking at the large semicircle near Botany Bay.

This is the first Spearfish Canyon Leaf Report of 2026. Our prayers are with our firefighters and neighbors impacted by the fire on Lookout Mountain that started Monday afternoon, September 7.  For our out-of-town readers, Lookout Mountain is two miles north of Spearfish Canyon across Interstate 90.

The fall foliage in Spearfish Canyon is currently at 18% of its peak color saturation. As you enter the Scenic Byway 14A, you will see yellow dogbane with its distinctive red stems sprinkling the forest floor. Ground cover and shrubs are the stars of the Canyon right now.