September 22, 2020

Driving south in Spearfish Canyon near Hydro Plant 2

Color Change: 80% (High)

Leaf Drop: Low to Moderate

It’s the first day of fall, and the autumn colors in Spearfish Canyon are on full display. Perhaps most striking right now are the bursts of golden trees in the higher elevations among the rocks and cliffs. In those areas especially, you can easily witness the change of the seasons from a distance as you cruise through the Canyon byway.

This is the week to experience the multitude of colors in the Canyon: The lime greens of trees just about to transform, and the bright yellow trees leading the way into fall. Some Canyon areas are already at peak color change. Then a Canyon curve later you will see areas hiding their color for a bit longer.

Over the past week the long-distance views in the Canyon have been slightly affected by haze in the air due to the west coast wildfires. How does hazy air affect the leaves in the Canyon? Wildfire smoke may actually increase plant productivity (how plants use energy from the sun for food) according to researchers Kyle Hemes, Joseph Verfaillie, and Dennis Baldocchi. Smoke scatters incoming sunlight, so energy from the Sun can reach even further into dense plant canopies on hazy days.

The warm, sunny days ahead in the forecast are a perfect invitation to continue letting Spearfish Canyon show off her autumnal beauty. Welcome fall!