September 14, 2023
Color Change: 25% (Low to Moderate)
Leaf Drop: Minimal
There was a dramatic change in the Spearfish Canyon leaves today. Whereas on Monday I noticed just a few splashes of yellow on select branches and trees, today I noticed some birch and aspen fully enveloped in golden hues. If you’re visiting the Canyon this weekend, admire the large groves of changing trees on the eastern side of the road after leaving Bridal Veil Falls traveling south, at the parking lot for Devil’s Bathtub, and (a personal favorite) the greens and yellows gracing the Canyon walls after Long Valley Picnic Area.
We are officially in the “lime” phase of the trees. This means the deciduous trees like birch and aspen take on an almost lime hue as the greens lighten into yellow. The fading greens are especially noticeable in the Canyon with its backdrop of coniferous trees such as the Black Hills spruce.
I attribute this striking transition in the Canyon over the last few days to two things. First, the warm days and cool, longer nights of mid-September are signaling to the leaves that it’s time to prepare for winter. Second, Spearfish experienced significant rainfall over the last 24 hours, and we had an above average level of summer precipitation, too. Recent rain like we had last evening really makes the colors in the Canyon pop.
With this one-page map of the Scenic Byway you can easily follow along with the landmarks in Spearfish Canyon Leaf Reports!
