September 20, 2022
The winding roads of Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway are now lined with a sprinkling of golden leaves. Birch and aspen trees are still mostly green, but a few limbs on some of the trees are now transitioning into their fall hues. The best places to catch the colors right now are around Mile Marker 18 and at the Long Valley Picnic Area. At Long Valley especially, the layering of colors is breathtaking - from the purple and red groundcover, to the contrasting deciduous and conifer trees, and the framing of the limestone cliffs.
Mountain Goats Near Bridal Veil Falls
Color Change: 40% (Low-Moderate)
The winding roads of Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway are now lined with a sprinkling of golden leaves. Birch and aspen trees are still mostly green, but a few limbs on some of the trees are now transitioning into their fall hues. The best places to catch the colors right now are around Mile Marker 18 and at the Long Valley Picnic Area. At Long Valley especially, the layering of colors is breathtaking - from the purple and red groundcover, to the contrasting deciduous and conifer trees, and the framing of the limestone cliffs.
My husband and I biked the Canyon this weekend to celebrate our anniversary. As we trekked up the Canyon I wondered about the elevation change. There is a 1.7% gradient and total elevation change of nearly 2,000 feet as you cruise the Canyon. We are a little sore recovering from the 30+ mile up-and-back bike ride, but the views are so worth it.
I spotted some mountain goats on Monday evening! Check out this video to see more and learn about the Black Hills Mountain Goats. Their history in the Black Hills may surprise you!
September 15, 2022
This will be a week of color change in Spearfish Canyon. Over the last two days I witnessed a significant transformation throughout the Canyon with the birch and aspen trees transitioning to a lighter green color. This change was spotty until yesterday when the whole Canyon seems to have joined the march toward fall. I anticipate we will see emerging yellows from these trees by the end of next week.
Grasshopper on Tansy
Color Change: 25% (Low)
This will be a week of color change in Spearfish Canyon. Over the last two days I witnessed a significant transformation throughout the Canyon with the birch and aspen trees transitioning to a lighter green color. This change was spotty until yesterday when the whole Canyon seems to have joined the march toward fall. I anticipate we will see emerging yellows from these trees by the end of next week.
As you enter the Canyon this weekend, be sure to look up and down the Canyon’s cliffs. Watch for those subtler, muted greens after the Bridal Veil Falls and Devil’s Bathtub parking areas, and directly above the Kissing Rocks. I am still hoping to see a mountain goat crossing this fall. In the meantime, I am listening for bees buzzing as the summer flowers still bloom. I am watching grasshoppers flutter from leaf to leaf. And if you look closely, you will see small gray and brown chipmunks that blend in with the Canyon’s rocks until their fast movements give them away.
September 13, 2022
Today the woodbine, a vibrant red climbing vine, is the star of Spearfish Canyon. You will see woodbine twisting around trees and climbing over rocks around the Canyon’s waterways. Another creeper which could not be ignored today is poison ivy. Poison ivy is giving us a full range of color right now to admire from afar with reds, yellows, and oranges often found all in one plant.
Woodbine in Spearfish Canyon
Color Change: 10% (Low)
Today the woodbine, a vibrant red climbing vine, is the star of Spearfish Canyon. You will see woodbine twisting around trees and climbing over rocks around the Canyon’s waterways. Another creeper which could not be ignored today is poison ivy. Poison ivy is giving us a full range of color right now to admire from afar with reds, yellows, and oranges often found all in one plant.
The bowl at Savoy is still the place to see the early signs of a season in transition. The dark greens of the conifers (spruce and pine) make a nice contrast with the actively lightening deciduous trees (birch and aspen). We will welcome rain that is forecasted later this week to clean off any smoky haze the trees have collected from fires in the Pacific Northwest.