September 20, 2023
Spearfish Canyon is now at 50% of peak leaf color change. As you drive into the Canyon, the fall colors get deeper and more noticeable after Bridal Veil Falls and all the way to Savoy. Picking a favorite side of the Canyon’s byway is like picking a favorite child. As you can see on this map, Spearfish Creek winds along the Scenic Byway route. But, after Maurice Gulch the Creek hugs the Byway to the east and south, making a very picturesque sight for the senses. At Kissing Rocks, for example, golden birch and spruce trees frame the rocks and stream. With a closer look you’ll see multi-colored poison ivy peeking out from behind Kissing Rocks and lively shrubs and grasses revealing their fall colors alongside the Creek.
Color Change: 50% (Moderate)
Leaf Drop: Minimal
Spearfish Canyon is now at 50% of peak leaf color change. As you drive into the Canyon, the fall colors get deeper and more noticeable after Bridal Veil Falls and all the way to Savoy. Picking a favorite side of the Canyon’s byway is like picking a favorite child. As you can see on this map, Spearfish Creek winds along the Scenic Byway route. But, after Maurice Gulch the Creek hugs the Byway to the east and south, making a very picturesque sight for the senses. At Kissing Rocks, for example, golden birch and spruce trees frame the rocks and stream. With a closer look you’ll see multi-colored poison ivy peeking out from behind Kissing Rocks and lively shrubs and grasses revealing their fall colors alongside the Creek.
The summer greens of the birch and aspen are fading, and in their place golden yellows are emerging. A couple spots to watch this weekend are Maurice Gulch and Devil’s Bathtub. After you come to Maurice Gulch, look all the way to the top of the Canyon walls and down to the Canyon road. You will see bursts of light-green and golden deciduous trees cascading down the Canyon walls. The area southeast of the Devil’s Bathtub parking area and Hydro Plant No. 2 continue to be a spot to see bright, golden leaves that are nearing peak color change. Don’t miss the red sumac on the western Canyon wall at the Iron Creek Trailhead! You may need to park at the Trailhead to really see it.
As we learned last week, the Canyon’s colors really sparkle after the rain. With a chance of rain and cooler temperatures this weekend, the Canyon will be a beautiful sight to see!
September 17, 2023
Spearfish Canyon continued its march toward fall this weekend. Foliage is at 30% of peak color change. We are now seeing striking changes in low-lying Western poison ivy. In one patch of Canyon ivy, you can witness a whole spectrum of color transitions – from green, to yellow, orange, pink, to red. Five species of poison ivy occur naturally in North America. Our Western variety grows as a shrub, rather than the vine structure that differentiates Eastern poison ivy. The Canyon’s colorful shrubs will be bountiful this week. A great spot to view them is the western roadside after Victoria Tower. You’ll see three distinct patches of fall color in the slopes to the Canyon floor: yellow dogbane, multi-colored ivy, and reddening sumac.
Color Change: 30% (Low to Moderate)
Leaf Drop: Minimal
Spearfish Canyon continued its march toward fall this weekend. Foliage is at 30% of peak color change. We are now seeing striking changes in low-lying Western poison ivy. In one patch of Canyon ivy, you can witness a whole spectrum of color transitions – from green, to yellow, orange, to red. Five species of poison ivy occur naturally in North America. Our Western variety grows as a shrub, rather than the vine structure that differentiates Eastern poison ivy. The Canyon’s colorful shrubs will be bountiful this week. A great spot to view them is the western roadside after Victoria Tower. You’ll see three distinct patches of fall color in the slopes to the Canyon floor: yellow dogbane, multi-colored ivy, and reddening sumac.
The majority of birch and aspen are still in their lime green phase. If you’re impatient for some golden hues, take a gander at the trees southeast of Devil’s Bathtub. That area in particular is at around 75% of peak leaf color change. From the tip top of the cliffs down to the Canyon floor, fall is right around the corner.
Have you noticed the spruce trees that seem to grow straight out of Canyon rock? There’s more to the story than meets the eye. While I was taking photos of the multi-colored poison ivy this weekend, I noticed evergreen trees growing vertically on the top of Victoria Tower. This is not a unique phenomenon in the Canyon. Many trees seem to grow straight out of the limestone rocks.
According to geologist Gene Bauer as quoted in Spearfish Canyon: A Journey Beyond the Rim by Paul Higbee, the trees aren’t actually growing from rock. The key ingredient is water, along with the special properties of limestone. Water trickles into the limestone rock’s cracks and crevices. When the water freezes the crack expands, and soil makes its way inside the rock. Seeds are able to grow in the rocky cracks thanks to the soil, and also thanks to the limestone’s minerals which nourish the seed.
Peak leaf season will be here soon! Download your Spearfish Canyon Leaf Watching Map today to follow along with these reports.
September 14, 2023
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 (my personal favorite) the greens and yellows gracing the Canyon walls after Long Valley Picnic Area.
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!