Foliage map › Destinations › South Dakota › Spearfish Canyon
Spearfish Canyon, South Dakota fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in the Spearfish Canyon area peaks around October 10, with the best viewing from roughly October 8 to October 16.
- Typical peak
- October 10
- Best viewing
- Oct 8 – Oct 16
- Color starts
- Around Sep 28
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Oct 23
- Elevation
- 4,500 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 10. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s estimated status and the five-week outlook.
The season at a glance
Bar height shows how good the viewing typically is on each day, from September 1 through November 30. Colors show the stage, from green through peak red to bare.
Open Spearfish Canyon on the foliage mapWhere to see the color around Spearfish Canyon
Spearfish Canyon cuts through the northern Black Hills, with limestone cliffs rising high above Spearfish Creek and gold aspen and birch scattered through the dark pine forest. Bridal Veil Falls drops about 60 feet right beside the road. Near the village of Savoy, a short trail leads down to Spearfish Falls, about 47 feet high, and a walking trail follows Little Spearfish Creek up a side canyon to Roughlock Falls.
Scenic drive
The Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway follows US 14A for about 19 miles from the town of Spearfish south through the canyon to Cheyenne Crossing, tracing the curves of Spearfish Creek between the canyon walls. At Savoy, Forest Road 222 branches west into Little Spearfish Canyon toward Roughlock Falls.
If you arrive too early or too late
Too early? Still mostly green
Look for higher ground
None of the destinations we track within 150 miles of Spearfish Canyon typically peaks much earlier. Look for higher ground nearby: in this part of the country, color tends to arrive about 4 to 5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb.
Too late? Already past peak
Look for lower valleys
None of the destinations we track within 150 miles of Spearfish Canyon typically peaks much later. Lower valleys nearby are your best bet: color tends to hang on about 4 to 5 days longer for every 1,000 feet lower.
Nearby destinations
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Spearfish Canyon?
In a typical year, fall color in the Spearfish Canyon area peaks around October 10, with the best viewing from roughly October 8 to October 16. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Spearfish Canyon?
Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around September 28, and most leaves are down by about October 23.
What trees color up around Spearfish Canyon?
The main fall color in this area comes from quaking aspen, paper birch, and bur oak. See the leaf guide to identify them.
Estimates come from the Leaves.com model of typical years, based on latitude, elevation, and distance from large bodies of water. They are not live observations. How it works.