Rhapsody of color emerges in Hills

By Katie Brown, Journal Staff Writer | Tuesday, September 12, 2006

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The next few weeks will be prime time to view the "rhapsody of colors," throughout the Black Hills, Jerry Boyer, President and Trustee of the Spearfish Canyon Society, said.

"It's always such a fun thing to watch as the colors begin to turn," Boyer said.

He said the leaves of Spearfish Canyon are in their lime phase, when hardwood trees such as oak, aspen and maple are beginning to turn from dark green to lighter shades of green with a hint of yellow

Boyer said Spearfish Canyon could be in its lemon phase by this weekend, which is when gold and yellow hues take over.

The orange phase is when Boyer said "we'll truly see the rhapsody of colors."

Oaks turn quickly to gold and then a rusty color. Aspen and birch turn yellow, and then gold. They are the heartiest trees and hold their leaves the longest.

Cottonwoods turn yellow-gold and drop quickly. They are some of the first trees to lose all their leaves. Sumac adds a deep crimson to the mix.

Colder weather and less light means the leaves change faster, but moisture keeps them green.

Boyer said as long as the wind does not pick up, the weekends of Sept. 23 and Sept. 30 should be peak color days for Spearfish Canyon.

"Of course, snow is always a possibility, too," he said.

Boyer recommends two "spectacular" views in Spearfish Canyon. One is up the road from Bridal Veil Falls. The other is at the convergence of Spearfish Canyon and Little Spearfish Canyon near Spearfish Canyon Lodge.

Frank Carroll, public-affairs officer for Black Hills National Forest, said leaves started changing in the hills weeks ago.

"We're already seeing color here and there," he said. "It seems a little earlier than in other years."

Carroll said that although evergreens are obviously the most common in the Southern Hills, aspen, oak and various colorful brush also abound.

For the best views of fall colors, Carroll recommends Spearfish Canyon and Vanocker Canyon Road, which is also called Black Hills Forest Highway 26.

"There are a lot of aspen up Vanocker Canyon, and it's quite beautiful," he said.

Boyer said those driving through the canyons should be cautious and reduce their speed to watch for hikers, bikers and people pulled to the side of the road.

The northern Black Hills get more moisture and have more hardwood trees, but Carroll said Needles Highway also has some pockets of colorful aspens.

He said the longevity of fall colors depends on light and moisture. Carroll expects to see the height of fall colors in the Black Hills around the first of October.

Boyer said one change that is so slight that the casual observer will not notice is forest succession. That means more hearty spruce and pine trees are drowning out the hardwoods and, therefore, drowning out the colors.

"If it keeps going like this, in another 20 years, there is going to be a very limited display of the colors we're familiar with," Boyer said.

He said in those situations, fire will often be nature's way of intervening. The cycle then starts anew, and the first growth is grasses, shrubs and hardwoods, which once again can thrive.

"That's the cycle of the forest and the cycle of life," he said.

Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com