Here Are The Best Times And Places To View South Dakota's Fall Foliage In 2023
By Tori Jane|Published September 06, 2023
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Tori Jane
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Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
South Dakota doesn’t get enough credit for its awesome autumn displays if you ask me. We’re a state that gets all four seasons, which means fall is just as awesome here as it is anywhere else. So, where are the best places for viewing fall colors in South Dakota? Plus, when do leaves change color in South Dakota in 2023? Though it’s never an exact science, our friends at Great Smoky Mountains use a few discrete factors to make their predictions for South Dakota’s autumn color. Check it out:
By playing with the slider above, you can see Great Smoky Mountains' predictions for autumn color in South Dakota (and everywhere else, too).
As you can see, this year, it's expected that fall colors will begin creeping southward in early to mid-September. Look outside: See it yet? Maybe not - the farther north you are, though, the likelier, starting around September 11.
By September 18, most of the northern half of the state is starting to see something changing.
Since South Dakota is a northern state, we end up getting our autumn earlier and faster than most other folks... all the more reasons to enjoy it while it's here.
So, where are all the best places to witness these colors up front and center? There are lots of options!
Custer State Park is an excellent option. If you're really in the mood for something extraordinary, check out the majestic Spearfish Falls, which is amazing enough without the autumn addition. With it, it's utterly jaw-dropping.
This is a wonderful time to bust out the sweaters and go hiking.
Autumn in South Dakota is easily the most wonderful time of year. It's not too warm, not too cold, and it signifies change... all in the best ways, of course.
So, when do leaves change color in South Dakota in 2023? Now you know – mostly. For more details about how exactly they came up with their prediction, check out our friends at Great Smoky Mountains. What are your favorite spots for viewing fall colors in South Dakota? How accurate do you think the Great Smoky Mountains website got it? Let me know in the comments! Need a good sweater for all that leaf-peeping? Our friends at The North Face got you covered.
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