Sica Hollow State Park
Coteau des Prairies, South Dakota · 1,947 ft
Typical peak
Sep 25 – Oct 3
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best under flat overcast
Mature oak forest cut by spring-fed draws on the Coteau des Prairies, four hundred miles east of the Black Hills and a completely different fall. Oak, aspen, maple and elm together give this park a redder palette than anything in the western half of the state.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
low
Usually quieter, especially around dawn.
Getting there
Fifteen miles northwest of Sisseton off SD Highway 10. The Trail of the Spirits is a self-guided interpretive foot trail and a National Recreation Trail; 10 miles of multiuse trail beyond it. Daily park entrance fee.
What turns here
- bur oak
- quaking aspen
- maple
- American elm
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 29Typical color progression for Sica Hollow State Park. No change from Aug 22 to Sep 8. First color from Sep 8 to Sep 17. Approaching peak from Sep 17 to Sep 25. Peak from Sep 25 to Oct 3. Past peak from Oct 3 to Oct 13. Bare from Oct 13 to Oct 27.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Sep 8.
This season so far
First frost
None yet
No night at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
59°F / 43°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Sica Hollow State Park on September 29, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:54 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 93° | 7:24 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 39 min of low, warm light | 8:04 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:19 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 39 min before sunset | 6:34 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 267° | 7:13 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:43 PM |
Times in America/Chicago · day length 11h 49m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.