If you're willing to go a little out of your way and don't mind a bit of wet weather here and there, you can find plenty of fall color here in Arizona - you'll almost believe you're strolling through the hills of New England in October.
If you're looking for autumn hues, late September to late October is the season of yellows and reds in the desert creeks near Sedona, Cottonwood and Camp Verde. By late November, you'll find fall moves to lower elevations and more to the south. Beautiful cottonwood trees sport yellow leaves while framed by Saguaro cactus - a truly unique photography experience. You can find fall color early to mid-December, in the Sonoran Desert, especially in places like Araviapa Canyon.
Flagstaff's San Francisco Peaks are known for the beauty of the golden aspens. If your ride is a high clearance vehicle, you might try the Around the Peaks Loop, a 44-mile scenic drive on forest service roads around the mountains and through the aspen groves. You'll pass Lockett Meadow, where the Inner Basin trail leads to an ancient volcano. Nearby, Arizona Snowbowl ski resort offers scenic chairlift rides through late October.
Also in northern Arizona, State Highway 260 passes through the White Mountains near the quaint and picturesque towns of Pinetop-Lakeside. This winding road for fall color is also flanked by small lakes where you can pull off to picnic and get some great photos beside one of the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forests in the Americas.
Head south to Tucson, to Mt. Lemmon, part of the Santa Catalina Mountains. It reaches an elevation of more than 9,000 feet with many trailheads, picnic sites, campgrounds, a lake and forests of pines, aspens, maple and walnut trees. You can drive the mountain's Catalina Highway or stop near a trailhead and explore on foot.
A bit further south you'll find the Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains, and the Nature Conservancy's Ramsey Canyon Preserve, both popular for birdwatching. In the fall, the sycamore trees green turns golden and orange. Ramsey Canyon has guided nature walks several times a week through November.
NOTE: When out hiking or visiting any nature preserve, use caution. Bring maps and use GPS when available. Keep an eye on the weather forecast before you go to canyons - flash floods are a reality here and can be dangerous. Check destinations - many do not have bathrooms or drinking water stations. Follow Leave No Trace ethics and pack out what you pack in. Happy fall trails!
Comments