Autumn in Arizona – Where to hike and drive to see fall colors
April 5, 2008 – 4:42 pm
Arizona Resorts / Arizona Travel Deals / Arizona Golf
Up in the high country, aspens are just beginning to turn to gold and sumacs are starting to blush. Soon stands of maple and oak, walnut trees and dogwoods will paint swaths of color across Arizona’s mountains. There’s no better time of year for a hike or a scenic drive. Keep in mind that fall colors are like stocks: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. In general, though, areas that haven’t had as much rain don’t produce as much color, so look in places where trees can tap into reliable sources of groundwater. Because colors can be so fickle, it’s best to call ahead before heading out for a long drive.
San Francisco Peaks
The peaks tower above Flagstaff, providing easy access to several scenic drives and many fine hiking trails. Visible for miles, the peaks remain one of the best, most reliable places to catch Arizona’s fall finery. To enjoy fall colors, try the Scenic Skyride at the Arizona Snowbowl. It runs – weather permitting – through mid-October.
Best time for color: Last week of September through the first week of October.
Trees: Lots of aspen, of course, along with some gooseberry bushes, baneberry plants and, at lower elevations, sumac.
Scenic drive: Hart Prairie Road. From Flagstaff, take U.S. 180 northwest about a dozen miles to Forest Road 151, Hart Prairie Road. Take the unpaved road generally north, then west, about 10 miles. Once you reach U.S. 180 again, turn south and return about 20 miles to Flagstaff. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended.
Best hike: The Kachina Trail meanders across the southern flanks of the San Francisco Peaks, leading hikers through lovely thickets of fir, spruce, pine and aspen. Sweeping vistas from occasional open areas aren’t bad, either. A couple of miles from the trailhead you’ll come to Freidlein Prairie, a charming meadow with commanding views of the Flagstaff area. It’s a great spot for a picnic lunch and a good turnaround point for most hikers. Although the elevation change isn’t bad, there’s a fair amount of up-and-down along the way and, at 9,000 feet, it doesn’t take much to get you huffing and puffing.
Oak Creek Canyon
This area has it all: dramatic vistas, multihued cliffs and lush vegetation. You’ll find fall color scattered across the region’s higher elevations, as well as tucked inside deep canyons.
Best time for color: Mid- to late October.
Trees: Bigtooth maples, cottonwoods, box elder, velvet ash, dogwood, willow.
Scenic drive: Arizona 89A north of Sedona. From Flagstaff, drive south a few miles on Interstate 17, then take Exit 337 and enjoy about 25 twisty, turny scenic miles into Sedona.
Best hike: The West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon, with its imposing cliffs, gurgling water and colorful foliage, is one of the premier hikes in Arizona. Start from the Call of the Canyon day-use area and walk west, through an old orchard, across a bridge and past the ruins of the Mayhew Lodge. The sandy trail leads deeper into the canyon, through pine, fir, sycamores, maples and, of course, oaks. Thick rock shelves hang over the creek bed in some places, creating a tunnel effect. Nearly 3 1/2 miles into the hike you reach a point where the canyon narrows to such an extent that the creek stretches from wall to wall. Because you’ll have to wade to continue, this is a good turnaround point for most hikers.
Hualapai Mountains
These rugged mountains southeast of Kingman reach more than 8,000 feet above sea level, a cool, high-country oasis for hikers, campers and picnickers alike.
Best time for color: Mid-October.
Trees: Primarily aspen, with some oak.
Scenic drive: From Kingman, take Hualapai Mountain Road about 12 miles southeast to the ranger station just outside Hualapai Mountain Park, where you can pay the $5 per vehicle entry fee. Continue a couple of hundred yards, then turn right at the small sign to the park’s entrance.
Best hike: Several trails wind across the mountains, but the Potato Patch Loop, which circles Aspen Peak, is a fine introduction to the area. Begin on the Aspen Springs Trail, which heads generally southwest past huge granite boulders, shady ponderosa pine and Gambel oak. Go right at the junction with the Potato Patch Loop. After a mile or so, the route follows a dirt road about half a mile, then winds through the woods about a mile back to the Aspen Springs Trail. Although trail junctions are fairly well marked, you’ll want to pick up a map at the ranger station.
Pinal Mountains
These are part of Arizona’s “sky islands,” isolated ranges that rise like islands out of an ocean of desert lowlands.
Best time for color: Early October.
Trees: Piñon pine, juniper, Gambel oak at the lower elevations; ponderosa pine, aspen, spruce and fir at higher elevations.
Scenic drive: Take Jess Hayes Road southeast of Globe to the junction of Icehouse Canyon Road ,Forest Road 112 and Sixshooter Canyon Road ,Forest Road 222. Take FR 112 about 2.5 miles, then bear right onto Forest Road 55 and proceed another 2.5 miles to Forest Road 651. Turn left and continue about 10 miles to the Pinal and Upper Pinal campgrounds. This is a rough, steep, unpaved road. Although sedans can make it when conditions are good, you’ll feel better with a high-clearance vehicle. Four-wheel drive wouldn’t hurt, either.
Best hike: The Icehouse Trail provides one of the most botanically varied hikes in Arizona. Along the way you’ll go from desert scrub up through several botanical zones until you reach fir, spruce and aspen. It’s a tough trek, gaining a little more than 3,000 feet in elevation. Start at the Icehouse CCC Recreation Site. Lower stretches of the trail aren’t anything special, but after skirting the edge of a remarkably deep and rugged gorge, the route gets more interesting. Before long it morphs into a narrow, pine-needle-covered trail that gets fainter, rougher and steeper as it climbs.
Santa Catalina Mountains
Mount Lemmon is extraordinary. At its base you’re surrounded by an endless expanse of saguaro and paloverde, but drive up the Catalina Highway and in less than an hour you’re strolling among the aspen. Magic!
Best time for color: Late October.
Trees: Bigtooth maple, Gambel oak, aspen, velvet ash, box elder.
Scenic drive: From Interstate 10 in Tucson, drive east on Grant Road to Tanque Verde Road and continue east to the Catalina Highway. Turn left ,north, drive 25 miles up Mount Lemmon to the summit community of Summerhaven. The road sometimes closes in bad weather, so it’s best to call 1-,520-547-7510 first.
Best hike: In fewer than 4 miles, the Marshall Gulch-Aspen Trail takes you to a small, seasonal creek, several pleasing overlooks and enchanting stands of aspen. Start at the Marshall Gulch picnic area, just a little south of Summerhaven, and follow the Marshall Gulch Trail into an open forest of pine, fir and oak. At Marshall Saddle, where several trails converge, continue south on the Aspen Trail. Look for a large rocky outcrop about 50 yards off the trail about half a mile from the saddle. Sometimes referred to as “Lunch Ledge,” the rocks are an ideal place to take a break.
White Mountains
Eastern Arizona is a land of rugged peaks, tall pines and lovely lakes. Other than the San Francisco Peaks, the White Mountains are the state’s highest range, with peaks topping out at more than 11,000 feet.
Best time for color: Early to mid-October.
Trees: Cottonwoods, sycamores and aspens.
Scenic drive: Enjoy the colors of the high country – blue sky, green forest, golden meadows – with a leisurely drive along Arizona 261, a paved road that curves and climbs from Arizona 260 near Eagar to Big Lake in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. Look for Arizona 261 about 3 miles west of Eager. The pavement ends after 23 miles; it’s another mile or so on a well-graded dirt road to the Big Lake access area. Just follow the signs. You can camp, hike and fish at the lake.
Best hike: The South Fork Trail near Greer features a rushing stream, tall shady trees and grassy meadows, lush with tall grass. The trail, which begins at the South Fork Campground, goes 7 miles to Mexican Hay Lake. If you’re not up for a 14-mile day hike, then go 3 miles upstream to where a dirt road crosses the water, and make that your turn-around point. Feet accustomed to rocky desert trails will relish this soft dirt trail. The South Fork of the Little Colorado River features fast water, plunge pools and cut banks, making it popular with anglers.
Arizona Resorts / Arizona Travel Deals / Arizona Golf
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