The fall season is just around the corner beginning on September 22. The weather gets cooler, the beautiful sights of gold, orange and red from the leaves changing around us and spending quality time enjoying the outdoors. In Phoenix, we don’t always get the full fall experience but Arizona is home to a variety of changing colors if you are up for the drive.
Sycamore trees at the Rim
Arizona sycamore trees can be found in the transition zone in the Mogollon Rim, between the Valley and the Colorado Plateau. During the fall, the large and almost star-shaped leaves drop and cover the ground. You can take a brisk fall hike and hear leaves crunching with each step.
Aspen and maple trees in the Pinal Mountains
Southeast of Globe in the Pinal Mountains, you can find both aspen and maple trees. Gold aspen and maple trees line the trails of the Ice House Canyon less than a three-hour dive from Phoenix.
Golden maples, cottonwoods and willows in Oak Creek
The leaves from the ash-leaved maple trees in Oak Creek Canyon, turn from green to yellow in the fall season. Other moisture-loving trees in Oak Creek Canyon include cottonwoods and willows which also change to golden hues with splashes of orange and red in the fall. Travel up north just a few more miles to the red rocks of Sedona for a breathtaking autumn sight.
Aspen trees in Flagstaff
You can find a canopy of golden aspens in the fall at the Aspen Nature Loop. There is an easy hike that offers views of San Francisco Peak where you can see more beautiful yellow aspen trees. Take a ride on Arizona Snowbowl ski resort chairlift to see the fall scene from above. The lift stays open through mid-October.
