Fall leaves are a bit of a novelty here in the desert state of Arizona. However, there are a few spots where you can still experience the beauty of the changing leaves. Keep reading to discover 8 of the best places to see fall leaves in Arizona!
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8 Places to See Fall Leaves in Arizona
Table of Contents
- Aspen Nature Loop Trail
- Horton Creek Trail
- Mount Baldy Wilderness Area
- Oak Creek Canyon
- Pinetop-Lakeside
- Inner Basin Trail
- Strawberry-Pine
- Big Lake
Aspen Nature Loop Trail
The Aspen Nature Loop Trail in Flagstaff is one of the best places to see fall leaves in Arizona.
This trail is a leisurely 2.7-mile out-and-back hike with an elevation gain of only 360 feet.
The trail is beautiful any time of year but is especially radiant in the fall.
The trail winds through meadows, ponderosa pines, and aspen groves decorated with shimmering golden leaves.
The most densely populated aspen groves are found at the beginning and end of the trail.
I would recommend coming early to enjoy the peaceful serenity before the crowds come.
The best time to hike the Aspen Loop Trail is the middle of October when the leaves are at their peak.
This is a popular trail so plan to come early. I would suggest before 8 a.m. so that you can catch the sun slowly making its way over the San Francisco Peaks and bathing the meadow in golden light.
The parking lot for the Aspen Loop Trail is located on the left just before entering Snowbowl Ski Resort in Flagstaff. The trail begins at Hart Prairie ski lift by Humphrey’s Peak Trailhead.
For more information about visiting Snowbowl during other seasons, see our guides to Snowbowl in the Winter and Snowbowl in the Summer.
Horton Creek Trail
Horton Creek Trail is located in the Tonto National Forest about 20 minutes east of Payson near the base of the Mogollon Rim.
The parking lot is located by the Tonto Creek Upper Campground.
From here, you’ll follow the trail up a dry creek bed and along an old jeep trail through a thick forest of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir trees.
After about a half mile, you’ll catch your first glimpse of the small creek that continues to widen the further upstream you go.
As you continue along the trail, you’ll see a series of small waterfalls cascading down the stream.
You’ll find that the banks of Horton Creek are swallowed up in maple, aspen, and oak trees which boast beautiful fall colors.
The best time to see the fall leaves on the Horton Creek Trail is the middle to the end of October.
The full trail is 8.6 miles out and back, but you can see plenty of fall leaves in the first few miles if you don’t want to complete the full trail.
For more information, see our guide Hiking the Horton Creek Trail.
Mount Baldy Wilderness Area
The Mount Baldy Wilderness Area is located near Greer in Arizona’s White Mountains. You’ll find several hiking trails through forests of colorful changing leaves.
The Mount Baldy Crossover Trail via East Baldy Trail traverses across open meadows and through a forest of mixed conifers and Aspens.
It also offers a panoramic view over the eastern slope of Baldy Mountain.
The full trail is 7 miles out and back, or you can connect to the West Baldy Trail once you reach the peak.
However, you don’t need to complete the full trail in order to experience the beauty of the fall leaves.
The best time to see the fall leaves in the Mount Baldy Wilderness Area is mid-October.
There is no cell service on the trail, so I would highly recommend upgrading to AllTrails Pro so that you can download the map to use offline so that you don’t get lost.
Oak Creek Canyon
Sedona’s Oak Creek Canyon is also one of the best places to see fall leaves in Arizona.
You can soak in the beauty just while driving through the canyon, but I would highly recommend taking a hike through the canyon along the West Fork Trail.
This scenic 6.5-mile out-and-back trail is one of the best hikes in Sedona, especially in the fall.
You will begin to see fall leaves right at the beginning of the trail, so there is no need to complete the full trail if you are short on time.
The trail follows along the banks of Oak Creek in the shadows of towering red rock cliffs and swaying oak trees.
You will be surrounded by shades of yellow, orange, and golden leaves both above your head and on the ground below. It truly is magical!
At the beginning of the trail, you can even see the remains of an old family cabin and the Mayhew Lodge that once hosted celebrities like Clark Gable and Walt Disney.
The best time to see the fall leaves in Oak Creek Canyon is around the end of October to the beginning of November.
If you’re lucky, you may even get to experience a dusting of snow on the fall leaves like we did at the beginning of November!
The West Fork Trail is one of the most popular hiking trails in Sedona, so plan to arrive on a weekday or before 9 a.m. if you want to secure a parking spot.
Parking is located at the Call of the Canyon Parking lot and there is a fee of $12 per vehicle.
For more details and recommendations, see our guide 5 of the Best Hikes in Sedona.
Pinetop-Lakeside
The charming mountain town of Pinetop-Lakeside is dotted with cozy cabins, family-owned cafes, and patches of colorful oak and aspen trees in the fall.
You can see the colorful leaves as you drive through town, or head to Woodland Lake Park.
You’ll find a walking trail surrounding the lake that is lined with ponderosa pines mixed with colorful oak and maple trees.
Los Burros Campground is also a great place to escape the crowds and soak in the fall beauty. It can be reached by a gravel road from the small community of McNary.
There are small groves of beautiful aspen trees along the drive.
Once you reach the campground, you’ll find an open meadow with a backdrop of colorful trees and a picturesque old barn.
It’s a great place to bring a picnic and a ball to throw around.
For more recommendations in the area, see our guide The Best Things to Do in Pinetop.
Inner Basin Trail
The Inner Basin Trail begins at the Lockett Meadow Campground about 20 miles north of Flagstaff.
You’ll take a rough dirt road up a steep mountain for about 3 miles before reaching the campground and parking lot. A high-clearance 4WD vehicle is highly recommended.
As of October 2023, the access road is currently closed to vehicles due to the Pipeline Fire in June 2022.
Visitors can hike or bike up the road, but keep in mind that it adds on an additional 6 miles roundtrip. Check the Forest Service website for updates.
Even when the road is open, parking can be tricky. There are only enough spots for 100 vehicles and they fill up quickly, especially on the weekends during peak fall season.
The forest service manages the parking from the last weekend in September to the third weekend in October.
If the lot is full, vehicles will need to wait at the bottom of the mountain until more spots open up. The lot is usually full by 8 a.m., so plan to arrive early.
The Inner Basin Trail is 3 miles out-and-back, or 9 miles total if the road is closed and you have to hike up.
The best time to visit Lockett Meadow and hike the Inner Basin Trail is the beginning to middle of October.
Although it can be challenging to get to the trail, once you do arrive you will be greeted with the most gorgeous aspen forest.
The trail winds through a thick grove of aspen trees lining the caldera of an ancient volcano.
It truly is a magical scene as the early morning sun filters through the golden leaves above.
For more information, see our guide to Hiking the Lockett Meadow Inner Basin Trail.
Strawberry-Pine
Strawberry-Pine is another picturesque town in Arizona’s Rim Country and it’s the perfect spot for a cozy fall weekend getaway.
Spend the night in the charming Strawberry Inn, pick up a loaf of homemade sourdough bread at the farmers market, try a lavender cookie at the Pine Creek Canyon Lavender Farm, go antique shopping in an old historic home, and eat the best burger of your life at Pinewood Tavern.
Of course, you’ll also want to admire the beauty of the fall leaves while you are there.
You can see plenty of colorful trees scattered around town.
I would also recommend driving along Forest Route 613 to Potato Lake.
The best time to see the fall leaves in Strawberry is mid-October.
If the weather is nice, you can even go paddleboarding or kayaking at Blue Ridge Reservoir, one of Arizona’s hidden gems!
For more recommended things to do and places to eat, see our guide to Visiting Strawberry, Arizona.
Big Lake
Big Lake is located near Sunrise Ski Resort in the White Mountains and is one of the best places to see fall leaves in Arizona.
This is the largest lake in the White Mountains and offers a variety of recreational activities.
However, the best time to visit is in the middle of October when you’ll find a backdrop of colorful oak, maple, aspen, and box elder trees.
For a scenic drive, take the road that follows along the shoreline by the marina and through the Apache Trout Campground and Grayling Campground.
This road is lined with towering trees boasting vibrant fall colors.
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And there you have it, 8 of the best places to see fall leaves in Arizona! And if you’re looking for more fall-related activities, see our guide 12 Places to Experience Fall in Arizona.
Love this post! Hope to check out some more of these areas in the near future! It was fun to meet you today!
I loved meeting you as well, thanks for such an “epic adventure”!