It may be a little harder to find fall leaves in Arizona, but it’s worth the extra effort. The Inner Basin Trail at Lockett Meadow near Flagstaff is a magical Autumn wonderland and the best fall hike in Arizona!
Keep reading to discover everything you need to know before hiking the Lockett Meadow Inner Basin Trail.
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What to expect when hiking the Lockett Meadow Inner Basin Trail
Table of Contents
- Lockett Meadow Inner Basin Trail information:
- Best time to visit Lockett Meadow
- How to get to the Lockett Meadow Inner Basin Trail
- Parking at Lockett Meadow
- Hiking the Lockett Meadow Inner Basin Trail
Lockett Meadow Inner Basin Trail information:
- Distance: 3 miles round trip
- Location: approximately 20 miles north of Flagstaff
- Difficulty: easy/moderate
- Time: 1 1/2- 2 hours
- Elevation gain: 757 feet
- Fee: Parking at the trailhead is free. Day use areas in the campground are $8 per vehicle.
Best time to visit Lockett Meadow
The road to Lockett Meadow is generally closed from late Fall to early Spring. The Lockett Meadow Trail can only be accessed May-October.
In the spring and summer, the rich green forest offers a respite from the heat in the valley.
However, the most popular time to visit is during the first three weeks in October when the vibrant fall leaves put on quite the show.
We visited the second week in October and the floor was covered in a carpet of gold but there were still plenty of leaves fluttering on the trees above.
About another week or so and the leaves will have mostly fallen from the trees. You can check Flagstaff’s Leaf-ometer for up to date leaf peeping information.
Avoid visiting on the weekends during peak fall season as parking is limited. Plan to visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon during the week to avoid the crowds.
How to get to the Lockett Meadow Inner Basin Trail
*Update: as of October 2023, the road up to Lockett Meadow still remains closed due to the Pipeline Fire in June 2022. Check the Forest Service website for updates. The trail can still be accessed, but you’ll just have to hike or bike up the road.
If you put “Lockett Meadow” into your maps it should take you to the trailhead, but it’s always helpful to know what to expect.
From Flagstaff, head north on US 89 for about 12 miles. Look for the Sunset Crater turnoff on your right. Directly across from the Sunset Crater turnoff is FR 420, take a left onto this maintained dirt road.
Follow the road for 1.8 miles, there will be signs marking any turns in the road.
After this point the road gets a bit sketchy. You’ll see a sign alerting drivers that the remainder of the road is not maintained for passenger vehicles.
For the next 3.1 miles, you’ll climb along the steep narrow dirt road. Due to the large potholes and deep ruts in some areas, a high-clearance vehicle is highly recommended.
The road is closed in the late fall to early spring, but still avoid attempting this road if it is muddy or snowy.
Keep in mind that there is no place to turn around once you are on the road. There are also blind turns and steep drop-offs so use extreme caution when vehicles are coming in the opposite direction.
If you are uncertain, you can also park your vehicle at the bottom of the road and walk the three miles up to the trailhead.
Parking at Lockett Meadow
The road leads to the primitive Lockett Meadow Campground. Overnight spots can be reserved and there are also day-use areas that require a fee.
Parking at the trailhead is free. You’ll also find pit toilets located at the trailhead.
It is important to note that parking is limited to 100 vehicles. From the last weekend in September to the third weekend in October the forest service manages the traffic from 7:30 am to 5 pm.
Once the capacity has been reached, vehicles must wait at the bottom of the road until another vehicle leaves. Alternatively, visitors can choose to hike up the road.
Parking is usually filled up by 8 am on the weekends so plan to visit during the week if at all possible.
Hiking the Lockett Meadow Inner Basin Trail
The trailhead starts near Lockett Meadow, a large open field surrounded by forest.
However, the trail itself is the Inner Basin Trail. The first 3/4 mile or so of the trail leads through pine trees with a few aspens scattered throughout.
As you gradually ascend up the trail, you’ll notice the pine trees thinning out and the aspens taking center stage.
We arrived at the trailhead around 8 am. It was a crisp 32 degrees and the forest was shrouded in a slate gray haze.
As we emerged up the trail, the pale sunlight slowly filtered through the trees revealing a dazzling world of sun-drenched gold. It was nothing short of magical.
It is similar to the Aspen Loop Trail near Snowbowl, which is another awesome fall hike that is also easier to access.
See our guide 8 Places to See Fall Leaves in Arizona for more recommendations.
The dirt trail is well marked with few obstructions. It is a gradual climb with several switchbacks at the end for a combined elevation gain of 757 feet.
It’s not a terribly steep trail, but keep in mind that you are starting out at a much higher elevation so if you are winded it doesn’t mean that you are out of shape!
*Related post: Lockett Meadow makes for a great road trip stop. For more ideas, check out our guide Arizona Road Trip: 8 Things to do from Flagstaff to Monument Valley.
After 1.5 miles you’ll come to a service road at the top of the aspen grove. From here you can continue another .5 miles to connect to the Inner Basin Loop Trail.
The loop trail leads to a lookout over the inner basin of the San Francisco Peaks before looping around to a different trail leading back to the Lockett Meadow campground.
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The advantage of continuing on this route is that it is less crowded.
However, most people just opt to turn around once they reach the service road and continue back down through the enchanting forest of aspens.
Here is a map of the Inner Basin Loop Trail and the Inner Basin Trail so that you can compare routes.
A few things to note, the trail is dog friendly but they must be kept on a leash and owners must clean up after them.
Also, there is no cell service on the trail or at the campground, so I would recommend upgrading to AllTrails Pro so that you can download the trail map to use offline.
Be sure to wear layers and keep an eye on the weather as it can be unpredictable.
The Lockett Meadow Trail truly is a stunning fall hike and we hope this guide has helped as you plan your visit!
And for more great places to visit in Arizona this fall, be sure to check out our guide 11 Places to Experience Fall in Arizona.
Other posts you might like:
- Haunted Walking Tour of Downtown Flagstaff
- Sycamore Falls: Northern Arizona’s Best Kept Secret
- 10 Fun Things to do in Flagstaff with Kids
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