When Do Fall Colors Peak in Arizona?

The best time to see fall colors in Arizona is generally from late September through November, but peak foliage varies quite a bit depending on elevation. Arizona’s higher-elevation destinations change first, while lower-elevation areas can hold onto their fall colors well into November and even early December.

In late September and early October, start looking for fall colors at the highest elevations around Flagstaff and the White Mountains. The aspens here are some of the first trees in Arizona to turn bright yellow and gold.

By early to mid-October, fall colors are typically spreading throughout Flagstaff and other areas of northern Arizona. This is one of my favorite times to head north, especially if you want to see golden aspens mixed with pine forests.

During mid to late October, look toward places like the Mogollon Rim and Sedona. Oak Creek Canyon between Flagstaff and Sedona can also be beautiful around this time.

By late October into November, fall color moves into lower elevations, including Sedona and parts of central and southern Arizona. Some of the latest fall foliage can be found near Phoenix and Tucson, where changing leaves may last into November or even early December.

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Quick Guide: Arizona Fall Colors

🍂 Late September–early October: High-elevation Flagstaff
🍂 Early–mid October: Flagstaff and White Mountains
🍂 Mid–late October: Mogollon Rim + White Mountains + Oak Creek Canyon
🍂 Late October–November: Sedona + Prescott + lower elevations
🍂 November–early December: Select areas near Phoenix + Tucson

Peak fall colors can shift from year to year depending on temperatures, rainfall, and weather, so I always recommend checking current foliage conditions before planning a trip around one specific weekend.

Hi, I’m Danielle — an Arizona-based outdoor creator who has personally explored every destination I write about. I’ve been hiking and adventuring across the Southwest since 2020 and started this blog to share honest, firsthand guides so you can skip the guesswork!

I also just wanted to say thank you for supporting a real creator’s work over just an AI summary.

Best Places to See Fall Colors in Arizona

Arizona has far more fall color than you might expect! From golden aspen groves in Flagstaff to colorful canyons in Sedona and forests throughout the White Mountains, there are beautiful places to experience fall across the state. Below are some of the best places to see fall colors in Arizona, including a few of my favorite spots to visit each year.

Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff is one of the best places to see fall colors in Arizona, especially if you want to see the bright yellow and golden aspens the area is known for. Thanks to its higher elevation, Flagstaff is also one of the first places in Arizona to experience fall, with colors typically beginning in late September and becoming especially beautiful in early to mid-October.

The San Francisco Peaks and surrounding Coconino National Forest offer some of the best fall foliage, with plenty of scenic drives, overlooks, and hiking trails to choose from. If you’re planning an entire weekend around the changing leaves, check out my Flagstaff in the Fall guide for more things to do, places to stay, and seasonal activities.

Inner Basin Trail

If you want to hike through the fall colors, Inner Basin Trail is one of my favorite choices. The trail climbs through a beautiful aspen forest on the San Francisco Peaks, creating tunnels of yellow and gold during peak foliage. It’s an especially popular fall hike, so I recommend visiting on a weekday or arriving early in the morning when possible.

Aspen Nature Loop

For something shorter and easier, the Aspen Nature Loop near Arizona Snowbowl is another great place to experience Flagstaff’s fall colors. You’ll walk through groves of aspens with views of the surrounding mountains, making this a good option if you want beautiful foliage without committing to a longer hike.

Aspen Corner/ Alfa Fia Loop

Aspen Corner is found on the side of the road right before you actually get to Arizona Snowbowl. You can get out and enjoy the colors without a hike, OR go down Alfa Fia Loop and even try out the beautiful Aspen Swing!

Read My Other Flagstaff Posts:
Things To Do in Flagstaff
Fall Colors in Flagstaff
Where to Stay in Flagstaff: Hotels, Cabins, & More

Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is one of the most unique places to see fall colors in Arizona, thanks to the contrast between colorful leaves and the area’s famous red rock scenery. Fall arrives later here than in Flagstaff, making Sedona a great option if you miss the peak colors at higher elevations.

The best fall foliage is generally found around Oak Creek Canyon, where cottonwoods, maples, oaks, and sycamores turn shades of yellow, orange, and red. The scenic drive along Highway 89A between Flagstaff and Sedona is beautiful on its own, but there are also several places to stop and hike along the way.

West Fork Trail

West Fork Trail is my favorite place to experience fall colors in Sedona and one of the most popular fall hikes in Arizona. The trail follows Oak Creek through a narrow canyon surrounded by red rock walls, with colorful trees lining the creek throughout the hike.

Fall is an especially beautiful time to hike West Fork because you’ll find shades of yellow, orange, and red against the canyon walls. Visit early in the morning or on a weekday if possible, as the trail and parking area can get extremely busy during peak fall weekends.

Oak Creek Canyon

You don’t have to hike to enjoy the colors. Driving Highway 89A through Oak Creek Canyon is one of the best fall drives in Arizona, with plenty of colorful foliage along the creek and beneath the canyon walls. You can combine the drive with West Fork Trail or stop at overlooks and picnic areas along the way for an easy fall day trip. One of my other favorite fall spots in Oak Creek Canyon is the Bootlegger Picnic Area!

Read My Other Sedona Posts:
Things To Do in Sedona
West Fork Trail in Sedona
Where to Stay in Sedona: Hotels, Cabins & More

Fall Colors in Sedona

Payson & The Mogollon Rim

The Mogollon Rim is one of my favorite places to experience fall colors in Arizona, especially if you want to combine changing leaves with hiking, camping, lakes, and scenic mountain views. Stretching across central Arizona at elevations reaching around 7,000 feet, the Rim feels completely different from the desert around Phoenix.

Fall colors typically begin appearing here after the highest elevations around Flagstaff have started changing, making mid to late October a great time to visit. You’ll find pockets of yellow, orange, and red among the pine forests, particularly around creeks and lower-lying areas.

Rim Road / Forest Road 300

One of the easiest ways to experience fall on the Mogollon Rim is by driving Forest Road 300, also known as Rim Road. The road follows the edge of the Rim with incredible overlooks, forest scenery, and plenty of places to pull over and explore. In fall, you’ll find changing leaves scattered throughout the surrounding forest.

See Spring Trail

See Spring Trail is another beautiful fall hike at the Mogollon Rim. The combination of colorful trees, pine forest, and running water is perfection.

Horton Creek & Christopher Creek

For more fall foliage, head toward Horton Creek and Christopher Creek, where deciduous trees along the water add more yellow and orange to the landscape. Horton Creek Trail is a great option if you want to turn your fall-color trip into a longer hike, while the Christopher Creek area offers plenty of scenic spots to explore closer to the road.

Read My Other Mogollon Rim Posts:
Things To Do in Payson
Horton Creek Trail
Coffee Shops in Payson

Prescott, Arizona

Prescott is another beautiful place to see fall colors in Arizona, especially if you’re looking for an easy fall getaway from Phoenix. Sitting at around 5,300 feet in elevation, Prescott experiences cooler temperatures and changing leaves later in the season than higher-elevation destinations like Flagstaff.

You’ll find colorful cottonwoods, oaks, and other deciduous trees throughout the area, with some of the best fall scenery around Prescott’s lakes, hiking trails, and historic downtown.

Watson Lake

Watson Lake is one of the most scenic places to visit in Prescott year-round, but fall brings pops of yellow and gold around the water. The colorful trees look especially beautiful against the lake’s distinctive granite boulders, and you can explore the shoreline on foot or get out on the water by kayak.

Downtown Prescott

For an easier fall outing, spend some time exploring downtown Prescott and the historic Courthouse Plaza. Mature trees around the square change color during the fall, and the cooler weather makes this a great time of year to walk around downtown, grab a coffee, and explore Whiskey Row.

Lynx Lake

Surrounded by Prescott National Forest, Lynx Lake is another peaceful place to look for fall color. You can walk along the lake, have a picnic, or pair your visit with one of the nearby trails while enjoying the cooler fall temperatures and changing leaves.

Read My Other Prescott Posts:
Things To Do in Prescott
Best Coffee Shops in Prescott
Best Restaurants in Prescott

Pinetop-Lakeside, Greer, & The White Mountains

The White Mountains are one of the best places to see fall colors in Arizona, with huge stretches of forest, mountain lakes, scenic drives, and small towns that feel especially cozy once fall arrives. This part of eastern Arizona sits at a higher elevation than much of the state, so it’s also a great place to escape the lingering desert heat.

Throughout Pinetop-Lakeside, Greer, and the surrounding Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, you’ll find aspens and other deciduous trees turning shades of yellow, gold, and orange among the evergreens. I especially love this area if you want to make a full weekend out of your fall-color trip rather than just taking a day trip.

You’ll find colorful cottonwoods, oaks, and other deciduous trees throughout the area, with some of the best fall scenery around Prescott’s lakes, hiking trails, and historic downtown.

Greer

Greer is one of my favorite small mountain towns in Arizona, and it’s particularly beautiful in the fall. The surrounding forests and meadows come alive with pockets of yellow and gold, while the Little Colorado River and mountain scenery make the entire area feel incredibly peaceful.

Take a scenic drive around town, explore the nearby trails, or simply spend a cozy weekend in one of Greer’s cabins while enjoying the changing leaves.

Pinetop-Lakeside

Pinetop-Lakeside is another great base for exploring fall colors in the White Mountains. You’ll find changing leaves throughout town and the surrounding forest, plus easy access to hiking trails, lakes, and scenic drives.

The area is particularly good for a fall weekend getaway because you can combine leaf peeping with hiking, kayaking, coffee shops, and plenty of time outdoors.

Sunrise Park & the White Mountains

For even more fall scenery, drive toward Sunrise Park Resort and the higher elevations of the White Mountains. The combination of golden aspens, evergreen forests, open meadows, and mountain views makes this one of the most beautiful areas to explore during Arizona’s early fall season.

Read My Other Area Posts:
Things To Do in Pinetop-Lakeside
Thompson Trail Hike Guide

Mount Lemmon & Tucson

You might not immediately think of Tucson when looking for fall colors in Arizona, but the higher elevations of Mount Lemmon offer a completely different landscape from the Sonoran Desert below. The drive up the Catalina Highway climbs from cactus-filled desert to pine and deciduous forests, making this one of the most unique places to experience fall in southern Arizona.

Because Mount Lemmon sits farther south and varies significantly in elevation, fall colors tend to arrive later than they do in Flagstaff and the White Mountains. This makes it a great option for extending Arizona’s fall foliage season into late October and November.

Mount Lemmon

Mount Lemmon is one of the best places to experience fall near Tucson. The Catalina Highway climbs more than 6,000 feet from the Sonoran Desert to the forests near the summit, passing through dramatically different landscapes along the way.

During fall, you’ll find pockets of yellow, orange, and red throughout the higher elevations. Take the scenic drive toward Summerhaven, stop at overlooks along the way, or choose one of the many hiking trails for a closer look at the changing leaves.

Madera Canyon

About an hour south of Tucson, Madera Canyon is another beautiful place to see fall colors in southern Arizona. The canyon’s higher elevation and riparian environment support oak, sycamore, maple, and other deciduous trees that add shades of yellow, orange, and red to the landscape later in the season.

Madera Canyon is also a great choice if you want to combine fall foliage with hiking. Several trails follow or climb above the canyon, giving you plenty of opportunities to enjoy the cooler temperatures and colorful scenery.

Read My Other Tucson Posts:
Things To Do in Tucson
Where to Stay in Tucson

Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix itself might not experience the dramatic fall foliage you’ll find in northern Arizona, but there are still a few beautiful places to see fall colors near Phoenix. Because of the lower elevation and warmer temperatures, leaves change much later here—making the Phoenix area a great option after fall colors have already peaked in Flagstaff and the White Mountains.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Boyce Thompson Arboretum is one of the best places to see fall colors near Phoenix. Located about an hour east of the city, the arboretum has a huge variety of trees that turn shades of yellow, orange, and red later in the season.

The trails wind through gardens, desert scenery, and along Queen Creek, making this an easy place to spend a few hours enjoying fall without driving all the way to northern Arizona. Colors here tend to peak much later than the rest of the state, often around late November into early December.

Fish Creek & the Apache Trail

For a more adventurous fall outing, head east of Phoenix toward Fish Creek and the Apache Trail. Cottonwoods and other trees along the waterways can turn bright yellow and gold, creating a beautiful contrast against the rugged desert mountains.

Fall color here is more scattered than what you’ll find in Flagstaff or the White Mountains, but that’s also what makes it so unique—you get classic Arizona desert scenery mixed with pockets of colorful foliage.

Read My Other Phoenix Posts:
Things To Do in Phoenix
Best Hikes in Phoenix

Arizona Fall Colors FAQs

When is the best time to see fall colors in Arizona?

The best time to see fall colors in Arizona is generally from late September through November, although the timing varies significantly by elevation. Higher-elevation areas like Flagstaff and the White Mountains typically change first, while Sedona, southern Arizona, and areas near Phoenix see their best colors later in the season.

Where are the best fall colors in Arizona?

Some of the best places to see fall colors in Arizona include Flagstaff, Sedona, the Mogollon Rim, Prescott, the White Mountains, Mount Lemmon, and Madera Canyon. For late-season foliage, Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Phoenix is another great option.

When do the leaves change in Flagstaff?

Fall colors around Flagstaff typically begin appearing in late September, with some of the best aspen colors occurring from late September through mid-October. Peak timing varies each year depending on temperatures and weather conditions.

Where can I see fall colors near Phoenix?

Boyce Thompson Arboretum is one of the best places to see fall colors near Phoenix, especially in late November and early December. You can also find pockets of changing cottonwoods around waterways east of Phoenix, including along the Apache Trail and Fish Creek area.

Does Sedona have fall colors?

Yes! Sedona has beautiful fall foliage, particularly throughout Oak Creek Canyon. West Fork Trail is one of the most popular places to see it, where colorful trees contrast with Oak Creek and Sedona’s red rock canyon walls. Colors generally appear later here than they do in Flagstaff.

Is October a good time to see fall colors in Arizona?

October is one of the best months for fall colors in Arizona. Early October is typically better for higher elevations such as Flagstaff and the White Mountains, while mid-to-late October brings more color to areas like the Mogollon Rim, Prescott, Oak Creek Canyon, and Sedona.

Can you see fall colors in Arizona in November?

Yes. While many of Arizona’s high-elevation destinations have passed peak by November, lower-elevation areas are often just beginning to show their best colors. Sedona, Madera Canyon, Mount Lemmon, and areas near Phoenix can all have fall foliage during November.