Groves of bright yellow aspen leaves are blanketing the mountains surrounding Flagstaff right now, with many stands around the San Francisco Peaks hitting peak color this week. The catch: that golden window won't last long, so anyone hoping to catch it should act fast.
According to azfamily.com, aspens only hold their peak yellow leaves for about a week, and most of the groves at the edge of Arizona Snowbowl are peaking right now. Mason Carroll has been sharing details on where to catch the best views of the display around Flagstaff. The outlet notes that some of the most popular viewing spots, including Snowbowl and Aspen Corner, tend to draw crowds this time of year.
Where the Color Is Showing Up First
Fall color in Northern Arizona doesn't arrive everywhere at once. It starts at the highest elevations and works its way downhill, with color at the top of the Kaibab Plateau sometimes beginning as early as late September and running into early October, according to notlostorfound.com. Aspens around the San Francisco Peaks, Snowbowl Road and Flagstaff's upper slopes commonly turn in early October, sometimes stretching into mid-October, per the same account.
Aspen Corner, which sits along paved Snowbowl Road, puts visitors immediately beside a dense aspen grove without much of a hike, the site notes. From there, hikers can pick up the Aspen Nature Loop, a roughly 2.5-mile route through open glades and sloping meadows, also described by notlostorfound.com.
Scenic Drives Beyond the Peaks
For those wanting to see the color from behind the wheel, Hart Prairie Road sits about nine miles north of Flagstaff on Highway 180 and winds through aspens, ponderosa pines and open meadows, according to flagstaffarizona.org. The Arizona Gondola at Snowbowl, meanwhile, carries riders from 9,500 feet up to 11,500 feet over about a 15-minute trip each way, and gondola rides are popular for viewing golden aspens in September and October, per flagstaffarizona.org.
Not every usual spot is accessible this fall. Lockett Meadow, often cited as a quieter alternative to Snowbowl and Aspen Corner, has its main access road closed for construction, with no vehicle, foot or bicycle traffic allowed up the 552 Road, per the same tourism source. azfamily.com similarly flagged Lockett Meadow as a less-crowded option, but the closure prohibits entering the described area and walking up the former road. For hikers seeking solitude anyway, Humphreys Peak Trail offers a 10-mile round trip with aspen views on the mountain's back side, though it's a full summit hike rather than a casual stroll, the outlet reports.
Color Still Headed Downhill Toward Oak Creek Canyon
The Flagstaff Leaf-O-Meter offers recommended viewing spots. The Arboretum at Flagstaff, sitting at 7,150 feet with views of the San Francisco Peaks, is open May through October, five days a week, closed Mondays and Tuesdays, according to the same source.
Lower elevations are still waiting their turn. Oak Creek Canyon, about 29 miles south of Flagstaff on Highway 89A, may begin changing after the highest aspens have dropped, per notlostorfound.com's seasonal outlook.
