Posted in Arizona Seasonal September 07, 2022 by

Here Are The Best Times And Places To View Fall Foliage In Arizona

It may be September, but most of the state still feels like summer. While we wait for those triple-digit days to dwindle into something significantly cooler, we can start making plans for fall weather activities. This includes checking out the changing leaves throughout the state, and it looks like those activities may commence much sooner than you think! Check out this interactive map from our friends at Smoky Mountains for the best days and times for fall foliage in Arizona:

We're ready to see those golden fall leaves, so let’s see how to tell when the leaves will change.
Michael Wilson/Flickr
The Smoky Mountains website has released an interactive tool that predicts fall colors throughout the country between September and November.
Photo courtesy Smoky Mountains
Simply move the controller below the map forward to see predictions for what the colors are expected to look like and when. For example, by the beginning of October, most of the state is expected to see some level of color transition.
Photo courtesy Smoky Mountains
And just two weeks later in mid-October, northern and central Arizona’s leaves will be nearing their peak colors. Just a few more days at this point!
Photo courtesy Smoky Mountains
This is a pretty cool tool to help you enjoy the very best of the fall season, but keep in mind that nature can be finicky, so the predictor isn’t 100% accurate.
CEBImagery/Flickr
However, you can start making plans to enjoy the great outdoors, such as some of our fall hiking trails in northern Arizona, on the Mogollon Rim, or even in southern Arizona!
Coconino National Forest/Flickr
Or you can enjoy a scenic fall drive in Arizona on highways that will show off nature’s amazing color palette.
Coconino National Forest/Flickr

The Smoky Mountain fall foliage prediction map can be found on the official SmokyMountains website. You can also read about the science behind the color change and why the leaves eventually fall from the trees.

What are you looking forward to seeing or doing once the fall season arrives here in Arizona? If you’re looking forward to checking out the pretty leaves, you’ll want to take an amazing Arizona fall foliage road trip. We know you’ll be truly impressed if you’ve never seen Arizona’s beautiful fall season!

The OIYS Visitor Center

Fall Foliage in Arizona

September 12, 2022
Tori Jane

Does Arizona have fall foliage?  

Arizona is often thought of – mistakenly – as nothing but a desert wasteland, where there are exactly two seasons: hot and hotter. But little do most folks know that Arizona has plenty of A+ destinations for fall foliage, and it’s impossible to keep track of them all. Fall color will begin to peek through in late August, and by mid-September, lots of the northernmost areas of the state are in mid-transformation. Of course, you can find fall foliage in Arizona all over the state, though as a general rule, the higher the elevation, the more dramatic the foliage.  

Where are some of the best places to see fall foliage in Arizona? 

We have so many favorites when it comes to incredible fall foliage in Arizona; it’s almost impossible to specify every single one! We do have some favorite places for fall colors in Arizona, though, like the entire town of Flagstaff. Flagstaff is home to some of the most brilliant fall color hikes in Arizona, and the changing of the trees in September and October rivals stunning displays you’d normally find on the east coast. Should you be closer to southern Arizona, head up to Mount Lemmon, near Tucson, for some of the most spectacular fall foliage in the desert southwest (that looks and feels nothing like a desert in any way).  

Where can I view the most amazing Arizona fall colors?  

The list of amazing fall foliage destinations in Arizona continues; other excellent places to spot changing leaves in the Copper State include the amazing Arizona Snowbowl, north of Flagstaff, and Oak Creek Canyon, near Sedona, which is simply incredible. There are numerous amazing fall foliage drives in Arizona (like Oak Creek Canyon), such as State Highway 260, which will lead you to Pinetop-Lakeside awash in epic color. In southern Arizona, you’ll want to explore Aravaipa Canyon, the Santa Catalina Mountains, Madera Canyon, and plenty more. As long as you know where to look, you’ll know where to find the best of the best fall colors in Arizona.