Take A Scenic Fall Drive On Forest Road 300 In Arizona

Nothing quite compares to feeling the crisp autumn breeze dance across your skin as you cruise down the open road with the windows down. Forest Road 300, or Rim Road, is one of the best scenic drives in Arizona to take in the fall, with bigtooth maples on either side of the highway erupting in a dazzling display of seasonal hues. The backcountry road leads up to the Mogollon Rim, which boasts equally splendorous views of the surrounding Coconino National Forest in all its autumnal glory.

Stretching 200 miles across central Arizona and into New Mexico, the Mogollon Rim is a 2,000-foot-high escarpment that will completely change how you see the Grand Canyon State.

With 360-degree views of the Coconino National Forest, the Rim is an idyllic spot for hiking and camping, and it boasts several lakes where visitors can enjoy a variety of watersports like boating and fishing.

While there's no such thing as a bad time of year to visit the Rim, it's especially magical in the fall.

Once autumn rolls around, Forest Road 300 - known as "Rim Road" to the locals, comes alive in a dazzling display of color that promises to leave you breathless.

About 43 miles long, the road takes you on an uphill journey to the top of the escarpment, boasting incredible panoramic vistas all along the way.

Some parts of the road can be a little dicey for sedans, so we recommend an SUV or other high-clearance vehicle.

Rim Road has many offshoots leading to campgrounds and lake areas, so you can choose your own adventure.

As you venture deeper into the forest, the autumn hues seem to grow more vibrant with every step you take.

The views from atop the rim are nothing short of spellbinding, with peak fall color transforming the leaves of the bigtooth maples into brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows.

Growing alongside the maples are ponderosa pines, whose evergreen nature provides a stark contrast that only serves to make the fall colors stand out even more.

Highway 260 also leads up to the edge of the Rim, boasting equally mesmerizing autumn foliage.

No matter which road you traverse, you'll want to roll down the windows and enjoy the crisp fall air while taking in the scenery.

Just look at those gorgeous colors!

Make sure to snap plenty of pictures - it isn't every day you see views like this!

Have you ever taken a scenic fall drive on Forest Road 300? If so, we'd love to hear all about your trip in the comments section below! Don't forget to check out our previous article for more scenic drives in Arizona that are especially breathtaking this time of year.