It’s no surprise that I’ve had some issues adjusting to the Arizona seasons: summer and “not summer.” As I shared in the How to Survive an Arizona Summer blog, this has actually helped me to explore Arizona and find some hidden gems.
Cue October!!!!! Aka… Fall… right? For the rest of my friends and family on the east coast, absolutely! My social media feeds are currently filled with pumpkin patches, pumpkin beer, stunning fall colors, and, what kills me the most, cozy sweaters and boots. We’re still averaging temperatures in the mid 90s here in Arizona. So, I do what I do best: throw a bag and Brad (love you Brad) in the car and head north in search of some semblance of Fall 🙂
Here are some of the best places in Flagstaff, Arizona to see the Fall leaves:
Lockett Meadow Inner Basin
Lockett Meadow is perhaps the most well known area in Flagstaff to see the Aspens changing colors. For this reason, I recommend you get to the trailhead SUPER early. We arrived just before 10am on a Sunday and there were rangers turning people away. They were already 70 vehicles over the limit! But, the ranger we spoke to was so informative. He gave us a ton of great other spots to see the leaves changing in the area. Hike the Lockett Meadow Inner Basin Trail: a moderate 3.4 mile loop with an elevation gain of 839 feet.
Bear Jaw Canyon and Forest Road 418
Take in the views while you drive the rocky and windy Forest Road 418 as you make your way to Bear Jaw Canyon. While 4-wheel drive or a high clearance vehicle would make the ride smoother, we made the trek in my Jetta and were fine as long as we drove slow. Hike Abineau Trail to Bear Jaw Trail: a moderate 6.9 mile loop with an elevation gain of 1,876 feet.
Route 180
Think of Route 180 like a giant scenic self-guided tour. First of all, this drive is just downright beautiful with a mix of pine trees and aspens littering the side of the road. Second, there are so many places where you can turn off onto a Forest Road or even just an extended shoulder to stop and take in the views. Take your time driving down 180 and pull over whenever you see something worth stopping for.
Snowbowl Road and Aspen Corner
My favorite place to see the fall leaves in Flagstaff is Snowbowl Road, aka Snowbowl Scenic Drive. This drive will take you 8 miles through winding, forest lined roads that ends at the Snowbowl ski area. While you’ll be able to see Aspens with beautiful changing leaves scattered throughout the forest here, the most popular place to see fall leaves is in Aspen Corner. From this turn-off, you can explore multiple trails in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness or just soak in the hundreds of Aspen trees right from the road. If time allows, keep driving towards Snowbowl, park in any of the open Ski lots, and explore the Aspen lined ski slopes.
Aspen Corner FR 418 Snowbowl
If you live in Arizona and are planning to head north to see the fall leaves, be aware that peak season has been the last two weeks and won’t last long! Happy (leaf) hunting!
Yours,
Bohemian Postcards
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