Natural History Wanderings

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

Coconino National Forest

Fall colors are at their peak in the high country around Flagstaff and along the Mogollon Rim.

Suggested sites near Flagstaff:

Hart Prairie (Accessed via Hwy. 180 and Forest Road (FR) 151 and/or FR 418, which also loops around the north end of the Peaks for a pretty view)

Lockett Meadow (Hwy. 89 north approx. 12 miles north of Flagstaff to FR 418/420 junction, then FR 552) The Inner Basin Trail is a good hike from here.

Kendrick Park Watchable Wildlife Trail/Kendrick Mountain Wilderness (via Hwy. 180 north of Flagstaff.

Suggested Drives on the Mogollon Rim District (north of Pine and Strawberry near Blue Ridge):

FR 321 aka “Dane Ridge” (Hwy. 87 to FR 95 next to the Mogollon Rim Ranger Station, right on FR 96, right on FR 321)

FR 300 aka “Rim Road” or “General Crook Trail” (Hwy. 87 or Hwy. 260 to FR 300, 2.5 miles east of Hwy. 260, 10 miles north of Strawberry)

Not too much has changed yet in the lower elevations around Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona. Their fall colors tend to trail a week or two behind.

For more information click on the Coconino National Forest link above.

Coronado National Forest

On Mt. Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, the red, orange and gold colors of the maples can be found in Bear Wallow, Marshall Gulch and just beyond the end of Turkey Run Road. Golden aspen leaves can be observed along the road to Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley, at the summit above Ski Valley, and on the Aspen Loop and Aspen Draw trails. Leaf colors have been at their peak, and will fade as temperatures cool.

On the Safford Ranger District the fall colors are at their peak. The best color can be found on Mt. Graham above 7,000 feet in elevation.

On the Sierra Vista Ranger District riparian (ash, willows and cottonwoods) species on the west side of the Patagonia Mountains are just beginning to turn as they are located in the warmer lower elevations sites. Higher elevations are turning or have turned due to the colder conditions that exist on the Huachuca Mountains.  From town you can see aspens turning on Miller Peak.  In Ramsey Canyon big sawtooth is noticeable.

From Tucson drive 21 miles east on I-10 to AZ Hwy. 83, then 17 miles south through Sonoita to Forest Road (FR) 799. Take FR 799 to FR 58. Follow FR 58 west to FR 49, then continue north on this road to Patagonia and back to Sonoita on AZ Hwy. 82.

Kaibab National Forest

Fall colors are peaking on all three of the Kaibab National Forest ranger districts. On the North Kaibab Ranger District many of the trees have already peaked.  On the Tusayan Ranger District, approximately 100% of the trees have changed color. Color changes are expected to continue until around October 31. On the Williams Ranger District, fall colors continue to peak.

On the east side of the North Kaibab Ranger District, Forest Road (FR) 612 and FR 610 are good spots to observe fall colors. Approximately 15 miles northwest of FR 22 and FR 610, visitors may also observe fall colors within the vicinity of Three Lakes and Mile-and-a-Half Lake near FR 217 and FR 811. Other roads with significant color change on the North Kaibab Ranger District include: FR 22, FR 462, FR 641, FR 758, FR 759, FR 760, and Arizona Highway 67.

The North Kaibab Ranger District’s Rainbow Rim Trail offers some spectacular views of the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. There are five vista points from which to view the North Rim from within the Forest boundaries and all are accessible to Forest visitors.

On the Tusayan Ranger District, the Arizona Trail along the Coconino Rim, which begins at the Grandview Lookout Tower on FR 310, as well as Tusayan Bike Trail #4 are the best areas to view color change in the oaks. Visitors can also view plenty of oak trees changing colors along FR 310 (high-clearance vehicles are recommended, but not necessary). Also the Arizona Trail (which begins 1.5 miles south of Desert View Drive at the Grandview Fire Lookout Tower) offers forest visitors with great views of the changing oaks.

On the Williams Ranger District, the aspens on Bill Williams Mountain are peaking.

For more information click on the Kaibab National Forest link above.

Prescott National Forest

Other scenic drives on the forest that are likely to please this weekend include: Granite Basin, Copper Basin, Camp Wood, Cherry Road, Perkinsville Road, Groom Creek, Walker Road, Senator Highway, and Dugas Road.

Tonto National Forest

Peak viewing at higher elevations of the Payson, Pleasant Valley, and Globe Ranger Districts is late October to early November.

So far we are seeing the most color along riparian areas on the Payson and Pleasant Valley Ranger Districts. The cottonwoods, sycamores, and willows are turning yellow along the East Verde River, Tonto Creek and Christopher Creek, color change is estimated at 100 percent and leaves are starting to fall.

Recommended drives and hikes on the Payson Ranger District:

The East Verde River: take Hwy. 87 north through Payson, turn right on Forest Road (FR) 199 (Houston Mesa Rd). After seven miles the road begins to follow the river. Turn left on Control Rd (FR 64), then turn right on FR 32. After two miles the road begins to follow the river again, continue on FR 32 to the Washington Park Trailhead.

Tonto Creek: from Payson go east on Hwy. 260 for 16 miles. Just past mile marker 269 turn left on FR 289. This road follows Tonto Creek for four miles and ends at the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery.

Christopher Creek: from Payson go east on Hwy. 260 for 19 miles, turn left on FR 284 and follow it to See Canyon Trailhead.

Recommended hiking routes include: The Col. Devin Trail #290 from the Washington Park Trailhead, Horton Creek Trail #285 from the Horton Trailhead on Tonto Creek Rd. (FR 289), and See Canyon Trail #184 from the See Canyon trailhead.

Recommended drives on the Pleasant Valley Ranger District:

Oak trees are turning color along State Route (SR) 288, (FR 512) from Hwy. 260 south to Young, AZ.

Cottonwood, willow, and alder trees are turning color along Canyon Creek in the northeast corner of the forest. Color change is estimated at 100 percent. From Payson go east on Hwy. 260 for approximately 33 miles, turn south on FR 512 for approximately 3 miles, turn left on FR 33, and travel 4.5 miles to the Airplane Flat Campground.

Sycamore trees along Workman Creek, Rose Creek, and Reynolds Creek on the south end of the district are starting to turn. Color change is estimated at 100 percent. These riparian areas can be accessed off State Route 288 (FR 512) south of Young, AZ.

For views in the Roosevelt Lake area go north on State Route 288 at its junction with Hwy. 188 for approximately 22 miles.

From Payson go east on Hwy. 260 for approximately 33 miles, turn south on FR 512 for approximately 50 miles to the Workman Creek/Rose Creek area.

Recommended drives and hikes on the Globe Ranger District:

Pinal Mountains: oaks and small pockets of aspens are beginning to turn color in the Signal Peak area. Maples are just starting to turn red in the upper reaches of Icehouse and Sixshooter Canyons. These areas can be accessed from FR 651 adjacent to Pinal and Upper Pinal Campgrounds. Color Change is 100 percent and leaves are starting to fall.

From Globe follow Jess Hayes Road to the junction of Icehouse Canyon Road (FR 112) and Sixshooter Canyon Road (FR 222). Continue on FR 112 for 2 ¼ miles to the junction of FR 55 and FR 112. Take the right fork and continue for 2 ¼ miles on FR 55 then turn left on FR 651. Proceed 10 miles on FR 651 to the Pinal Campground area.

Recommended hiking routes include: Icehouse Canyon Trail #198 from FR 651 adjacent to the Pinal Campground, and the Sixshooter Canyon Trail #192 from FR 651 adjacent to the Upper Pinal Campground.

Recommended drives on the Cave Creek Ranger District:

Seven Springs Area: sycamore, cottonwood, and willow trees in this riparian area are estimated at 80 percent color change. From Scottsdale go north on Pima Road and turn right on Cave Creek Road, which turns into FR 24. Continue north on FR 24 for 18 miles to the Seven Springs Area. For a nice hike take Cave Creek Trail #4 from the Cave Creek Trailhead.

Please contact the ranger district of the area you plan to visit for current road conditions and other updates.  Visit the Tonto National Forest Website for contact information.

Cave Creek Ranger District, 40202 N. Cave Creek Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85262, 480-595-3300

Globe Ranger District, 7680 S. Six Shooter Canyon Rd., Globe, Arizona 85501, 928-402-6200

Payson Ranger District, 1009 E. Hwy 260, Payson, Arizona 85541, 928-474-7900

Pleasant Valley Ranger District, P.O. Box 450, FR 63, Young, Arizona 85554, 928-462-4300

Carson National Forest

Cibola National Forest

Gila National Forest

The leaves are starting to change on the Gila National Forest in the higher elevations with peak viewing expected the 3rd or 4th week of October for most of the Forest.

In the Glenwood Ranger District aspens and oaks are in full color at the highest elevations and an abundance of wildflowers are blooming at lower elevations so some hillsides are currently a bright yellow color and are visible along U.S. Highway 180. The trees along the San Francisco River are just starting to turn; those will peak later in the month.

Panoramic views can be seen from U.S. Highway 180 at the Aldo Leopold Vista and from pull-offs and campsites located at various points along the highway. Continuing north, turn right onto New Mexico Highway 12 to the Reserve Ranger District. This intimate state highway, winds around Largo Canyon and the San Francisco River, leading visitors up and into the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

Golden colors are beginning along the Mimbres Valley and along State Highway 35. The Gila River area around Forks and Grapevine campgrounds are also experiencing vivid colors. State Highway 15, accessed only from Silver City, New Mexico or from the east on New State Highway 35, offers spectacular views of the Gila Wilderness and ends at the Gila Cliff Dwellings Visitor Center.

State Highway 15 from Silver City can be very narrow at certain points and is not recommended for trailers over 20 feet in length. These visitors may take an alternate route on State Highway 35 that intersects with State Highway 15 leading up to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Given the shear drop-offs along the way, it is well worth the ride for breathtaking views of the oldest, most celebrated Wilderness in the country.

Due to the extensive flood damage along State Highway 152, fall color viewing is not possible in the Black Range Ranger District.

Lincoln National Forest

On the Smokey Bear Ranger District the color is peaking now up high and is almost done! This week is probably the last week to catch the gold up high!  More opportunities to see fall colors are going to be at lower elevations. The Billy the Kid Scenic Bypass starts in Ruidoso/Ruidoso Downs:  Hwy. 70 East to Hwy. 380 West and back down to Ruidoso by Hwy. 48. The Hwy. 70 corridor from Tularosa heading east towards Roswell is beginning to change to gold as well. This drive from Bent/Mescalero through the Hondo Valley should be beautiful with golden cottonwoods for the next two weeks or so.

For a good drive head to the Ski Apache Area. From Ruidoso, take Hwy. 48 north up the mountain, turn left at Hwy. 532 (the road to Ski Apache), and drive up to Windy Poin.t Park there for the best view of the aspen turning gold.

If you want a nice hike, the Crest Trail #25 is a rim trail and has some wonderful views.  The trail is actually over 21 miles long and begins near Monjeau Lookout, goes by Ski Apache, and ends in Nogal Canyon.  From Hwy. 532 take a right at Forest Road (FR) 117 and drive up to the Crest Trailhead or catch the trail near Ski Apache (Hwy. 532 to the top, trails begin from Ski Apache parking lot) or from Nogal Canyon (FR 108, high clearance dirt road, to FR 400).

It’s getting chilly up high on the mountain, so bring a sweater or windbreaker with you!

Santa Fe National Forest