Natural History Wanderings

Coconino National Forest reports on Oct. 15,2015

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

Suggested Sites

Flagstaff Ranger District:  

• Hart Prairie (Accessed via Highway 180 and Forest Service Road 151 and/or FSR 418, which also loops around the north end of the Peaks for a pretty view)
• Aspen Loop Trail (Via Hwy 180 and Snowbowl Road) or the AZ Trail that stretches from the Aspen Loop Trail north through Hart Prairie
• Lockett Meadow (Via Hwy 89, then Forest Road 552). Check out the link for Lockett Meadow Campground for exact directions.
• Around the Peaks Loop Scenic Drive
• Kendrick Park Watchable Wildlife Trail and Kendrick Mountain Wilderness

Mogollon Rim Ranger District (north of Pine and Strawberry near Blue Ridge):

• Forest Road 321 also known as “Dane Ridge” (Hwy 87 to FSR 95 next to the Mogollon Rim Ranger Station, right on FSR 96, right on FSR 321)
• Forest Road 300, also known as “Rim Road” or “General Crook Trail” (Hwy 87 or Hwy 260 to FSR 300, 2.5 miles east of Hwy 260, 10 miles north of Strawberry)
• Cabin Loop Trail

Red Rock Ranger District (around Sedona):

No fall colors yet – perhaps in a week or two.

Note: While Oak Creek Canyon and West Fork Oak Creek are popular locations near Sedona to see fall colors, they’re not the only places to visit and parking is very limited! There are plenty of other equally goreous leaf-peeping locations including hikes along Casner Canyon, Allen’s Bend Trail by Oak Creek, and Girdner Trail along Dry Creek west of Sedona. The Crescent Moon and Chavez Crossing areas are also wonderful!