Natural History Wanderings

Coconino National Forest  reports the following Fall Color Update: for September 28, 2015

The upper reaches of Mt. Elden are reaching their peak. On the Peaks, Lockett Meadow, Inner Basin, and the north side of the Peaks are turning fast! Kendrick Peak also has a lot of color on it. Many areas are at their peak, and overall 30% to 50% of the trees have turned significantly Over the next week and through the weekend the area should be in full color. The next week and through the weekend is a good time to go:

Mt. Elden

• Elden Lookout Road: Drive to the top for spectacular fall color views. For a short hike, Sunset Trail from the lookout tower to the junction with Heart Trail provides moderate hiking with fantastic views.
• Sunset, Heart, and Elden Lookout Trails: strenuous trails that ascend Mt. Elden. Heart is accessed from Sandy Seep or Little Elden trails. Sunset can also be accessed from several signed access points near and at the top of Elden Lookout Road.
• Sandy Seep Trail: This easy trail takes you to the base of the eastern face of Mt. Elden and Little Elden, providing excellent views of the color up the slopes.

San Francisco Peaks

• Around the Peaks Loop Scenic Drive: Great views of the northern flanks of the Peaks turning. Aspens are turning towards the western end of 418 and along Hart Prairie Road.
• Kendrick Park Watchable Wildlife Trail and Kendrick Mountain Wilderness
• Lockett Meadow: A lot of the aspens are turning throughout the meadow and views towards the Peaks will just get better and better!
• Inner Basin Trail: Based on observations from Lockett Meadow, lower part of the trail appears to be just turning, while the Inner Basin has large patches of strong color.
• Abineau-Bear Jaw Loop: Many of the aspens along this very strenuous loop are turning, and any time over the next week should be rewarding.

Suggested Sites

Here are some of the most spectacular and popular locations for viewing fall colors on the Coconino National Forest as the season gets into full swing.

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)
• Around the Peaks Loop Scenic Drive
• Aspen Loop Trail (Snowbowl Road), Bismarck Lake Trail (Hart Prairie Road), and the two-mile segment of the Arizona Trail that runs between them through Hart Prarie, all moderately easy trails suitable for hiking or biking.
• Kendrick Park Watchable Wildlife Trail and Kendrick Mountain Wilderness
• Inner Basin Trail: Moderately strenuous hike into the caldera of the San Franciso Peaks
• Abineau-Bear Jaw Loop: Strenuous hike on the northern slope of the San Francisco Peaks

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):

As the peak of the season passes on the Rim and around Flagstaff, the colors are just getting started in Oak Creek Canyon and Red Rock Country.

• 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! 
• Casner Canyon
• Allen’s Bend Trail
• Girdner Trail 
• Crescent Moon
• Chavez Crossing