Arizona Fall Foliage 2026
Arizona's fall runs on elevation. The aspen belt around Flagstaff typically peaks in early October, while Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona hold color into late October and early November. Cottonwoods in the lower canyons provide a second act after the high country fades. The window is tight but reliable if you time it right.
When Arizona peaks
Sep 28 – Oct 6
Centered on Oct 2. The Flagstaff aspen belt peaks early October; Sedona and Oak Creek in late October to early November.
low confidence. Long range. Treat as a planning estimate only.
Where peak usually lands. Drought or an early freeze moves it by a few days. Method
What turns here
- quaking aspen
- bigtooth maple
- cottonwood
Yellows show up every year. Reds need sunny days and cool, frost-free nights. A bad year takes those first.
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 2Typical color progression for Arizona. No change from Aug 25 to Sep 11. First color from Sep 11 to Sep 20. Approaching peak from Sep 20 to Sep 28. Peak from Sep 28 to Oct 6. Past peak from Oct 6 to Oct 16. Bare from Oct 16 to Oct 30.
Color starts around Sep 11.
Peak by elevation
16 days between the ridges and the valleys. County maps average this away, which is how you miss peak at the right place.
| Elevation band | Approx. elevation | Typical peak | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| High ridges & passes | 11,000 ft | Sep 23 | No change |
| Mid elevation | 8,500 ft | Oct 2 | No change |
| Valleys & lowlands | 6,500 ft | Oct 9 | No change |
Foliage stages
- No change 0–10%
- First color 10–25%
- Approaching peak 25–60%
- Peak 60–90%
- Past peak 40–70%, dropping
- Bare <20%
Light at peak
Arizona on October 2, the day it typically peaks. Knowing when color arrives is one thing. Knowing where the sun will be is another.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 5:57 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 94° | 6:22 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 34 min of low, warm light | 6:56 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:16 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 34 min before sunset | 5:36 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 266° | 6:09 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:35 PM |
Times in America/Phoenix · day length 11h 47m · computed from NOAA solar equations
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of those and the canopy glows translucent. Turn your back to them for flat, accurate color.
Location pages name the light directly.
Where to shoot in Arizona
2 researched locations, earliest peak first.
- Lockett Meadow No change
San Francisco Peaks · 8,571 ft · peaks Oct 2
A ring of aspen encloses a meadow at the mouth of the Inner Basin, with Humphreys and Agassiz Peaks standing over the west side. The trunks are dense enough to shoot straight into the grove and leave the sky out.
- West Fork of Oak Creek No change
Oak Creek Canyon · 5,331 ft · peaks Oct 14
Bigtooth maple and Arizona sycamore fill a canyon barely 200 feet wide, with red Coconino sandstone rising straight off the creek. Shade or overcast keeps the walls from blowing out against the yellow canopy.
Recent reports from Arizona
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in Arizona?
- Arizona typically peaks Sep 28 – Oct 6, centered on Oct 2. The Flagstaff aspen belt peaks early October; Sedona and Oak Creek in late October to early November. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model, not a live reading of this year's canopy.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Arizona?
- Yes, by about 16 days. High ground around 11,000 ft peaks near Sep 23, while valleys near 6,500 ft wait until Oct 9. Peak moves roughly 3.5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb, so if you miss it low you can often drive up and find it.
- Where are the best places to see fall color in Arizona?
- We track 2 verified locations in Arizona, including Lockett Meadow, West Fork of Oak Creek. Lockett Meadow turns first, around Oct 2, and West Fork of Oak Creek is last, around Oct 14. Each has real coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in Arizona?
- Mainly quaking aspen, bigtooth maple, cottonwood. Yellows and oranges come from carotenoids that are already in the leaf, so they show up every year. Reds are made fresh each autumn and need warm sunny days with cool, frost-free nights, which is why a dry summer or a warm September produces a duller year.