Arizona Fall Foliage 2026
Typical peak window
Sep 28 – Oct 6
Centered on Oct 2 at reference elevation.
low confidence in typical timing.
The Flagstaff aspen belt peaks early October; Sedona and Oak Creek in late October to early November.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Seasonal timing
In a typical season, Arizona’s overall peak is around Oct 2, within Sep 28–Oct 6. High ground near 11,500 feet peaks around Sep 22, while valleys near 4,350 feet peak around Oct 17; the Flagstaff aspen belt usually peaks in early October, and Sedona and Oak Creek in late October to early November.
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.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Sep 11.
Arizona by county
26 days from Apache County to Yuma County.
5 of 15 counties are typically at peak on Nov 1, 2026. Tap a location marker for coordinates and light times. Where peak usually lands. Boundaries: US Census, 2023. Elevation: USGS 3DEP + SRTM. Method
A county is still an average. Mohave County spans 17 days on its own, ridge to valley.
Every county, as text
| County | Typical peak | Stage on Nov 1, 2026 | Median elev. | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apache County | Oct 5 – Oct 13 | Bare | 6,488 ft | 6 days |
| Cochise County | Oct 22 – Oct 30 | Past peak | 4,358 ft | 5 days |
| Coconino County | Oct 6 – Oct 14 | Bare | 6,117 ft | 7 days |
| Gila County | Oct 15 – Oct 23 | Past peak | 4,823 ft | 12 days |
| Graham County | Oct 17 – Oct 25 | Past peak | 4,838 ft | 9 days |
| Greenlee County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | Past peak | 5,381 ft | 11 days |
| La Paz County | Oct 27 – Nov 4 | Peak | 1,267 ft | 4 days |
| Maricopa County | Oct 29 – Nov 6 | Peak | 1,155 ft | 6 days |
| Mohave County | Oct 13 – Oct 21 | Bare | 4,004 ft | 17 days |
| Navajo County | Oct 7 – Oct 15 | Bare | 5,711 ft | 5 days |
| Pima County | Oct 27 – Nov 4 | Peak | 2,520 ft | 5 days |
| Pinal County | Oct 27 – Nov 4 | Peak | 1,988 ft | 7 days |
| Santa Cruz County | Oct 22 – Oct 30 | Past peak | 4,397 ft | 5 days |
| Yavapai County | Oct 14 – Oct 22 | Past peak | 4,345 ft | 10 days |
| Yuma County | Oct 31 – Nov 8 | Peak | 762 ft | 5 days |
Peak by elevation
25 days between the ridges and the valleys below them. The county map above averages that away.
| Elevation band | Approx. elevation | Typical peak | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| High ridges & passes | 11,500 ft | Sep 22 | Bare |
| Mid elevation | 8,500 ft | Oct 2 | Bare |
| Valleys & lowlands | 4,350 ft | Oct 17 | Bare |
Foliage stages
- No change 0–10%
- First color 10–25%
- Approaching peak 25–60%
- Peak 60–90%
- Past peak 40–70%, dropping
- Bare <20%
Plan the light
Arizona on October 2, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| 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.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Where to shoot in Arizona
3 researched locations, earliest peak first. Filter these locations
- Lockett Meadow Bare
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 Bare
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.
- Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge Peak
Lower Colorado River · 486 ft · peaks Nov 2
One of the last naturally regenerated cottonwood-willow stands on the lower Colorado, eight thousand feet below the aspen on the San Francisco Peaks. Green gallery forest in a bare desert canyon is the whole picture, and it goes gold against red rock rather than against more forest.
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; current conditions may differ.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Arizona?
- Yes, by about 25 days. High ground around 11,500 ft peaks near Sep 22, while valleys near 4,350 ft wait until Oct 17. Peak moves roughly 3.5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb. Try lower valleys after high ground has passed peak, or higher ground while valleys are still green.
- Where are the best places to see fall color in Arizona?
- The guide includes 3 researched locations in Arizona, including Lockett Meadow, West Fork of Oak Creek, Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge. Lockett Meadow turns first, around Oct 2, and Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge is last, around Nov 2. Each includes 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.