Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge
Lower Colorado River, Arizona · 486 ft
Typical peak
Oct 29 – Nov 6
high confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunrise
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.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
low
Usually quieter, especially around dawn.
Getting there
Off Arizona 95 south of Lake Havasu City, where the highway crosses the Bill Williams River. A short interpretive trail and river access from the refuge road.
What turns here
- cottonwood
- willow
Color progression
Typical peak Nov 2Typical color progression for Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge. No change from Sep 25 to Oct 12. First color from Oct 12 to Oct 21. Approaching peak from Oct 21 to Oct 29. Peak from Oct 29 to Nov 6. Past peak from Nov 6 to Nov 16. Bare from Nov 16 to Nov 30.
Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge is typically at peak on Nov 1, 2026.
This season so far
First frost
None yet
No night at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
86°F / 64°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge on November 2, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:31 AM |
| Sunrise Rises ESE · 107° | 6:57 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 35 min of low, warm light | 7:32 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:20 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 35 min before sunset | 5:07 PM |
| Sunset Sets WSW · 253° | 5:42 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:08 PM |
Times in America/Phoenix · day length 10h 45m · 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 ESE, sets WSW.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.