West Fork of Oak Creek
Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona · 5,331 ft
Typical peak
Oct 10 – Oct 18
moderate confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best under flat overcast
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.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
extreme
Expect heavy peak-weekend traffic; consider a weekday or arrive before dawn.
Getting there
Park at the Call of the Canyon day-use lot on AZ-89A near milepost 385 about 10 miles north of Sedona; the fee lot fills before 9 a.m. on fall weekends and the first creek crossings are half a mile in.
What turns here
- bigtooth maple
- arizona sycamore
- gambel oak
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 14Typical color progression for West Fork of Oak Creek. No change from Sep 6 to Sep 23. First color from Sep 23 to Oct 2. Approaching peak from Oct 2 to Oct 10. Peak from Oct 10 to Oct 18. Past peak from Oct 18 to Oct 28. Bare from Oct 28 to Nov 11.
West Fork of Oak Creek is typically at bare 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
62°F / 44°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
West Fork of Oak Creek on October 14, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:06 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 99° | 6:32 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 34 min of low, warm light | 7:06 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:13 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 34 min before sunset | 5:19 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 260° | 5:54 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:19 PM |
Times in America/Phoenix · day length 11h 22m · 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.
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.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.