October and November brings color to the foliage in northern Arizona. This year, however, the colors have been subdued and the color change has been over an extended period of time rather than a sharp peak. Nonetheless, it’s always a fun time to get out and photograph. These photographs were taken between October 10 and November 1.
October 10, 2023
Lockett Meadows, the Inner Basin, and the San Francisco Peaks.Lockett Meadows, the Inner Basin, and the San Francisco Peaks.Fallen aspen leaves cover the Waterline Road in the San Francisco Peaks.A ridge is covered with aspen as seen from the Inner Basin Trail.
October 19, 2023
Aspen along the Veit Springs trail on the San Francisco Peaks.
October 30, 2023
Red maple leaves in Harding Springs, Oak Creek Canyon.Fallen maple leaves in Harding Springs, Oak Creek Canyon.Maple tree, Harding Springs, Oak Creek Canyon.
November 1, 2023
Apple leaves, Call Of The Canyon picnic area, Oak Creek Canyon.Maple tree, West Fork Oak Creek trail.A sunlit wall is reflected in a pool in West Fork Oak Creek.Fallen leaves sit atop the water in a tranquil pool in West Fork Oak Creek.Bright yellow maple leaves arch across the West Fork Oak Creek trail.
The color continues to migrate into the lower elevations. Middle and lower sections of Oak Creek Canyon have yet to hit their peak.
It’s early November and the aspen leaves have fallen across the higher elevations of northern Arizona. But autumn colors are not done–they have just shifted to lower elevations.
Tree on the side of the road in Oak Creek Canyon.
Earlier this week we decided to hike the North Wilson Mountain Trail in Oak Creek Canyon. It starts at ~1450 m and we turned around at ~1910 m at the intersection with the main Wilson Mountain Trail. The best autumn colors were found early in the hike where the trail is in a north-facing drainage. In this section we encountered primarily maple trees but we also found oak, sumac, and Arizona Ash as well as a few wildflowers.
Red sumac leaves on the North Wilson Mountain trail.Maple tree in noontime sun.Evidence of the Brins Fire (2006) is still present on this hillside but young maple trees are taking root here.
This part of Oak Creek Canyon was burned in the 2006 Brins Fire and there are reminders of this wildfire all along the trail. But fire also brings new growth and the maples appear to be thriving in this location.
Late-season violets can still be found along the trail.Arizona ash tree on the North Wilson Mountain trail.Our turnaround spot near the intersection of Wilson and North Wilson trails provides sweeping views of the lower sections of Oak Creek Canyon.Maples displaying lots of color.A view across Oak Creek Canyon to the climbing area known as The Waterfall.From the trailhead parking lot with a view of color on the west face of Oak Creek Canyon–and some interesting clouds above.Autumn color in Oak Creek Canyon.
From our turnaround spot near the junction of North Wilson and Wilson trails we had grand views of the lower portions of Oak Creek and the Red Rock country of Sedona.
These ravens–and a western bluebird(?)–were happy to let me take their photograph.
The changing of the colors of leaves continues to march from the higher to lower elevations. The higher elevations and aspens peaked in mid October while places such as Oak Creek Canyon hit their peak a few weeks later. Peak color is just now reaching Sedona and similar locations. Here are several photos of leaves taken over the past few weeks in and near Oak Creek Canyon.
Fruit trees near Cave Springs campground.Maples near the Harding Springs trail.AB Young trailhead.Grape leaves at the AB Young trailhead.AB Young trailhead.Maple leaves in upper Oak Creek Canyon.Leaves on the water in Kelly Canyon.Oak leaves in Kelly Canyon.
It’s been a relatively warm and very dry autumn so far across northern Arizona. For example, Flagstaff recorded 0.42″ of rain for the months of September and October combined—normal is closer to 4 inches (4.04″). This combination of warm and dry might be responsible for the less-than-stellar autumn colors in the aspens and other trees. Or, perhaps it was actually pretty colorful and I just happened to go out at the wrong times. Either way, it’s been a bit of a challenge for me this year to get the high-impact, really colorful photographs.
A previous post highlighted some of the photographs of aspens taken across the higher elevations and also provides some comparison with previous years.
More recently, I’ve been shooting images in Oak Creek where there are plenty of maple, oak, sycamore, and other types of trees to provide a nice mix of colors.
Maple leaves in Oak Creek Canyon.
While wandering around looking for autumn colors, we saw this. I’ve walked by this rock face in Oak Creek Canyon several times and never noticed the name etched in the rock.
[Dr. B. Frankson Rugby, N.D.]We also found ourselves hiking up the North Wilson Trail in Oak Creek Canyon with hopes for some maples. Those we did find were not particularly photogenic because they were surrounded by dead/burnt trees—courtesy of the Brins Mesa wildfire of 2006. On the other hand, I enjoyed this view from the Wilson Bench near the intersection of North Wilson and Wilson Mtn. Trails.
A view of Sedona from Wilson Bench.
On our descent I enjoyed the quickly shifting patterns of light and shadow on the opposite side of Oak Creek Canyon. Perched high up on the canyon walls is the area known to rock climbers as “The Waterfall.” Visitors to Oak Creek Canyon during the spring snowmelt season have often looked up from the road to see water cascading down this rock face. They may not have known that it is also a world-class rock climbing site.
“The Waterfall” rock climbing area in Oak Creek Canyon.
As we descended the North Wilson Trail I was able to see that some of the best color was—where else—along Oak Creek and in the parking lot from which we had started. We still had some time so down to the creek we went. The light was very soft with no hard shadows or bright spots and autumn colors were nicely reflected in the waters.
Oak Creek.Oak Creek.
I’ve always skipped the North Wilson Trail in all the years of hiking around here. Now, I wonder why. It’s a steep trail, for certain, but very interesting views in all directions.
![[Dr. B. Frankson Rugby, N.D.]](https://www.dblanchard.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171024_1056_DBP_4298.jpg)
