The is an exerpt from a post at the Governor's Office: AZ Awesome: Fall for Arizona
7 Road Trips that will make you Fall for Arizona
It’s officially fall in Arizona. For those seeking to make the most of autumn, Arizona offers a number of scenic hikes, drives and sites for taking in the beautiful colors of fall foliage.
Enjoy the best of what Arizona has to offer during the fall season by taking a trip to one of these uniquely Arizona locations:
Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
Located in the Tonto National Forest near the rustic town of Superior, Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park is Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden. During the fall season, enjoy live music and cider at the park while admiring the changing colors of its pistachio, hackberry, black walnut and sycamore trees. (INFO)
Cave Creek Canyon
Found on the eastern side of the Chiricahua Mountains, Cave Creek Canyon has earned the nickname, “Yosemite of Arizona.” To catch the canyon’s multitude of maple, sycamore and oak trees in peak fall colors, hike along the easygoing South Fork Trail from late October to early November. (INFO)
Lockett Meadow
Lockett Meadow offers remarkable views of the Inner Basin and the San Francisco Peaks, especially when its aspen trees turn a golden hue. If visiting Lockett Meadow, take the Inner Basin Trail to view an ancient volcanic caldera and be sure to plan a trip before the campground closes in mid-October. (INFO)
Ramsey Canyon Preserve
Located within the San Pedro River Basin and flanked by the Huachuca Mountains, Nature Conservancy describes Ramsey Canyon Preserve as an “ecological crossroads” serving as a stepping stone between the Rocky Mountains and the Chihuahuan desert. Guided walks of the preserve are available through November where visitors can try to spot one of the over 170 types of birds seen within the canyon’s walls. (INFO)
Verde Valley
Get the most out of a visit to Verde Valley by camping in Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood, Arizona. Experience Arizona’s fall colors through the Canopy Trail or Verde River Greenway or join a four-hour “Fall Colors Tour” offered by the Verde Canyon Railroad during the months of October and November. (INFO)
West Fork Of Oak Creek - Sedona
Experience fall in Arizona with a visit to West Fork, a narrow, tree-filled canyon following Oak Creek about a 10-minute drive from downtown Sedona. The West Fork Trail is one of Arizona’s most-popular and most-photographed trails. (INFO)
The White Mountains
The White Mountains offer one of the earliest glimpses of color in the state due to their elevation of 11,000 feet. To catch fall colors, visit the White Mountains during the first three weeks of October. For a scenic overview, take a drive from Greer to Sunrise Park Resort. (INFO)
SOURCE: Arizona Office of Tourism
