Fall Colors in Northern Arizona

Phoenix has only two seasons but for me it seems like it's only one season: summer, but what ever amount of seasons you thing Phoenix has Autumn is usually not one of them. There are no big parks with trees in golden colors and no piles of leaves to jump into.

But, a true fall season is only 2.3 hours away, or 1.5 hours for some: Flagstaff is one of the most popular and beautiful places to see the fall colors because of the abundance of trees that cover the sides of the San Francisco peaks and other abandoned volcanoes.

This weekend we got a chance to see the beautiful fall colors of the aspen trees on San Francisco Peaks.

There are a lot of trails in the Coconino National Forest but some of my favorites are on San Francisco Peaks, the tallest peaks in Arizona. I have been to as high as one can go on Humphrey's Trail, a grueling 4.5 mile vertical hike. This time we went on the Kachina Trail a 5 mile trail with a much smaller change in altitude: the altitude change was only 700ft. but believe you me, the trail is a tricky one: it goes up both ways and the lower density of oxygen forces you to breath consciously because if you miss one breath you'll know it: you'll be forced to quickly and deeply make up that breath.

The Kachina trail is a moderate trail but unless you are very fit and used to some altitude then plan on a longer hike then the prescribed 2.5 hours. Despite the heavy breathing, extra caloric burn, occasional slip on the rather often stepped on loose gravel and dirt and the uneasy smell of a pile of horse shit every mile or so it's a spectacular hike with beautiful panoramic views, the fall colors and of course the fresh light air which smells so much better then the heavy air of Phoenix. It's a beautiful hike any time of the year but, the in the fall its simply spectacular

Take a hike:

Coconino National Forest hiking trails.