THE NATURE OF AUTUMN

PRECEDING PANEL: Maple leaves display a multitude of colors along Ash Creek in the Galiuro Mountains of Southeastern Arizona. This view is from the East Divide Trail, a 22-mile route that traverses many of the Galiuros' peaks and canyons. LAURENCE PARENT

BELOW: Colorful maple leaves cradle the day's rainfall in the Tonto National Forest. At nearly 3 million acres, the forest is the largest in Arizona and offers many opportunities to spot fall color. SUZANNE MATHIA RIGHT: Fallen maple leaves decorate agaves and a small evergreen in Garden Canyon, a major drainage on the east side of Southern Arizona's Huachuca Mountains. In addition to fall leaves, the canyon is known for its white-tailed deer, Montezuma quail and numerous butterfly species. PAUL GILL FOLLOWING PANEL: Aspen leaves contrast with surrounding evergreens at the head of Betatakin Canyon on the Navajo Nation. This view is from Navajo National Monument, which protects three major Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. GEORGE H.H. HUEY