FALLING FOR ARIZONA

A PORTFOLIO EDITED BY JEFF KIDA AND KEITH WHITNEY

PRECEDING PANEL: Golden maple leaves mingle with evergreens and flowing water along the See Canyon Trail, east of Payson. This 7-mile (round-trip) trail passes numerous maples, oaks and aspens as it follows Christopher Creek up the Mogollon Rim. PAUL GILL

PEAK SEASON: Mid-to late October

OLYMPUS E-M1 MARK II, 0.4 SEC, F/11, ISO 200, 7 MM LENS LEFT: Amid maples displaying deep red hues, aspens begin to don their autumn gold on the Mogollon Rim. This photo was made near Forest Road 115, which is northwest of Woods Canyon Lake and other popular Rim Country recreation destinations. CLAIRE CURRAN

PEAK SEASON: Mid-to late October

CANON EOS 5DS R, 2.5 SEC, F/29, ISO 100, 200 MM LENS ABOVE: Oak and maple leaves in a variety of colors surround a mullein plant along the West Fork Oak Creek Trail, near Sedona. Spectacular fall color is one reason this easy trail is one of Arizona's most popular day hikes; tackle it on a weekday to avoid the largest crowds. PAUL GILL

PEAK SEASON: Mid-October to early November

CANON EOS R5, 1/40 SEC, F/13, ISO 100, 39 MM LENS

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LEFT: Maples and other deciduous trees cling to the steep walls of Pumphouse Wash, a narrow canyon north of Sedona. In contrast to the nearby West Fork Oak Creek Trail, Pumphouse Wash is a little-visited, boulder-filled trek that appeals to experienced hikers. MARK FRANK ABOVE: Autumn-hued leaves from a desert riparian tree decorate a small cascade on Fish Creek in the Superstition Mountains, east of the Phoenix area. This section of the creek is north of the Apache Trail (State Route 88), outside the Superstition Wilderness. JOEL HAZELTON PEAK SEASON: Mid-October to early November CANON EOS 5D MARK II, 1/10 SEC, F/18, ISO 100.58 MM LENS PEAK SEASON: November to December CANON EOS 5DS R, 1 SEC, F/14, ISO 200, 16 MM LENS

LEFT: Cottonwood trees glow orange and yellow at the bottom of Canyon de Chelly in Northeastern Arizona. The canyon is the defining feature of Canyon de Chelly National Monument, jointly managed by the National Park Service and the Navajo Nation. PAUL GILL BELOW: Clouds clear from the San Francisco Peaks, the state's highest mountain range, to reveal hillsides of golden aspen leaves in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness. Numerous forest roads in the Peaks offer excellent views of aspens in fall. JONATHAN BUFORD

PEAK SEASON: Late October to mid-November

PEAK SEASON: October OLYMPUS E-M1 MARK II, 1/180 SEC, F/8, ISO 200, 40 MM LENS FUJIFILM GFX 50R, 1/30 SEC, F/13, ISO 125, 158.8 MM LENS FOLLOWING PANEL: Maples, oaks and tall evergreens combine to form a vibrant autumn scene along Workman Creek, a waterway in the Sierra Ancha. This range, located north of Theodore Roosevelt Lake, is known for its deep canyons and numerous archaeological sites. LAURENCE PARENT

PEAK SEASON: Late October to mid-November

SONY ALPHA 7R II, 5 SEC, F/16, ISO 100, 66 MM LENS

Beneath ominous clouds, aspens glow in early morning light near State Route 67 (the North Rim Parkway), which leads from Jacob Lake to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. This part of Arizona is known for its dense aspen groves, which typically are their most vibrant around the first weekend of October. BYRON NESLEN

PEAK SEASON: Late September to early October