A placid pond at Lockett Meadow, in the San Francisco Peaks, mirrors snow-covered evergreens and a few lingering hints of fall color. By Claire Curran

A placid pond at Lockett Meadow, in the San Francisco Peaks, mirrors snow-covered evergreens and a few lingering hints of fall color. At press time, the road to Lockett Meadow remained closed to vehicles in the aftermath of the 2022 Pipeline Fire, but the area is accessible via hiking trails.

Claire Curran

CANON EOS 5DS R, 1/125 SEC, F/18, ISO 100, 45 MM LENS

 

An Arizona sycamore clings to its autumn-hued leaves amid wintry weather in Portal, a small town in Southeastern Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains. By  Bruce D. Taubert

An Arizona sycamore clings to its autumn-hued leaves amid wintry weather in Portal, a small town in Southeastern Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains. The Portal area’s natural beauty and remoteness have made it a destination for birders, hikers and stargazers. 

Bruce D. Taubert

CANON EOS-1D X MARK II, 1/500 SEC, F/9, ISO 640, 403 MM LENS

 

Central Arizona’s Bradshaw Mountains wear a cloak of white in a view from the Senator Highway. This rough, rutted forest road connects the Prescott area to Crown King, a historic mining town.  By Theresa Rose Ditson

Central Arizona’s Bradshaw Mountains wear a cloak of white in a view from the Senator Highway. This rough, rutted forest road connects the Prescott area to Crown King, a historic mining town. 

Theresa Rose Ditson

NIKON D810, 1/800 SEC, F/13, ISO 160, 29 MM LENS

 

The frigid water of Oak Creek cascades over sandstone shelves at Slide Rock State Park, near Sedona. By Valerie Millett

The frigid water of Oak Creek cascades over sandstone shelves at Slide Rock State Park, near Sedona. The park, named for a natural waterslide in the creek, is most popular during the summer months, but its dramatic scenery draws visitors throughout the year. 

Valerie Millett

CANON EOS 5D MARK II, 25 SEC, F/16, ISO 100, 70 MM LENS

 

Fresh snowfall dusts ponderosa pines near Greer, a small community in the White Mountains. By Rusty Childress

Fresh snowfall dusts ponderosa pines near Greer, a small community in the White Mountains. Arizona is home to the largest continuous stand of ponderosa pines in North America, one that stretches from the Grand Canyon’s South Rim to the New Mexico state line. 

Rusty Childress

SONY RX10 IV, 1/125 SEC, F/8, ISO 320, 43 MM LENS

 

State Route 260 offers a view of snow-flocked evergreens below the Mogollon Rim. By  Anne James

State Route 260 offers a view of snow-flocked evergreens below the Mogollon Rim. This vantage point is not far from the Rim Road (Forest Road 300), which is an excellent way to experience Rim Country during the warmer months of the year. 

Anne James

NIKON Z 8, 1/500 SEC, F/11, ISO 160, 28 MM LENS

 

Heavy snow on the South Rim anchors a sunset view of storm clouds clearing from the Grand Canyon. By Claire Curran

Heavy snow on the South Rim anchors a sunset view of storm clouds clearing from the Grand Canyon. This view is from Yavapai Point, just northwest of the South Rim’s visitors center.

Claire Curran

CANON EOS 5DS, 0.3 SEC, F/22, ISO 200, 24 MM LENS

 

The light of sunset illuminates the San Francisco Peaks in a view from the Kachina Wetlands Preserve, south of Flagstaff. By Doug Koepsel

The light of sunset illuminates the San Francisco Peaks in a view from the Kachina Wetlands Preserve, south of Flagstaff. The Peaks, the eroded remains of a stratovolcano that erupted some 500,000 years ago, are Arizona’s highest mountain range and are topped by 12,633-foot Humphreys Peak, the highest point in the state. 

Doug Koepsel

NIKON D810, 1/6 SEC, F/8, ISO 64, 70 MM LENS

 

Red sandstone hues in the Sedona area’s Boynton Canyon contrast with a dusting of snow at sunrise. By Larry Lindahl

Red sandstone hues in the Sedona area’s Boynton Canyon contrast with a dusting of snow at sunrise. The Boynton Canyon Trail, which leads into the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness, offers an easy hike through the canyon’s renowned scenery. 

Larry Lindahl

CANON EOS R5, 1/500 SEC, F/18, ISO 320, 80 MM LENS

 

Heavy snow lines a forest road north of the Flagstaff area’s Lake Mary Road. By Tom Bean

Heavy snow lines a forest road north of the Flagstaff area’s Lake Mary Road. On average, Flagstaff receives nearly 10 feet of annual snowfall, a product of the city’s 7,000-foot elevation.

Tom Bean

CANON EOS 5D MARK IV, 1/250 SEC, F/16, ISO 200, 44 MM LENS