Claire Curran
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.
PEAK SEASON: Mid- to late October
CANON EOS 5DS R, 2.5 SEC, F/29, ISO 100, 200 MM LENS
Paul Gill
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.
PEAK SEASON: Mid-October to early November
CANON EOS R5, 1/40 SEC, F/13, ISO 100, 39 MM LENS
Mark Frank
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.
PEAK SEASON: Mid-October to early November
CANON EOS 5D MARK II, 1/10 SEC, F/18, ISO 100, 58 MM LENS
Joel Hazelton
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.
PEAK SEASON: November to December
CANON EOS 5DS R, 1 SEC, F/14, ISO 200, 16 MM LENS
Paul Gill
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.
PEAK SEASON: Late October to mid-November
OLYMPUS E-M1 MARK II, 1/180 SEC, F/8, ISO 200, 40 MM LENS
Jonathan Buford
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.
PEAK SEASON: October
FUJIFILM GFX 50R, 1/30 SEC, F/13, ISO 125, 158.8 MM LENS
Laurence Parent
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.
PEAK SEASON: Late October to mid-November
SONY ALPHA 7R II, 5 SEC, F/16, ISO 100, 66 MM LENS
Joel Hazelton
Runoff from the previous night’s storm creates an impressive waterfall above fall foliage in the Superstition Mountains’ Fish Creek Canyon. This canyon is easily accessed via the Apache Trail, but exploring it requires boulder-hopping and bushwhacking.
PEAK SEASON: November to December
CANON EOS 5DS R, 0.8 SEC, F/16, ISO 100, 41 MM LENS
Norma Jean Gargasz
Red, orange and yellow leaves decorate Ramsey Canyon, a destination in the Huachuca Mountains of Southern Arizona. The focus of a Nature Conservancy preserve, Ramsey Canyon is known for its beauty and biodiversity.
PEAK SEASON: Late October to early November
NIKON D850, 1/200 SEC, F/6.3, ISO 320, 105 MM LENS
Byron Neslen
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.
PEAK SEASON: Late September to early October
CANON EOS 5DS R, 1/30 SEC, F/11, ISO 100, 28 MM LENS
Paul Gill
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.
PEAK SEASON: Mid- to late October
OLYMPUS E-M1 MARK II, 0.4 SEC, F/11, ISO 200, 7 MM LENS