11 Unforgettable Fall Getaways From Phoenix
During the summer months, Phoenix often scores some of the hottest temperatures of any major American city. Yet in fall, the weather finally starts to cool down, the summer tourist crowds dissipate, and the nearby mountains put on dazzling displays of colorful fall foliage. Though Arizona may be best known for its sizzling Sonoran Desert landscapes and the great depths of the Grand Canyon, there’s so much more to see and do across the Copper State.
Within a three-hour drive of Downtown Phoenix, you can find everything from serene aspen tree groves to magnificent red rock formations. And though you may need to bring some long pants and a winter jacket to brave the colder weather, it can be a wonderfully refreshing break from the typical autumn warmth in the Valley of the Sun. With all that out of the way, let’s check out these 11 unforgettable fall getaways from Phoenix.
Sedona
There’s never really a wrong time to visit Sedona. But when the days turn cooler and the leaves start to change colors, something truly magical is in the air up here, about 120 miles north of Phoenix. For prime fall leaf-peeping, try driving up Highway 89A through Oak Creek Canyon for stunning bursts of color from bigtooth maple, boxelder, and willow trees amidst the towering cliffs and mountains. If you’re up for more of a challenge and major optical rewards, hike the West Fork Trail (part of Coconino National Forest) to catch magnificent views of fall foliage alongside the gurgling water of Oak Creek.
Back in town, there’s plenty more for visitors to see and do. In Uptown, the Sedona Arts Center has the region’s most robust selection of arts and crafts made by local artists, plus they host year-round workshops and exhibitions. And if you want to make this road trip into a fantastic weekend getaway, the Orchards Inn is conveniently located in the heart of Uptown. At the same time, the Enchantment Resort and Mii amo are set amidst some incredibly beautiful scenery in Boynton Canyon.
Prescott
Prescott might only be about 100 miles north of Phoenix, but the cooler fall air, the abundance of colorful fall foliage, and the old-school cowboy town vibes make this Central Arizona city feel a world away. Even downtown, it’s easy to spot lovely hues of gold and orange in the trees, and a stroll along the Greenways Trail makes it even easier. Hike the Aspen Creek Trail in Prescott National Forest for more dramatic fall foliage views to spot plenty of aspen trees with their signature golden leaves.
With an elevation of around 5,200 feet above sea level, Prescott experiences four distinct seasons. Yet, fall weather tends to stay refreshingly cool and mild: Nighttime lows usually don’t drop below freezing until November. Returning to downtown Prescott, you’ll have no trouble finding art galleries, local boutiques, and restaurants to sample local life and culture. In addition, you can check in to the 1927 Hassayampa Inn and the 1864 Hotel St. Michael for a historic night in town.
Mount Lemmon
Coronado National Forest has some of Southern Arizona’s highest sky islands, including the towering Mount Lemmon that tops off at 9,171 feet above sea level. Just 160 miles from Phoenix and 40 miles from Tucson, the Mount Lemmon village (also known as Summerhaven) offers a relaxing escape high up the mountains. When you feel like getting active, Mount Lemmon has hike and bike trails traipsing landscapes ranging from semi-desert grassland and pine-oak woodland to Ponderosa pine forest and mixed-conifer forest. In addition, Mount Lemmon has some of Arizona’s best terrain for rock climbing.
When you feel like calming down and relaxing, the Mount Lemmon Lodge offers an alpine boutique hotel experience 7,000 feet up in the mountain with incredible views of the forest and the Sonoran Desert below. For more options, drive back down Mt. Lemmon Highway and enjoy a spa getaway at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.
Canyon Lake (at Tonto National Forest)
Only 50 miles east of Downtown Phoenix, Canyon Lake at Tonto National Forest presents stunning red rock scenery, fantastic wildlife views, and all-around soothing vibes on and off the water. Not only is boating allowed at Canyon Lake, but boat rentals are also available. If you sail the azure waters, head to the east end of the lake for the most dramatic canyon views. Also, keep your eyes out for some native animals, such as bighorn sheep, deer, and javelina.
Thanks to the cooler fall weather, Canyon Lake can make for the perfect day to do additional activities on the water, including jet skiing, waterskiing, windsurfing, and even fishing. Walleye, largemouth bass, channel catfish, green sunfish, and rainbow trout are fish species in the lake. On the way back to Phoenix, stop at the Goldfield Ghost Town to glimpse Arizona’s illustrious mining past.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
About 100 miles north of Phoenix, Montezuma Castle National Monument sports some of North America’s best-preserved Native American cliff dwellings. Around 1050 CE, the Sinagua indigenous community began building these cliff dwellings, and they essentially created their apartment complex featuring homes that lived in harmony with the natural environment. Speaking of the natural environment, Montezuma Well is about a 10-mile drive away from the cliff dwellings, and it’s worth the short drive to witness the startling beauty of this natural sinkhole fed by underground streams.
Usually, in October, Montezuma Castle’s trails become extra colorful as the sycamore trees’ leaves change colors. While here, you may also want to keep your eyes out for velvet ash, oneseed juniper, desert willow, and catclaw acacia trees, as well as desert cottontail rabbits, mule deer, great horned owls, and red-tailed hawks. Once your day is done, head to the nearby town of Camp Verde for a selection of hotels, vacation rental units, and RV parks to spend the night.
Payson
Payson may only be 90 miles from Phoenix, yet this town functions as a welcoming gateway to the otherworldly scenery of the Mogollon Rim. Ponderosa pines tend to be the dominant species of trees up here (about 5,000 feet above sea level), as Payson is home to the world’s largest contiguous Ponderosa pine forest. With this said you’ll also want to be on the lookout for some exceptional fall foliage, especially if you take Forest Road 300 through the stretch of Coconino National Forest closest to Payson.
For more incredible scenery, head north on Highway 260 to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park to hike under the world’s largest natural travertine bridge, discover lovely waterfalls, and explore the nearly century-old Goodfellow Lodge. Though the Goodfellow Lodge is not currently available for overnight stays, you will find a number of inviting options back in town, including the Mazatzal Hotel & Casino, operated by the local Tonto Apache tribal community.
Flagstaff
Flagstaff is Northern Arizona’s largest and most vibrant city, and this special city tends to defy any and all stereotypes that outside tourists tend to associate with Arizona. About 145 miles north of Phoenix, Flagstaff sits around 6,800 feet above sea level, and the city stands at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks that reach as high as 12,633 feet above sea level at Humphreys Peak (which is also Arizona’s tallest peak). At the same time, the presence of Northern Arizona University (NAU) adds another fascinating layer of learned sophistication to this charming mountain town.
Flagstaff is a prime location for phenomenal fall leaf-peeping thanks to its high elevation. Typically, the Arizona Snowbowl offers glorious views of aspen forests sporting golden leaves from late September to mid-October. In addition, The Arboretum at Flagstaff has a collection of gorgeous high-altitude native plants, and the NAU campus in town is a convenient option for colorful fall scenery. Hang around downtown to enjoy this college town’s eclectic mix of world cuisines and local Southwestern flavors, and check in to the Little America Hotel for a cozy yet luxurious night in.
Kartchner Caverns State Park
In 1974, the cavers Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts looked for “a cave no one had ever found,” and they found one in the eastern base of the Whetstone Mountains, about ten miles south of the town of Benson (and 160 miles southeast of Phoenix). They kept their discovery a secret until 1978 when they notified property owners James and Lois Kartchner about the limestone cave on their land. Tenen, Tufts, and the Kartchners sought potential avenues to preserve the cave and make it safe for the public. The Kartchners later sold the land to Arizona State Parks in 1988, and it finally opened to the public in 1999.
Today, Kartchner Caverns State Park utilizes air-lock doors, misting machines, and additional state-of-the-art technology to preserve the delicate environment of this cave. Inside, you will find Kubla Khan, Arizona’s tallest known column formation at 58 feet tall, and the 21-foot long “soda straw” stalactite that’s still growing. Outside, take advantage of the cooler fall weather and enjoy some desert scenery while hiking the Ocotillo Trail and Foothills Loop near the Discovery Center. After a long day of exploring the desert inside and out, turn in for the night at one of the park’s comfortable cabins.
Clarkdale
All aboard! When in Clarkdale, you have to ride the iconic Verde Valley Railroad. Starting in Clarkdale (only 100 miles north of Phoenix), Verde Valley Railroad operates its fully refurbished vintage trains on a 20-mile and four-hour journey through the marvelous Verde Canyon. While on board, enjoy fantastic views of dazzling fall foliage, the stunning waters of the Verde River, and a wonderfully preserved riparian habitat for bald eagles, great blue herons, wild raptors, and additional wildlife. During the fall season, the railroad even serves locally made craft beers on board.
Once you return to Clarkdale, you’ll find much more to see and do. At the nearby Tuzigoot National Monument, you can explore a 1,000-year-old, 110-room hilltop pueblo that the Sinagua indigenous people long called home. Meanwhile, downtown, peruse the town’s esteemed selection of boutique wineries, craft breweries, local art galleries, and tasty restaurants. When you’re ready to turn in for the night, check-in for rest and relaxation at the historic Clarkdale Park Hotel that’s operated here since 1915, or enjoy an off-the-grid escape into nature at the lovely Mescal Canyon Retreat.
Superior
Just 60 miles east of Phoenix, Superior’s Boyce Thompson Arboretum offers perhaps Phoenicians’ closest and most convenient option for autumn leaf-peeping. Spanning over 300 acres near the foot of the Superstition Mountains, this arboretum is Arizona’s oldest, operating since the 1920s. Moreover, it may have one of the broadest selection of desert-friendly plants from all around the world. There’s no bad time to visit the arboretum, but fall is the most splendid time, thanks to the explosion of vibrant orange and golden hues on the gardens’ deciduous trees.
It might be hard to pull away from the mesmerizing beauty of the arboretum, but there’s even more to explore in town. During fall, Superior celebrates the season in great style and flair: From the annual classic car show in September to Dia de los Muertos and the Southwest Heli Rodeo in November, Superior really lives up to its name.
Willcox
Willcox is the kind of town that you need to see to believe. About 200 miles southeast of Phoenix, Willcox enjoys pleasant and mostly mild fall weather thanks to its elevation of around 4,100 feet above sea level. Speaking of pleasant, Willcox also offers plenty of pleasantly pretty scenery, including at the Chiricahua National Monument, which abounds in unique rock formations that originated with a volcanic eruption some 27 million years ago. Moreover, at the nearby Coronado National Forest, the Cochise Stronghold has a five-mile long trail that guides you through the canyon that served as a natural refuge for the famed Chiricahua Apache tribal leader, Cochise, during the mid-19th century.
No trip to Willcox feels complete without a stop at Apple Annie’s Orchard, and this especially holds true during autumn. During September and October, Apple Annie’s offers ten varieties of apples to pick on your own or select from already-picked ones. The farm also has fresh pumpkins, and Apple Annie’s uses their produce to make some of Arizona’s tastiest pies, donuts, burgers, and other sweet and savory treats. After a long day strolling through the town and country, turn in for the night at one of Tirrito Farm’s eye-catching glamping domes, or book a stay at the Rhumb Line Vineyard & Lavender Farm.
Wrapping Up
There’s no shortage of unforgettable fall getaways from Phoenix, and hopefully, this list gave you some great ideas for creating your own. From Sedona's iconic red rocks to Willcox's dazzling hidden gems, Arizona’s backcountry roads lead to many fantastic feasts for all your senses. And with everything from invigorating hikes in and around Prescott to a relaxing train ride through the charming wilderness near Clarkdale, you have all kinds of options for enjoying Arizona’s beautifully colorful fall foliage. However you want to do your fall getaway, Phoenix provides the perfect launchpad for exploring Arizona in autumn.
