10 Fantastic Fall Foliage Destinations

Updated: Mar 11th 2026

Published: Oct 11th 2016

Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.

The West Fork Trail

Location: Sedona, Arizona

Why It’s Great: This trail offers the best fall foliage in Sedona with a New England-ish feeling not found anywhere else in Arizona. Great red rock views and 13 fun creek crossings make the trail even more worthwhile.

Fall colors on the West Fork hiking trail in Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona

Oak Creek Canyon, a river gorge located in the Coconino National Forest between the cities of Flagstaff & Sedona, offers a diverse ecosystem not found elsewhere in the state. The canyon is 14 miles long with a gorgeous year-round flowing stream known as Oak Creek.

The diverse variety of deciduous trees makes it the best fall hike for those seeking to observe a wide variety of foliage like you would in an region like New England. While the majority of trails in Arizona are home to solely yellow aspens, the West Fork trail shines with foliage of red, orange, and gold due to the many oak and aspen trees found here.

I hiked here frequently to get a bit of that Massachusetts hiking vibe. Lots of tourists and Phoenix locals wait in line for this trail in the fall so it gets pretty busy. it’s worth it though for the rare combo of red rocks, a peaceful flowing creek, and fall foliage. I recommend getting here as soon as the parking opens to avoid the heftiest afternoon crowds.