Where is the best fall color at Coconino National Forest right now?

On Nov 10 the forest is fading. The last band to peak was 3,000 to 4,000 feet, around Oct 28.

How long does peak last at Coconino National Forest?

About four days at the top, Oct 21 to 24, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the forest's elevations the color moves over about 16 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 20 days.

Is Coconino National Forest past peak?

Yes. Peak was around Oct 22, and on Nov 10 it's fading.

Back to the map

National Forest·Arizona·1,844,949 acres

Coconino National Forest

Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET

Peak colorOct 22Aim for Oct 21 to 24

In the forest today, Nov 10Fading

Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.

Weather Hard frost Wednesday night. Peak may come early and go fast.

2 reports came in from Coconino County this week, 2 of them at peak. They moved our date 1 day later. See the county on the map.

Still greenStartingNearly peakPeakPast peakNo fall canopy we forecastInside the line, each band of elevation is painted on its own date.

Around Coconino National Forest Coconino County holds most of the forest and is fading today. Yavapai County, to the west, is 12 days behind.

When is peak fall foliage at Coconino National Forest in 2026?

Our forecast puts peak color at Coconino National Forest around Oct 22, and the four days to aim for are Oct 21 to 24.

The forest runs from about 3,583 to 7,632 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 16 days: the high stands around Oct 17, the low ground around Oct 28. That's 3 days later than our model alone would say, because this season's reports from the ground moved it.

Coconino, fall color week by week, 2026
Week	In the forest	Elevation at peak
Sep 28 to Oct 4	Starting to turn
Oct 5 to Oct 11	Starting to turn
Oct 12 to Oct 18	Nearly peak	7,000 to 8,000 ft
Oct 19 to Oct 25	Peak color	4,000 to 5,000 ft, 5,000 to 6,000 ft, 6,000 to 7,000 ft
Oct 26 to Nov 1	Just past peak	3,000 to 4,000 ft
Nov 2 to Nov 8	Just past peak

By elevation The forest runs from about 3,583 to 7,632 feet. That’s 16 days of season between the top and the bottom: the high stands peak around Oct 17, the low ground holds until about Oct 28, and the color comes downhill in between. The date at the top of this page is the 5,000 to 6,000 foot band.

7,000–8,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1723%
6,000–7,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1939%
5,000–6,000 ftFadingpeak Oct 2218%
4,000–5,000 ftFadingpeak Oct 259%
3,000–4,000 ftFadingpeak Oct 289%

Height off 3DEP inside the forest’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the forest stands in it.

Today from the flagstaff camera, 31 km from Coconino National Forest — See it now PhenoCam Network, Forestdale camera, 31 km away, captured Nov 9.

That’s 3 days later than our model alone would say. This season’s reports from the ground moved it, and they outrank us.

Plan this trip

If you can only come on certain days

Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.

ArrivingLeaving

Wednesday, October 21 to Thursday, October 22

You’ll find it just past peak up high, nearly peak lower down.

Up at 7,000 feet the stands peak around Oct 17; down at 4,000 feet they hold on until about Oct 28. Pick your elevation for the day you come.

7,000–8,000 ftJust past peakpeak Oct 17
6,000–7,000 ftJust past peakpeak Oct 19
5,000–6,000 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 22
4,000–5,000 ftNearly peakpeak Oct 25
3,000–4,000 ftNearly peakpeak Oct 28

What turns: Gambel oak, bigtooth maple, serviceberry, willow, velvet ash

What turns, and when

Gambel oak30%
bigtooth maple16%
serviceberry10%
willow9%
velvet ash8%
Fremont cottonwood8%

Also named across Arizona, outside what the canopy read measures here: Quaking Aspen, Arizona Sycamore.

Aspens on the San Francisco Peaks turn gold above 8,000 feet, Gambel oaks go orange and russet at mid-elevations, and cottonwoods line the creek bottoms in butter yellow.

Questions people ask about Coconino National Forest

When is peak fall foliage at Coconino National Forest?: Our forecast puts peak color at Coconino National Forest around Oct 22, and the four days to aim for are Oct 21 to 24.
Where is the best fall color at Coconino National Forest right now?: On Nov 10 the forest is fading. The last band to peak was 3,000 to 4,000 feet, around Oct 28.
How long does peak last at Coconino National Forest?: About four days at the top, Oct 21 to 24, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the forest's elevations the color moves over about 16 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 20 days.
Is Coconino National Forest past peak?: Yes. Peak was around Oct 22, and on Nov 10 it's fading.
What trees turn color at Coconino National Forest?: Quaking Aspen, Bigtooth Maple, Gambel Oak, Arizona Sycamore, Fremont Cottonwood. Aspens on the San Francisco Peaks turn gold above 8,000 feet, Gambel oaks go orange and russet at mid-elevations, and cottonwoods line the creek bottoms in butter yellow.

This forecast is built from the species that stand here, their elevation and this September’s weather, and corrected in season by cameras, foresters and our own crew. Out here we score it against NASA's satellite record of when the canopy shuts down, read inside each unit’s own boundary: two dates in three land within 12 days of it. How this map is made

All of Arizona

Nearby, and when they turn

Prescott and Tonto and Kaibab and Grand Canyon are on the map above, with their own date.

Petrified Forest National ParkAZ · about 100 miles
Peak Oct 17 best Oct 16 to 19
Apache-Sitgreaves National ForestsAZ, NM · about 132 miles
Peak Oct 17 best Oct 16 to 19