FALL COLOR UPDATE 2015: Lockett Meadow Access

Vehicle access to Lockett Meadow to be managed for fall color viewing

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., Sep. 30, 2015 — For Immediate Release.  Coconino National Forest plans to manage vehicle access to Lockett Meadow over the next couple of weekends to ensure public safety and allow safe travel up and down the road that leads to the meadow.

            During the weekends of Oct. 3-4 and Oct. 10-11, Forest Service personnel will be positioned in Lockett Meadow and also at the bottom of the road that leads to the meadow (near the junction of Forest Roads 552 and 418). Once the maximum capacity of approximately 50 vehicles has been reached in Lockett Meadow, personnel will manage traffic and allow one vehicle access as another departs.

Lockett Meadow is a popular destination for viewing fall colors and aspen stands as they turn yellow in the inner basin of the San Francisco Peaks. Forest Road 552, which is used to access the meadow, is a narrow forest road alongside a steep cliff that can be unsafe and difficult for opposing traffic to pass one another. Drivers should pay particular attention to oncoming traffic and blind corners.

Forest visitors are encouraged to seek other locations besides Lockett Meadow to view fall colors—especially on the weekends.  This includes the Around the Peaks Scenic Loop Drive on Forest Road 418, Snowbowl Road and the Snowbowl Scenic Chairlift, Elden Lookout Road (Forest Road 557), Hart Prairie (Forest Road 151) and Forest Road 300 along the Mogollon Rim. For more information and destinations to view fall colors on the Coconino, please visit http://tinyurl.com/napr8tf.

Lockett Meadow Campground has 17 campsites ($14/night) that are on a first-come, first-served basis.  The 50-vehicle restriction will not apply to those camping at Lockett Meadow.

  (re-posted from Forest Service press release 9-30-15)

FALL COLOR COUNTDOWN 2015

FALL COLOR COUNTDOWN 2015

Abineau-Bear Jaw Trail

Here in Arizona, fall color season runs from late September through December. Autumn leaf-peeping begins in the high elevations of Flagstaff, the White Mountains and sky islands like the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson and Mount Graham near Safford. Above 8,000', you'll find mostly aspens---the quintessential mountain tree. The season trickles down to the Mogollon Rim, Prescott, Payson and Sedona, usually peaking in late October through early November. Look for electric red maples, golden oaks, ash, alders and hoptrees.  Finally, desert trees like cottonwood, sycamores and willows turn tawny toward the end of November. Here are some perfect hiking trails for fall color. Find trails descriptions and directions by scrolling to the  TRAIL INDEX on this blog. You can also click on "fall color" to read about 165 hikes for autumn splendor:

EARLY-MID OCTOBER:

Abineau-BearJaw, Flagstaff

Inner Basin, Flagstaff

Veit Springs, Flagstaff

Wilson Meadow, Flagstaff

Pole Knoll, Greer

West Baldy, Greer

Icehouse Canyon, Globe

Marshall Gulch, Tucson

Ash Creek, Safford

MID-LATE OCTOBER:

Barbershop Trail, Mogollon Rim

Rim Lakes Vista, Mogollon Rim

West Fork of Oak Creek, Sedona

LATE OCTOBER- EARLY NOVEMBER:

Red Rock State Park, Sedona

Huckaby Trail, Sedona

Baldwin Trail, Sedona

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER:

Hackberry Spring, Superstition Mountains

Jewel of the Creek, Spur Cross Ranch

New River Nature Reserve, New River
Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Globe

HANDY RESOURCES:
National Forest Service (AZ is in Region 3)

http://www.fs.fed.us/fallcolors/2015/index.shtml

Flagstaff-Sedona Updates

Flagstaff Leaf-O-Meter:

http://www.flagstaffarizona.org/leafometer/