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I heard this might be the best weekend to visit Flag for the aspens.
Can anyone confirm that, or say where they are at their best ?

In response to azrocks' reply:

I WAS TOLD THE SAME, AND THAT NEXT WEEKEND SHOULD BE JUST AS GOOD.

Good timing I'm going up there saturday for some day hiking.

Last year it was the same couple of weeks. I will be up there next weekend for a couple of hikes.

We were up on the north rim last weekend and drove past flag. I think that they are earlier this year. The ones on the north rim are normally just peaking las weekend. But alot of the trees had already lost their leaves. And in some of the lower elevations they were okay but not as good as the past seasons. Also the ones lower on the Peaks were already yellow and they normally aren't changing yet....

Also a friend that drives to Showlow says the ones on the Rim up there and in her yard are just going from green to yellow to brown with out staying yellow inbetween. There are quite a few of them already bare there...

I was on the North Rim yesterday and the aspens are truly beautiful right now...lots of color.

Just got back from Hart Prairie area. Only 20% turned, but looks as though many higher up are turned and those over 10k may be down. Doesn't look like a spectacular year for some reason.

The Ranger at the Sedona statioon said it might not be a good year due to the heat. Leaves in the Upper end of West Fork just starting also.

The third week of September I went to Colorado just west of Lake City and the Colors were at its peak. It was strange, some trees had already lost there leaves, some were barly turning and most were at there peak. It could not have been a better time to go and hike a few 14ers.

Anybody have an idea about when the Aspen leaves turned colors in Fall '04? I'm trying to make the best forecast for this fall for my camping trip. Any thoughts would be helpful...thanks!

Hey Jay,

It's pretty dependant on the first freeze. Other factors include when that freeze occurs and if it's a deep or subtle freeze. For the general Flagstaff area you have a window of opportunity between the last week of September through about Oct 20th at the latest. What your hoping for is a subtle freeze before the 10thish. If it's past that or a hard freeze the leaves cycle in a flash.

Personally I'd recommend the rim country around Chevelon or Bear lakes. There's more reds! and the duration isn't so hit and miss.

In response to joe bartels' reply:
Thanks Joe...

Historically i've done it around that time that you had suggested...nice to know that I was doing the trip in the right timeframe, late September to Mid-October. But I do agree...Flagstaff, specifically around Hart Prairie where i go every year is either hit or miss with the leaves and the frigid air.

I will definately check out some country around Chevelon and Bear Lakes and keep that in mind as well.

Kudos to you!

J

ahh, I found the link I was looking for from the FS
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/misc/ ... leaves.htm

they state crisp nights "without-freezing"