Phoenix offers purple mountains, red rocks and green cacti: all the beautiful colors of the desert. Unfortunately Phoenix doesn’t offer any of the beautiful colors of autumn. Usually, autumn is known for bright colored leaves, pumpkin patches and brisk nights.

Elizabeth Strimbu, family and human development senior, complains that in the autumn months, “it gets a little bit cooler. That’s all it does here.” Strimbu takes her daughter camping during the fall months so that she can experience the pretty scenery and cool weather. “I want my daughter to see the leaves changing,” Strimbu says.

Jane Butz, mass communications junior, grew up in Georgia and misses the autumn landscapes there. She says in Georgia, “the leaves change and it’s gorgeous. It’s pretty here too, I appreciate both landscapes, it’s just not as noticeable.” Every autumn in Arizona, Butz makes a few trips northbound to see the different colors and sceneries.

Although Phoenix can be a bland montage of browns and dark greens, there are other parts of Arizona that offer stunning beauty and picturesque fall landscapes.

Top Places to Go
Oak Creek Canyon- 89A: The 89A is the road off the I-17, between Sedona and Flagstaff. This scenic drive is a breathtaking autumn appearance. Entering this orange and red utopia feels like crossing the threshold to a forever-October Neverland. Drive slow to enjoy the everlasting brooks and streams, fiery leaves of every Autumn shade and rocks as red as Thanksgiving cranberries. “The colors are so vivid it’s shocking,” Strimbu says.

Jerome: Butz recommends taking a trip to her favorite spot, Jerome. “It’s a ghost town and it’s way fun. It’s a weird hippie town, but it’s very beautiful with lots of quirky places to see.” It takes about two hours to get there. Take the I-17 to AZ-260.

Prescott: Cara, travel agent at the Arizona office of Tourism, suggests going anywhere with a forest. Since Prescott is only a little over an hour away from Phoenix, via the I-17 to AZ-69, it’s the perfect destination for an ASU student looking for a cheap, quick trip.

Pinetop: Taking the the US-60 to AZ-77, Pinetop is located about 190 miles northeast of Phoenix. Pinetop is home to Arizona’s beloved White Mountains. The White Mountains are one of Arizona’s favorite vacation spots. There’s plenty of hiking, fishing, skiing, and camping to keep an ASU student busy. It’s also a charming location to meander off the path and find a personal fall haven. ASU students can explore Arizona wildlife while seeing magnificent color and skipping rocks in the playful rivers. Strimbu says Pinetop is her daughter’s favorite destination.

Mount Lemmon: Students don’t have to head upward to get a glimpse at autumn colors. Mount Lemmon is located in Tucson, Arizona and offers fabulous fall scenery. Students will pass dozens of luxury homes clinging to the side of the mountain as they travel towards Mount Lemmon, which is approximately 2,400 feet above sea level, about 1500 feet higher than Phoenix.

Or Stay Home

Butz points out that there are plenty of things to do to enjoy the fall weather right here in Tempe. Buntz says that since the holidays are coming up and the weather is getting cooler, “I feel like there is a stronger sense of community.”

She suggests having a bonfire in the desert, or a confined fire pit at somebody’s house. No matter what students choose to do, “it’s fun to just hang out with friends and snuggle with warm drinks near a fire. It’s a good season for bonding.”

Reach the reporter at kelsey.havens@asu.edu.