Weather: 70ยบ, sunny
About this Hike: This hike was partially inspired by a segment I saw on 3TV in Phoenix. Their drone crew had caught some majestic photos of the amber and yellow aspen tree tops around Flagstaff as the area approaches fall-color peak.
Being as I'm traveling with a drone operator, I thought a fall foliage day in Flag might be the perfect day trip from our base in Sedona.
Kachina Trail is accessed via Arizona Snow Bowl. From US-180 it's a fun drive up the ~7 mile winding mountain pass. The large parking area is well-signed pointing hikers to both Kachina and Humphrey's trailheads. Of course in the winter this is AZ skier's heaven.
As we approached Snow Bowl, I became nervous like a skier in January staring at bare ground. Stands of aspen stood bare, as if a fall wind storm had stripped their foliage. Throughout the hike this was the theme: Bare stands of aspen alternated with rich yellow (and occasional red) beauties. In the end I was satisfied, having gotten the fill of fall color I drove so far to enjoy.
Kachina Trail takes hikers through thick spruce and aspen forest, opening into meadows occasionally. Old volcanic boulders shroud the landscape. There are some side trails that can easily throw you off. We discovered this the hard way after enjoying phenomenal views from atop some dark granite cliffs. No big deal though, and soon we were back on the correct path.
Per the trailhead map, Kachina eventually intersects with Weatherford Trail. It appeared this would give us good views of the just-under 12K Fremont Peak. I suspect at some point we joined Weatherford, because we hiked much farther than Kachina's stated 2.5-mile distance. We did see a lot of Fremont Peak, whose peak is distinctly above timberline. Signage along these trails is not the best, surprising for heavily hiked U.S. Forest Service pathways.
Warm temps began to give way to high-country coolness as the sun was sinking low. We decided to turn back. As often is the case, the hike out was a lot shorter than the hike in. A drive down a mountain pass, and it was on to Flagstaff for some much-deserved after-hike brews.
About this Hike: This hike was partially inspired by a segment I saw on 3TV in Phoenix. Their drone crew had caught some majestic photos of the amber and yellow aspen tree tops around Flagstaff as the area approaches fall-color peak.
Being as I'm traveling with a drone operator, I thought a fall foliage day in Flag might be the perfect day trip from our base in Sedona.
Kachina Trail is accessed via Arizona Snow Bowl. From US-180 it's a fun drive up the ~7 mile winding mountain pass. The large parking area is well-signed pointing hikers to both Kachina and Humphrey's trailheads. Of course in the winter this is AZ skier's heaven.
As we approached Snow Bowl, I became nervous like a skier in January staring at bare ground. Stands of aspen stood bare, as if a fall wind storm had stripped their foliage. Throughout the hike this was the theme: Bare stands of aspen alternated with rich yellow (and occasional red) beauties. In the end I was satisfied, having gotten the fill of fall color I drove so far to enjoy.
Kachina Trail takes hikers through thick spruce and aspen forest, opening into meadows occasionally. Old volcanic boulders shroud the landscape. There are some side trails that can easily throw you off. We discovered this the hard way after enjoying phenomenal views from atop some dark granite cliffs. No big deal though, and soon we were back on the correct path.
Per the trailhead map, Kachina eventually intersects with Weatherford Trail. It appeared this would give us good views of the just-under 12K Fremont Peak. I suspect at some point we joined Weatherford, because we hiked much farther than Kachina's stated 2.5-mile distance. We did see a lot of Fremont Peak, whose peak is distinctly above timberline. Signage along these trails is not the best, surprising for heavily hiked U.S. Forest Service pathways.
Warm temps began to give way to high-country coolness as the sun was sinking low. We decided to turn back. As often is the case, the hike out was a lot shorter than the hike in. A drive down a mountain pass, and it was on to Flagstaff for some much-deserved after-hike brews.
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| A meadow of aspens |
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