Obviously people come to the North Rim to see the stunning views of Grand Canyon. But come autumn the Quaking Aspen put on quite a colorful show. And the fall colors are coming soon to the North Rim.
My photo files indicate that about the third week in September the Aspen begin to show color and by the second week in October are full blown. But then what’s normal about weather?
The change starts off small, with just a yellowing green that spreads to gold and occasional bursts of red.
This year I’m seeing clusters of aspen already turned yellow the first week of September. And the Purple Cranesbill shows spotty blazes of red.
Ferns mixing it up with golden browns intermixed with shades of green.
With recent rains the temperatures are likely to drop and bring fall a little earlier this year.
So it must be time to take a drive in the forest and see what’s popping.
You are making me homesick way back here in Texas. Thanks!
Well then, that’s working.
Oh, yes – definitely fall here edging to winter. The aspens are still turning, but we’ve had so much rain and cold – snow due (maybe) the end of the week. Love your photos!
Thanks Barb. Think today may have finished this bout of rain and I’m hoping fall will be gentle but I’m not ready for the white stuff. You keep it. 😉
Love your fall pictures especially the last one. The scrub oats are turning here in Black Canyon. I can’t believe summer is over already.
I look forward to fall, but not winter, and both come early at high altitude.
It so strange… we were walking through and across New Mexico last year at this time when the Aspen began to change. It feels like it has been five years or more already though. Looking forward to experiencing the colors of Arizona now in all its glory. There was supposedly a fire near the south rim on the AZT. Do you know if your last rain put a damper on its expansion?
What a rich experience to journey through the gold.
I forgot about the AZT diversion from that fire, but it’s finished at about 2600 acres. Might want to check on the trail use as the diversion was a fire road.
Beautiful Gaelyn — I think early Fall would be a great time to come to the Canyon — the colors, not so many crowds, not too cold yet ….
we started to see Fall while still in Alaska — summer is really a short season there… it was still spring when we got there in early June …. and by early September chill and fall colors. Now (in BC and now in Washington State) we are seeing Indian Summer weather — it has frosted, but the days are warm.
You’re right, a perfect time to visit. Although today was a bit foggy most visitors loved the magical views.
I’m hoping Indian Summer lasts a while in the PNW.
I wish we had fall colours in autumn. On the other hand, its becoming Spring right now so I’m not complaining. Love the colours though
As much as I like fall I’m jealous about you starting spring and heading to summer.
I’ll be leaving this 5,700′ camp in AZ tomorrow and moving up a couple hundred feet to one in NM for a month. No evidence of fall here but I’m sure to see it arrive in NM.
Isn’t it the time to head down in elevation Ed? But I suppose not if you want to see the colors.
Not that much change in elevation so I should not get weather that is too cold and maybe get to see some leaves change color. I’ll be moving on down before mid-October so I’ll stay warmer than yourself up on the Rim.
I’m not looking forward to the cold.
If I were still in the US, I’d magically appear at your door. What colors!
You’d be more than welcome.
The Fall is something I miss so, so much being in the sub tropics of Australia –
While it’s all very lovely having the warmth all year around I do miss these stunning seasonal changes – and those autumn colours are my absolute favourite 🙂
I could do spring, summer and fall all year, every year as I like the changes too. But pass on winter. Plan to get out today for more color.