Sedona Fall Colors 2026: Where to See the Leaves While West Fork Is Closed
Where to see the leaves in 2026, when they peak and the best creekside spots near Bell Rock.
If you have been planning to see Sedona fall colors on the West Fork Trail this year, there is news you need first: it is still closed. The good news is that West Fork is not the only place the canyon turns red and gold, and several of the best alternatives are easier to reach. Here is where to go in 2026, when the color peaks and how to see it at its best.
First, the West Fork News
The Pocket Fire started north of Sedona on June 19, 2026 and burned more than 27,000 acres, including part of the West Fork watershed. Most of Oak Creek reopened on September 17. West Fork and its trailhead at Call of the Canyon were scheduled to follow on October 1.
That did not happen. On September 26, the Forest Service extended the West Fork closure, citing rockfall and flood debris risk in the burned watershed. As of this writing, no reopening date has been announced.
What this means for you: Do not drive up Oak Creek Canyon planning to hike West Fork. Check the alerts page the morning you go. If it does reopen during color season, expect the lot to fill early; in a normal fall it is full by 9:30 am.
When Sedona's Leaves Turn
In Sedona, the red rock does not change color. The trees along the water do. Bigtooth maples, cottonwoods, sycamores, box elders and velvet ash line Oak Creek and its side canyons, and that is where the color lives.
Timing, roughly:
- Oak Creek Canyon: mid to late October
- Red Rock State Park and lower creek areas: late October through the first couple of weeks of November
- Verde Valley river corridors: late October into late November
The strongest reds come after runs of warm, sunny days and cool nights that do not quite freeze. Yellows and oranges show up almost every year. Reds depend on the weather. Not sure which month suits you? Our guide to the best time to visit Sedona breaks down every season.
Drive Oak Creek Canyon on SR 89A
With West Fork closed, the canyon drive itself is your best bet for big fall color. SR 89A winds north from Uptown along the creek, and the maples, oaks and sycamores sit right below the canyon walls. For more pullouts worth stopping at, see our Sedona scenic drives and viewpoints guide.
Go on a weekday morning if you can, and take it slow. You may see parts of the burn scar on some upper slopes; the creekside trees are where to look.
Red Rock State Park
This is the closest easy fall color walk to the Village of Oak Creek. The park's creekside zone is full of cottonwoods, sycamores, velvet ash and alder, and they usually turn from late October through the first half of November. The flat trails along the creek make it good for all ages.
Slide Rock State Park
Slide Rock is known for summer swimming, but fall may be its prettiest season. Oaks, willows, box elders and sycamores color up along the water, and the park's old apple orchard adds its own reds and yellows. The swim area had a separate closure through October 1, but the park itself has stayed open for walking.
Red Rock Crossing and Crescent Moon
For the classic Sedona fall photo, go here: gold cottonwoods on Oak Creek with Cathedral Rock rising behind them. It is one of the closest color spots to Wildflower. Come in late afternoon, when the sun backlights the leaves and warms the rock.
Heads up: Crescent Moon Picnic Site charges a day-use fee and has limited hours in fall.
Short Walks Among the Color
- Allens Bend Trail: a short, flat walk by the creek near Grasshopper Point. An easy way to stand among the trees instead of driving past them.
- Huckaby Trail: mixes red rock views with creekside color and runs closer to town than West Fork.
For more trails close to the inn, see 7 Sedona hikes you can walk to or reach fast from Wildflower Inn.
Worth the Drive: Dead Horse Ranch State Park
About 30 minutes away in Cottonwood, this park's cottonwoods ring the Verde River and a set of lagoons, and they often hold color later than Sedona does. Good for a late-November trip.
Tips for Better Fall Color Days
- Go early on weekends. Creekside lots fill quickly in October.
- Chase the backlight. Leaves glow when the sun is behind them, usually in the late afternoon.
- Look up and down. Some of the best color is reflected in still pools, not on the trees.
- Recheck closures. Fire recovery orders can change with a single storm.
Stay Where the Color Is
Wildflower Inn is on the south side of Sedona, close to Red Rock Crossing and a short drive from Red Rock State Park. That makes it an easy base for a color-chasing weekend: a creekside walk in the morning, the Oak Creek Canyon drive in the afternoon and dinner back on-site. From rooms with views of Bell Rock, you can watch the evening light on the red rocks after a day spent among the gold.
