Lockett Meadow
Trail · Arizona
A dirt-road trailhead inside the volcanic caldera of the San Francisco Peaks leads into the Inner Basin, where dense aspen groves ring Arizona's highest mountain and turn gold by late September, the state's definitive aspen hike above Flagstaff.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 15–October 19
Color builds from October 5 · mostly bare by November 10
Sampled at Lockett Meadow’s own coordinates and elevation (2603 m) rather than a regional average.
This window comes from 52 weather points across Arizona, nudged 4 days earlier to match 1 published peak date from flagstaffarizona.org and fs.usda.gov. This year's weather has the peak running 3 days earlier than a normal year. How the forecast works
When to go to Lockett Meadow
Good color holds through about October 26, giving you roughly 21 days from the first turn to past peak. At 8,540 ft, it turns before the lower ground nearby.
Lockett Meadow on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Arizona, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in Arizona
Farms & harvest
Halloween
Frequently asked
- When does Lockett Meadow peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 15–October 19 (best estimate October 17). Color starts around October 5 and is mostly bare by November 10.
Own or manage Lockett Meadow? Update your listing or get in touch.