Every year, my wife and I try to make it up to Lockett Meadow and maybe hike up to the Inner Basin of the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, Arizona. Well, it’s a special place… we were engaged there! Not only that, the Aspen trees are amazing in Fall. Depending on the year, the first or second weekend (or both) are good times to head up there. We heard earlier that the Forest Service was turning cars away, only allowing 50 cars at Lockett Meadow at a time. So, we figured to go on Monday instead of the weekend. No Forest Service to tell us to wait… but, we barely got a parking spot at the trailhead. A few buses were there with middle school kids and plenty of others found the day a perfect choice to head up. We loaded up our son in the backpack and a few things, thinking we would go partway up to Inner Basin this time. At about a half mile, the Aspen trees were amazing! The grove is huge and the leaves look golden. Okay, imagine tree after tree, row after row of white clad Aspens and shimmering, quaking gold above… just glorious. The trail had a series of switchbacks, so we let our son walk on his own for a chance to explore on his own. He has this thing for wanting to stop on top of every rock and branch instead of going around them. And, if anything get’s in his shoes, he must get it out right away. Yeah, we love him, he is a character all right. After stopping for a portrait session of our son and an attempt for a family picture with a tripod and timer, we ventured back down. What a perfect day, warm with a cool breeze, and fall colors in full glory! We will come back again next year!
Fall Colors
Fall Aspens
Fall Colors
Fall Colors
Fall Aspens and Ponderosa Tree
Fall Colors at Lockett Meadow
Son Skyler and Fall Colors