Coconino National Forest
Sedona, Arizona · Southwest
How red rock quiets the self
Coconino is really several forests stacked by elevation. From the red rock country and canyons around Sedona, up the Mogollon Rim through ponderosa pine, to the volcanic cones and the alpine tundra atop Humphreys Peak, Arizona's highest point at 12,633 feet. The vertical range is the point. You are almost never looking at something small.
That scale is what does the work on a busy head. Standing under a red cliff or on a rim with a hundred miles of country in front of you, the running commentary about your own week gets quieter. Not because you told it to. Because there is suddenly something much bigger than you to look at.
You do not have to summit anything to get it. A short walk to an overlook, a quiet canyon like West Fork, or a first look at the San Francisco Peaks will do it. The forest hands you magnitude for free.
The science: Paul Piff and colleagues found, across a series of studies, that experiences of awe reduced people's self-focus and made them more generous toward others. What reliably triggered that awe was sheer physical magnitude, the sense of being in front of something vast. Red cliffs and volcanic peaks are exactly the kind of scale that sets it off.
Piff, Dietze, Feinberg, Stancato & Keltner (2015) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Seasonal guide
Temperatures are NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals from WALNUT CANYON NM at 6,695 ft. A national forest spans a wide elevation range, so the high country runs cooler and holds snow later than the valleys. The season notes below tell you how to work each one.
At mid-elevation, highs sit in the mid to upper 40s and lows drop near 20, and higher-elevation roads often close from the first heavy snow in late December until mid-April. High-country campgrounds like Ashurst Lake are shut for the season. Lower red rock elevations stay milder and hikeable, and the peaks around Flagstaff open up winter sports, so pick your elevation to match what you want.
Highs climb from the mid 50s in March to around 70 by May at mid-elevation, with chilly nights still near freezing early on. This is the drying-out stretch, and peak fire season typically hits in May and June, so check for fire restrictions before you build a campfire. Lower elevations green up first while the high country still holds snow, making spring a good time to work your way uphill.
June is hot and dry with highs in the low 80s at mid-elevation, then the monsoon arrives July through September with heavy rain, wind, and afternoon lightning. Start hikes early, watch the sky, and get off exposed rock and peaks before storms build. The high country runs noticeably cooler, so climbing in elevation is the classic way to beat the heat here.
Fall is the sweet spot, with highs easing from the upper 70s in September to the mid 50s by November and crisp nights. Fall color peaks from late September into October, earliest at higher elevations. Days are warm and stable while nights get cold fast, so pack layers, and expect the first snows to start closing high roads by late in the season.
This month in the forest
Timing changes everything out here. Pick a month to see when the light turns golden, which nights stay darkest for stargazing, and what visitors have actually recorded in bloom and on the move. The new-moon night is the one to plan a sky-watching evening around.
January 2027
In bloom · 11 species on record
- ❀ Brownfoot 3 sightings
- ❀ Apricot globemallow 1 sightings
- ❀ Greater periwinkle 1 sightings
- ❀ Ashy Silktassel 1 sightings
- ❀ Western Tansymustard 1 sightings
Wildlife on the move · 285 species on record
- Dark-eyed Junco 66 sightings
- Western Bluebird 62 sightings
- Common Raven 45 sightings
- Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay 45 sightings
- American Wigeon 44 sightings
February 2027
In bloom · 29 species on record
- ❀ Pointleaf manzanita 18 sightings
- ❀ Wedgeleaf draba 6 sightings
- ❀ Tuber anemone 4 sightings
- ❀ Purple-nerve cymopterus 3 sightings
- ❀ Ashy Silktassel 2 sightings
Wildlife on the move · 303 species on record
- Dark-eyed Junco 66 sightings
- Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay 56 sightings
- Western Bluebird 47 sightings
- American Robin 43 sightings
- Ornate Tree Lizard 43 sightings
March 2027
In bloom · 80 species on record
- ❀ Pointleaf manzanita 87 sightings
- ❀ Tuber anemone 37 sightings
- ❀ Blue dicks 24 sightings
- ❀ Mojave ceanothus 19 sightings
- ❀ Purple-nerve cymopterus 14 sightings
Wildlife on the move · 502 species on record
- Ornate Tree Lizard 208 sightings
- Dark-eyed Junco 100 sightings
- House Finch 97 sightings
- Western Bluebird 93 sightings
- Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay 87 sightings
April 2027
In bloom · 188 species on record
- ❀ Winding mariposa lily 142 sightings
- ❀ Blackfoot daisy 81 sightings
- ❀ Blue dicks 61 sightings
- ❀ Pointleaf manzanita 43 sightings
- ❀ Desert Paintbrush 31 sightings
Wildlife on the move · 708 species on record
- Ornate Tree Lizard 227 sightings
- Plateau Fence Lizard 156 sightings
- Greater Short-horned Lizard 122 sightings
- Common Side-blotched Lizard 113 sightings
- Dark-eyed Junco 109 sightings
May 2027
In bloom · 210 species on record
- ❀ Winding mariposa lily 78 sightings
- ❀ New Mexico locust 46 sightings
- ❀ Baker Kingcup Cactus 37 sightings
- ❀ Blackfoot daisy 35 sightings
- ❀ Arizona mariposa lily 32 sightings
Wildlife on the move · 838 species on record
- Plateau Fence Lizard 246 sightings
- Greater Short-horned Lizard 202 sightings
- Ornate Tree Lizard 171 sightings
- Gopher Snake 100 sightings
- Great Blue Heron 93 sightings
June 2027
In bloom · 200 species on record
- ❀ New Mexico locust 60 sightings
- ❀ Woods' rose 42 sightings
- ❀ Golden columbine 40 sightings
- ❀ Arizona mariposa lily 35 sightings
- ❀ Butterfly milkweed 27 sightings
Wildlife on the move · 956 species on record
- Plateau Fence Lizard 237 sightings
- Greater Short-horned Lizard 194 sightings
- Ornate Tree Lizard 158 sightings
- Western Tiger Swallowtail 117 sightings
- Steller's Jay 105 sightings
July 2026
In bloom · 144 species on record
- ❀ Rocky Mountain Beeplant 45 sightings
- ❀ Arizona mariposa lily 35 sightings
- ❀ MacDougal verbena 34 sightings
- ❀ Butterfly milkweed 23 sightings
- ❀ Horsetail milkweed 23 sightings
Wildlife on the move · 1032 species on record
- Plateau Fence Lizard 256 sightings
- Two-striped Grasshopper 223 sightings
- Greater Short-horned Lizard 209 sightings
- Many-spotted Tiger Moth 145 sightings
- Ornate Tree Lizard 121 sightings
August 2026
In bloom · 159 species on record
- ❀ Rocky Mountain Beeplant 47 sightings
- ❀ Balkan toadflax 23 sightings
- ❀ Birdbill dayflower 22 sightings
- ❀ MacDougal verbena 15 sightings
- ❀ Redroot Buckwheat 14 sightings
Wildlife on the move · 886 species on record
- Plateau Fence Lizard 244 sightings
- Greater Short-horned Lizard 225 sightings
- Ornate Tree Lizard 108 sightings
- White-lined Sphinx 86 sightings
- Gnophaela discreta 75 sightings
September 2026
In bloom · 116 species on record
- ❀ Rocky Mountain Beeplant 19 sightings
- ❀ Redroot Buckwheat 12 sightings
- ❀ Garden nasturtium 11 sightings
- ❀ Birdbill dayflower 9 sightings
- ❀ Balkan toadflax 8 sightings
Wildlife on the move · 777 species on record
- Greater Short-horned Lizard 165 sightings
- Plateau Fence Lizard 125 sightings
- Western Honey Bee 90 sightings
- White-lined Sphinx 86 sightings
- Hunt's Bumble Bee 72 sightings
October 2026
In bloom · 76 species on record
- ❀ Desert Broom 5 sightings
- ❀ Plains coreopsis 5 sightings
- ❀ Yavapai County Buckwheat 5 sightings
- ❀ Scarlet Gilia 4 sightings
- ❀ Panicled aster 4 sightings
Wildlife on the move · 631 species on record
- Grand Canyon Black Tarantula 97 sightings
- Steller's Jay 79 sightings
- Ornate Tree Lizard 66 sightings
- Dark-eyed Junco 64 sightings
- Western Bluebird 57 sightings
November 2026
In bloom · 30 species on record
- ❀ Desert Broom 5 sightings
- ❀ Mat rock spiraea 3 sightings
- ❀ Canada Violet 2 sightings
- ❀ Many-flowered Mentzelia 2 sightings
- ❀ Downy mistletoe 2 sightings
Wildlife on the move · 456 species on record
- Dark-eyed Junco 58 sightings
- White-crowned Sparrow 55 sightings
- Western Bluebird 51 sightings
- Steller's Jay 48 sightings
- Abert's Squirrel 43 sightings
December 2026
In bloom · 31 species on record
- ❀ Stansbury's Cliffrose 5 sightings
- ❀ Brownfoot 5 sightings
- ❀ Feather dalea 4 sightings
- ❀ Scarlet Gilia 3 sightings
- ❀ Desert Paintbrush 3 sightings
Wildlife on the move · 299 species on record
- Dark-eyed Junco 68 sightings
- Western Bluebird 61 sightings
- Song Sparrow 59 sightings
- Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay 59 sightings
- White-crowned Sparrow 54 sightings
Sun and moon times are computed for the forest's coordinates from standard NOAA solar equations and cross-checked against the U.S. Naval Observatory. Species lists are research-grade community observations for Coconino National Forest via iNaturalist, retrieved July 2026; sighting counts are all-time records for that calendar month.
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Sleep nearby
Places to stay around Sedona, Arizona. Pan the map to trade a shorter drive for a quieter night.
Camping inside the park books through Recreation.gov and is listed separately.
The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it we may earn a commission at no cost to you, which helps keep Happier Outdoors running. It never changes what we recommend.
From the field
Photos: dconvertini (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Common questions
When is the best time to visit Coconino National Forest?
It depends on elevation, because the forest climbs from about 2,600 to 12,633 feet. At a mid-elevation point like the Walnut Canyon station near 6,695 feet, spring and fall are mild, with fall color peaking from late September into October. Summer highs sit in the low to mid 80s but bring monsoon storms from July through September, and winter closes some high-elevation roads and campgrounds.
Is Coconino National Forest dog-friendly?
Yes, dogs are allowed, but they must be on a leash at all times on the forest's listed trails, and owners must pack out pet waste. At campgrounds and day-use areas such as Ashurst Lake, Blue Ridge, Clear Creek, and Beaver Creek, pets must be restrained or leashed. Note that West Fork Trail is in a designated Wilderness area with its own restrictions.
What are some quieter trails in Coconino National Forest?
Several trails see far less traffic than Sedona's headline routes. Fisher Point near Flagstaff offers panoramic canyon views, Kendrick Park Watchable Wildlife Trail is a calm wildlife loop, and Secret Slickrock is a quieter alternative to the busy Bell Rock area. Longer, more rugged routes like Jim Bryant Trail in the Munds Mountain Wilderness and the Hot Loop stay empty because most visitors head for Cathedral Rock, Devil's Bridge, and West Fork.
Do you need a pass or permit for Coconino National Forest?
Many Red Rock area day-use fee sites require a Red Rock Pass or an America the Beautiful interagency pass. The Red Rock Pass runs $5 daily, $15 weekly, $20 annual, or $45 for the Grand Annual, which also covers concessionaire sites like Call of the Canyon, Crescent Moon Ranch, Grasshopper Point, and Beaver Creek. Separate permits are needed for things like Fossil Creek parking reservations, Soldier Pass motorized use, and firewood or Christmas tree cutting.
Can you camp in Coconino National Forest?
Yes, the forest has developed campgrounds plus dispersed camping in some areas. Developed sites like Canyon Vista, Pinegrove, Lockett Meadow, Ashurst Lake, Cave Spring, and Bonito are largely reservable through Recreation.gov, with typical single-site fees running about $27 to $34 a night. A Childs Dispersed Camping Area is also listed, though full forest-wide dispersed rules and stay limits are not established in the available sources.
Is Coconino National Forest accessible for wheelchairs and strollers?
Accessible options are limited and site-specific. Kendrick Park Watchable Wildlife Trail has a short loop paved for wheelchair access, while its longer loop is native surface on flat ground. Doney Trail No. 39 has paved access roads and a handicap parking space, but the trail itself is a standard terra trail to an overlook, and Apache Maid Cabin is explicitly not accessible.
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