Take a stroll around the Botanical Garden at the Springs Preserve and you’ll see a wide variety of trees that thrive in our desert climate, from mesquite to ash. For your fall color fix, look for the vibrant reds of the Chinese Pistache and deep purples of the Flowering Plum.

Floyd Lamb Park is a small oasis in the northwest corner of the valley where you can enjoy the mild fall weather with a picnic or several options for hikes. If you’re looking for a natural vibe, you can walk the easy one-mile tree-lined loop around the lake; the slightly shorter Tule Springs Ranch trail takes you on a tour of the historic ranch’s well-preserved buildings and grounds. Both trails let you enjoy groves of cottonwood and oak trees turning vibrant yellow and orange.

You might not expect to find lush, tree-filled watersheds in the scorching canyons of Red Rock, but they exist—if you know where to look. Pine Creek Canyon and Oak Creek Canyon offer easy to moderate 2–4-mile hikes that are much more manageable in the cooler fall weather. Follow the canyons further up and you’ll be treated to ash and oak trees turning gold against the pink canyon walls. The massive sandstone slabs of Red Rock are a visual treat, especially on a fall day. Heading out for an early hike as the sun is rising will reward you with an otherworldly red vista you won’t see many other places.  Keep in mind, you will need a timed-entry pass from Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive Timed Entry – Recreation.gov to enter the Red Rock scenic loop.

Less than an hour’s drive puts you in an alpine forest with a distinct autumn chill in the air. Many popular trails were damaged by Tropical Storm Hillary last year, but several—including Little Falls and South Loop—are open again and offer plenty of leaves changing color. Little Falls trail will take you through a mix of evergreen pines and shifting maple and aspen trees for a rainbow of hues. And don’t worry, you don’t need to brave the full 12-mile round-trip climb to Charleston Peak summit on the South Loop trail: you’ll encounter a breathtaking forest of quaking aspens, shimmering in scarlet and gold, only about two miles up the trail. Spring Mountains Recreation Area/Mount Charleston