New England doesn’t have a patent on fall colors as vibrancy abounds in the Verde Canyon.

“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit,” wrote Emerson.

In autumn, a trip aboard Verde Canyon Railroad displays the vibrant spirit as it emerges in a stunning color palette of sunshine yellow, glowing mandarin, fiery crimson and rich butterscotch tones.

The brilliant blue skies and red rock cliffs of Sedona overlook this color-splashed spectacle, highlighted by a symphony of scarlet and amber, crimson and gold.  The clear, clean waters of the Verde River, encased by large canopies of centuries-old Cottonwoods and white-barked Sycamores, enhance the beauty of the canyon and the season.

As the mercury begins its yearly dip, the jeweled tones of autumn magnify the geological beauty of the Verde Canyon. It is a season of mild temperatures when wildlife becomes more active and visible. Photo opportunities are endless. Passengers are drawn with cameras to the open-air viewing cars to capture the kaleidoscope of colors and inhale the earthy richness carried on soft breezes.