Welcome to Ashley Goes Hiking

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My name is Ashley

I am a hiker, photographer and environmental activist focused on educating others about nature and sharing beautiful places while recreating responsibly!

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Falling for Fall: Arizona’s Best Spots

Best Fall Hikes in Arizona

Kayaking the Black Canyon of the Colorado River

Kayaking the Black Canyon of the Colorado River is an adventure that should be on every Arizona adventurer's bucket list. With stunning views of towering cliffs, emerald-green water, and natural hot springs, this stretch of the Colorado River offers an unforgettable experience for outdoor enthusiasts. It's an especially good adventure for winter since the route has many hot springs. I did the trip in early February and thought the weather was perfect. Permits and Outfitters B

Fossil Creek Adventures

All about the two waterfall hikes at Fossil Creek in Arizona.

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From the past few weekends chasing fall in Arizona.

What’s exciting is that our fall season always lasts well into November, usually into December in some desert canyons. So, it’s truly just getting started. 🍂🍁🍂

The third weekend of October is always my favorite time to see aspens in Eastern Arizona. 🍁

The best day chasing fall in Arizona.

Photos taken 10/18/25.

When I was about 8 years old my dad decided drugs were way more important than his family. Methamphetamine was the drug of choice.

He had been abusive my entire life since my earliest memories so the drugs weren’t the straw that broke the camels back by any stretch of the imagination, but the choice to do drugs was just the extra pain point in a long string of issues.

My dad is now in jail for allegedly selling meth. And I’m not surprised.

I grieved my dad a long time ago, but it’s hard to explain to people who’ve never dealt with a parent who is an addict that your parent is still alive but they’ve never been a parent and they put drugs above all else.

I always wonder why I like being outside so much, and I sometimes wonder maybe it’s because that little girl inside of me remembers running outside when daddy was abusive or high, yelling and punching holes in the walls.

The outdoors were safer than four walls and a roof - maybe that’s why it’s where I feel safest now.

Colorado Fall healing my soul one memory at a time.

This fall chasing colors in Colorado was spectacular.

St. Pete’s food scene is UNMATCHED.

I had a work conference in Florida this week so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to head to my old stomping grounds in Gulfport and check out the area’s newest coffee shop and wine bar - The Salty Pup! Not only is it dog friendly (10/10) but they are FULLY decked out for Halloween!

I got the London Fog Latte and a croissant sandwich and Preston got a croissant sandwich and cappuccino - we loved our food and absolutely loved the vibe!

They truly pulled out ALL the stops for Halloween. 🎃

This is definitely going to be one of my go-to’s anytime I come back to visit the Tampa/St. Pete area.

So jealous of all the current Stetson Law students who have this awesome spot right down the street!

Keep Gulfport Weird, y’all! 👻

People can’t control themselves on the internet so the comment section is somewhere I don’t go anymore 🤷🏼‍♀️

It’s always funny to me when people think they know me or about my life just from the photos or hiking adventures I post online.

I purposefully don’t post about my career, relationship, and rarely even post my dogs! I don’t post about my other hobbies or house because I’m just pretty private in that aspect.

But inevitably I’ll run into people who think they know everything about my life or what’s going on with me just from what they see online; which is SUCH a small fraction and fragment of my life.

🚂 Patiently waiting for the Fall Express to pick me up. I think I heard it’s gonna be a little late? Anyone know when the train comes through? 😉

🍁 Finding Fall in Arizona 🍁

One of the most common questions I get every year around this time is how to find fall colors in Arizona!

One of the biggest misconceptions is that we don’t have fall here in AZ. In fact, we have one of the longest fall seasons in the country spanning from late September to late November because our elevation ranges from the high peaks to desert canyons!

Because the answer is complex I put together this guide on how to find fall colors in Arizona to help YOU find colors wherever you are in the state!

SAVE this post for this fall so you can know where to go for the next couple of months! And also, follow along on my Instagram Channel: Arizona Fall Colors, where I post fall updates and photos!

My tip is to follow the season as it moves down in elevation. Start in the high country in late September, shift to canyons in October, and finish along waterways in November.

Happy leaf peeping!

Special thanks to @geologicadventures for tree identification.

All photos copyright by @ashley.goes.hiking. Please do not share or reproduce without written consent.

I’ve hiked this trail more times than I can count. Sometimes 3 or 4 times in a year. I have my favorite trees, favorite spots, favorite snack break areas. I’ve hiked out in the dark more times than I’d like to admit because I get sidetracked hammocking in the aspens (which happened again yesterday). 🤪

I’ve seen bears, so many deer, elk, and little forest critters on this trail. I’ve laughed. I’ve cried. I’ve read countless books under these aspens.

I’ve packed way too many snacks, too few snacks, and have eaten many sub sandwiches under these trees.

I’ve hiked this trail under the golden glow of fall, when it’s the heart of summer, and even a little too early in the spring when it was covered in snow.

It’s just one of those spots that feels like home. Every curve of the trail, the rocks on the ground. The aspens I greet every year after winter.

This little forest corner, a little side canyon off a dirt road…it’s been my favorite little forest sanctuary.

So glad I was able to visit it again this weekend. It’s like greeting an old friend every time I hike through these trees. 🍁

The most perfectly framed fall waterfall. 💛

Shoutout to my friend @hello_mallory for giving me the 411 on this one.

I can’t post fall without posting a few years worth of photos from fall in my favorite place on Earth.

Tahoma before winter creeps in and blankets her hills with snow is truly one of the most magical places.

Photos taken 2019, 2021, 2024. Not current conditions (and also I’m pretty sure the Rainier rangers are saying please don’t come due to the shutdown so maybe just enjoy photos of this magical mountain and not an in person visit this year.) ❤️

I might just lay in a hammock in the aspens for a whole afternoon. Let time pass and let the leaves cascade down like snow. 🍁

🎥: @hello_mallory

A little taste of Ouray and a little taste of Crested Butte to inspire your leaf peeping this weekend in Colorado.

Yes, these photos were taken this year.
🍁

Nothing beats an Arizona backroad sunset. And a volcano in the background? Pure perfection.

#arizona #sunset #jeep #volcano

Just a girl who loves gold trees, off-roading, and taking naps in hammocks under a canopy of gold.

Fall is my Super Bowl. My happiest time. The most beautiful season.

The aspens in Colorado get all the attention, but I think the Cottonwoods along the Gunnison River are mighty spectacular as well.

I think Crested Butte is definitely an autumn. 🍁

A little birdie told me Red Mountain Pass is about to be peak and by little birdie I mean my drone.

#colorado #fall #fallorado #silverton #ouray

🍁 An Introduction 🍁

It’s been over a year since I’ve done a little intro post, so here goes!!!

Hi! I’m Ashley! Here’s some fun facts about me and my little corner of the internet!

I am an AZ girl born and raised! Born in Cottonwood, AZ; raised in Camp Verde, AZ; currently live: Sedona, AZ. 🏜️

Occupation: I’m a full time attorney and have been practicing non-stop for over 10 years now! 👩🏼‍💼

Outdoor background: I’ve been hiking in Sedona since I could walk (hello Bell Rock Pathway). I’ve got 20+ years of hiking experience, outdoors experience, backpacking and adventuring under my belt. I’ve hiked all around the Western US, and also in other countries including Canada, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, Argentina & Chile. 🥾

Family: I’m married to my amazing husband Preston and we have two pups, Charlie and Cooper, who are in these photos! 🐶 🐶

Public lands: I’ve been fortunate to become involved with some amazing orgs over the years including Oak Creek Watershed Council, the AZ Site Steward program, and Friends of the Forest Sedona! You can find the links to donate to these amazing orgs on my page.

Why I love being outside: I find hiking so therapeutic - the sense of accomplishment you feel when completing a hard peak, a long hike, or a strenuous scramble. I also love photography and find such a creative an artistic release in taking nature photos.

Why I’m on here: I’ve always posted hikes and outdoor stuff but I started posting educational information and leave no trace type posts when I noticed my favorite trails becoming graffitied and trashed. My goal on here is to inspire, educate, and foster a respect and appreciation for our public lands.

Anyway, that’s a little bit about me! Photos of me and my good boys during our favorite season hiking in Flagstaff.

Shhhh…lay down and listen to the aspens in the fall.

#nature #natureasmr #asmr #fall

Larches are hands down my favorite trees - which makes sense, because they’re all over the Alps, Cascades, and Canadian Rockies which coincidentally are my three favorite places on the planet. So, it’s only fitting my favorite mountains also are home to my favorite trees. 💛

Colorado is always the answer for vibrant leaves and colorful fall scenes. 🍁

Somehow I managed to get perfect conditions two years a row in Utah which was an absolute dream. While I’m not up in Northern Utah chasing leaves this fall, I highly recommend everyone who is in the Utah area to try and make their way to the mountains at least once in the next week for leaf peeping.

The explosion of aspens and maples colliding at the same time on Utah’s mountains is something I think everyone should experience. ❤️

After chasing fall in the west my entire life, I do have to say, the San Juan Mountains in Colorado are just absolutely magical.

Scenes from Telluride, Ouray, and a few other places.

* Not current conditions

Tomorrow is Public Lands Day, and it’s the perfect time to take action to advocate for our public lands by following @outdooralliance to be ready to act when they need our voices!

In honor of Public Lands Month I want to take time to emphasize why these places are so special. For me, they represent the places I have my most important memories. From my wedding day, to special moments with friends and family, our public lands are where I’ve celebrated love, accomplishments, and fostered relationships with myself and others.

Public lands aren’t just recreation opportunities but they’re also where we get clean water. Public lands are precious wildlife habitats. They carry deep cultural, historical, and community value to Indigenous communities by safeguarding sacred sites and preserving biodiversity.

Without public lands like our parks and forests, future generations risk losing access to the wild spaces that shape our identity and inspire us to protect the planet.

Protecting public lands doesn’t happen on its own. It takes advocacy, policy, and voices raised together. That’s why I am proud to partner with Outdoor Alliance this Public Land’s Month. Outdoor Alliance is an organization uniting outdoor enthusiasts and groups to defend public lands from threats like sell-offs, development, and reduced access. They work to ensure that trails stay open, rivers stay clean, and wild spaces remain wild.

How can YOU get engaged to help public lands today? Here’s how:

👉 Follow Outdoor Alliance to stay informed.

👉 Add your voice when action is needed via Fast Action Forms

👉 Support organizations like Outdoor Alliance with donations so they can keep doing work that keeps our public lands public

Our collective action matters. Let’s celebrate Public Lands Day not only by enjoying these spaces, but also by standing up to protect them.

Fall in Northern Utah is one of the most magical and underrated areas of the west.

From shimmering golden aspens to bright red and orange maples it’s an explosion of colors.

I’ve been lucky to visit multiple years in the fall, and I’ve gotta say, those moody foggy fall days happen to be my favorite.

Fall colors are peaking right now in Utah, so now is the time to hit the trails!

🍁

Public Lands Alert: The Legacy Restoration Fund is set to expire!

The Legacy Restoration Fund, established by the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act, has delivered billions to repair trails, fix crumbling infrastructure, and restore access to America’s public lands. But unless Congress acts, this essential funding will expire in 2025.

With thousands of maintenance projects still unfinished and a $41 billion backlog across federal lands…outdoor recreation infrastructure is at risk.

Ask your lawmakers to support extending the Legacy Restoration Fund. As someone who cares about public lands and outdoor recreation, your voice makes a difference.

I’m proud to partner with Outdoor Alliance to discuss this important issue!

Follow @outdooralliance for more information about the Legacy Restoration Fund and public lands issues!

I kept seeing this trend and wanted to join in! Did I do it right? 😉

🚨 Adventure Alert! 🚨

I’m leading the ultimate Salkantay Trek in Peru with @tourhero…and YOU can join me! 🥾🇵🇪

✨ Trip highlights:
• 5 days trekking through the Andes
• Stunning glacier lakes + Salkantay Pass at 15,000 ft
• Cozy mountain lodges & stargazing nights
• Arriving at Machu Picchu the most epic way possible

🔥 Special offer: The first person to book gets 50% OFF their trip!

This isn’t just a hike, it’s an unforgettable journey through one of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth.

📅 Dates: April 6-11, 2026
🔗 Book your spot here or via the link in my bio: https://www.tourhero.com/en/epic-adventures/peru/trailblazing-the-andes-the-ultimate-salkantay-trek-experience-with-ashley-948839

Spots are limited — tag your hiking buddy and let’s trek the Andes together! ❤️❤️❤️

Swings in the alps and no more red hats.

Every summer in Sedona, I see more and more stacked rocks popping up along trails, off in the canyons, and even in Oak Creek. What might look like a harmless or even “artistic” act is actually damaging, disruptive, and also, not allowed on our public lands.

When rocks are pulled from the earth to build stacks, it exposes fragile soils to erosion and disturbs entire micro-ecosystems. In the desert, lichen and cryptobiotic soil, the living crust that holds our fragile landscape together, are crushed underfoot and scraped away when rocks are moved. These organisms take decades to grow, and a few seconds of stacking can destroy them.

People often leave the designated trail to collect rocks, trampling sensitive plants and widening paths. And when rock stacks are built in Oak Creek, the impact is even greater: rocks provide shelter and breeding grounds for aquatic insects, fish, and amphibians. Removing and stacking them in the water disrupts biodiversity and harms the species that depend on these creek ecosystems.

Worse still, once one person builds a stack, dozens more follow. Hundreds of piles spring up, changing the natural landscape into something unrecognizable and confusing future hikers who may mistake them for official trail markers.

Sedona’s beauty speaks for itself. It doesn’t need our fingerprints left behind in the form of rock stacks or graffiti. The best way we can honor this land is by practicing Leave No Trace: staying on trail, leaving what we find, and letting wild places remain wild. 🌿✨

#LeaveNoTrace #KeepSedonaWild #OakCreek #ProtectPublicLands

In Sedona every year I see more and more stacked rocks popping up along trails, especially after the busy summer. People stack them without realizing they’re damaging, disruptive, and discouraged by the Forest Service.

When rocks are pulled from the ground to build rock stacks, the soils below the rock become exposed. This makes the soil vulnerable to erosion from both wind and water, which is especially concerning in a desert environment like Sedona where we experience monsoons. This disruption by moving rocks or pulling them out of the ground also disturbs micro-ecosystems. In the desert, lichen and cryptobiotic soil, the living crust that holds our fragile desert together, can become crushed underfoot and scraped away when rocks are moved. Lichen grow on the rocks and when rocks are disturbed to be stacked this can cause the lichen to die. These organisms take decades to grow, and a few seconds of stacking or disturbing rocks around them can destroy them.

People often leave the designated official trails to collect rocks, which can trample sensitive plants and widen trails. Again, in a fragile desert landscape these impacts can be felt in a huge way in such a fragile environment.

Rock stacks also are constantly being built in Oak Creek, our fragile riparian creek that meanders through Sedona. When rocks are disrupted at the creek the impact is incredibly detrimental: rocks provide shelter and breeding grounds for aquatic insects, fish, and amphibians. Removing and stacking rocks in the creek in the water disrupts biodiversity and harms the species that depend on these creek ecosystems. Additionally, it can disrupt stream flow and change the ecosystem of the creek.

Finally, once one person builds a stack, dozens more follow. Hundreds of rock stacks spring up, sometimes on cliff edges or in dangerous locations.

The red rocks of Sedona are beautiful without the need for people to add their own “art” to the views. I encourage everyone to practice Leave No Trace by not stacking them.

* If you made it this far and decide to comment, just know you will receive an automated link with resources. This is to encourage mindful commenting and media literacy.

Stacking rocks off trail or leaving graffiti might seem harmless, but it causes real damage. 🚫
• Rock piles disturb fragile ecosystems, expose soil to erosion, and confuse future hikers who may mistake them for official trail markers.
• Graffiti scars the natural landscape, destroys cultural sites, and erases the sense of wildness that makes these places special.

Public lands belong to all of us and keeping them wild, natural, and unmarked ensures future generations can experience their beauty. 🌿✨

#LeaveNoTrace #ProtectPublicLands #KeepItWild

People go off trail here, move rocks to the side of this cliff and then stack them. This cliff goes RIGHT above the official trail and these stacks falling over could literally k*ll someone.

An animal could knock them over. Someone stacking them could accidentally drop one or knock over the stack. Not to mention they’ve moved all the rocks keeping the soil in place above the cliff to the cliff edge so now when it rains there’s more likelihood the soil will wash down and knock these rocks over the cliff edge.

There’s so many reasons stacking rocks is bad and why it’s not allowed in Sedona, but this scenario makes me the most mad because it could literally seriously hurt someone.

When I say “low maintenance” I mean I just want experiences not things, obviously. 😏

#travel #womenwhoexplore #flights #airlinepoints #travelerinitaly

In the last week I’ve blocked over 200 people and removed a bunch of my followers because I want it to be very clear where I stand.

I stand with the LGBTQ+ community 🏳️‍🌈
I believe no human is illegal. ❤️
Abortion rights are women’s rights. 💁🏼‍♀️
Women belong in corporate America, politics, and aren’t just baby machines. 👩🏼
This is ALL Native land.
Vaccines work. 💉
Bernie would’ve been an amazing President.
Free Palestine 🇵🇸
Science is not an opinion. 🔬
Public lands in public hands. 🤝
Student loan forgiveness makes sense. 💵
America needs responsible gun laws and firearm regulations.
Higher education is amazing and should be encouraged. 📚

If you don’t align with these values please don’t waste time commenting and just block me!

Arguing in the comments will NEVER change my mind.

I have a doctorate degree, a degree in Sociology and Justice Studies and have spent the last 27 years advocating for human rights and social justice. I did a thesis on this. You won’t change my mind.

I want my page to be a safe space for all minorities, groups, and marginalized communities. I won’t stand for hate or bigotry.

Here’s why stacking rocks in Sedona is bad:

-they could lead hikers off trail
-they’re dangerous for hikers (especially when people stack them on cliffs, they could fall on someone)
-they are harmful to wildlife
-they cause erosion
-they encourage off trail travel
-moving rocks to stack them disrupts microorganisms on the rock
-moving rocks disrupts the cryptobiotic soil under and around the rocks
-stacking rocks moves them off the ground, which means they’re no longer covering the soil on the ground. The soil is therefore subject to wind and water erosion. That topsoil will eventually wash or blow away. Without topsoil the desert turns into sand dunes!

The Sedona Pledge #7 asks that visitors do not stack rocks. Additionally, the Forest Service also asks visitors to not stack rocks.

Please help us protect the desert ecosystem, respect the land, leave no trace, and don’t stack rocks.

#sedona #sedonaarizona #leavenotrace #cryptobioticsoil #arizona #sedonahiking #sedonaaz #sedonavortex #sedonaescape

Just a progressive girly pop who loves public lands and hates fascism.

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About Ashley

Hi! I'm Ashley. I am a hiker, adventurer, and lover of the outdoors. To learn more about me and my blog, click below!

Find out more about me!