THE NORM
Days are warm but nights are cool to cold.  The first snow of the season may fall by month's end.  This is usually an excellent time for hiking in the park's backcountry.  Fall color starts in the high country and drops to the lower canyons by mid to late month.  Although there is only a little red and no orange, gold is the color of the fall here and it is done very, very well.  Tarantulas may be seen crossing roadways or trails.  Be careful not to accidentally (or purposely) end their precarious search for a mate by running them over or stepping on them.  Reptiles are also very active on these final warm days trying to fatten themselves up for the cold winter ahead. Visitation remains high during the first part of the month as many visitors and buses arrive from Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque.  After Balloon Fiesta visitation drops off sharply and remains slow but steady the rest of the month. 

OCTOBER 2009
As we near the end of October the weather is still pleasant during the day and chilly at night. There has been snow in the high country but it hasn't stayed on the ground very long. Virginia Creeper, cottonwoods, and Boxelders are changing color in the canyons while aspen color is over in the higher elevations. Visitation has been busy but the parking lot is rarely filling. All trails remain open. There are still a few tarantula sightings on the road and trails as the males search for mates. Watch for them. Abert's Squirrels and coyotes have also been quite active in the area.  Sandhill cranes have been heard flying over as they head south for the winter.