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Are you a lover of all things fall? Us too! Summer may be our all time favorite season of the year, but we can’t deny the gorgeous and much anticipated fall colors, especially in Utah. Once the leaves are aglow, it’s time to take a drive into the rocky mountains for the full fall experience. The best time to view the colors in our home state varies from year to year. Typically the colors start to greet us in early September and usually peak towards the end of the month. For this year, you should be able to go on a leaf excursion on a nice day in late September or early October, which we love! Take a look at our favorite places to go for that tapestry of red, orange, and yellow {and even a touch of rosy pinks}.
The Alpine Loop from American Fork canyon to Provo Canyon is one location close to our hearts and home. Not only will you find gorgeous leaves but you’ll enjoy dramatic cliffs as a background for that splash of color. For the most convenient spots to visit and snap a couple of photos, head to the Aspen Grove trail. The Cascade Springs Nature Trail is a seven mile drive from State Road 92 and is also at its very best in the fall.
Along the Alpine Loop, you’ll drive through Provo Canyon, but we recommend stopping at a couple of trails to find some of the best leaves around. You could stop at Squaw Peak Trail, Buffalo Peak Trail, or even Bridal Veil Falls. Bridal Veil Falls is great for littles with it’s paved path and easy to hike slopes. No matter where you stop for hiking and pictures, visiting Provo Canyon mid to late september is best!
Fill up your car, grab some snacks, and head to Guardsman Pass & Midway. There are no bad Salt Lake County canyons to visit in fall, so definitely give yourself the chance to explore Big or Little Cottonwood Canyons. You’ll find popular hikes and massive panoramas. Be sure to visit the Pine Creek Nature Trail for hot pinks and reds on the east side of the Wasatch. It’s pretty memorable!
Just east of Park City, Mirror Lake Highway is a gorgeous drive between Kamas and Evanston, Wyoming. You’ll be amazed at how the aspens really light up in fall! If you’re looking to get out of your car and explore, we recommend Beaver Creek Trail & Provo River falls as stopping points.
This particular drive connects Bountiful and Farmington on unpaved roads in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. So make sure you have the right kind of vehicle before you venture out! We recommend taking the Farmington exit by Lagoon and then starting your beautiful drive from there. The gorgeous trees and colors will leave you speechless.
Get ready to drive from Brigham City to Bear Lake on Highway 89 for some vibrant must-see colors! Not only will you have a gorgeous drive, but there are dozens of hikes to choose from if you’re wanting to get out of the car and explore. Either way, it’s a popular destination for leaves. We recommend Logan Canyon’s River Trail for an easy to get to + easy hike.
Just East of Ogden, this drive is a great location to see groves of aspen, oak, and maple trees in their fall flair! You can enjoy quite a bit just from your drive, but don’t hesitate to get out and explore the area too! We recommend Wheeler Canyon and Green Pond Loop as some great hikes for this area!
Head on over to the north-east corner of Utah for some of the most remote wildlands and scenic fall hikes in the state! Make sure you visit Spirit Lake and its surrounding hikes for some gorgeous fall colors. You can also visit Deer Lake near Yellowstone Canyon to really see all that Utah has to offer. Honestly it would be the best kind of weekend retreat!
Get ready to feast your eyes on fall tones + gorgeous views! The Manti-La Sal National Forest can be found in central Utah and is a great destination all year round, and the Wasatch Plateau is our favorite part. If you’re a big hiker and mountaineering, this is definitely the spot for you! Make sure you do your research before you go for camping and road closure updates.
The last spot on our list is a photographer’s dream and can be visited on your way to the Wasatch Plateau! The fall foliage of the Uinta National Forest is unlike any other! Plus, with lots of campgrounds and trails (some popular for horseback riding), you can spend a whole week exploring startling red colors. We also recommend hiking the Left Fork of Huntington Canyon to see some brilliant colors this fall.
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How dreamy does this sound?! The fall colors are making their debut and we are here for it! With so many places to see them in all their glory, we better get out there before winter creeps up on us. So grab someone who loves fall as much as you and make an adventure out of it! Wear your coziest fall outfit, and only stop to take pictures if you want to. Where do you like to see the leaves change? Whether it’s in Utah or out of state, let us know below.