10 Top Places To Visit In Utah In The Fall
Utah is an exciting place to visit at any time of the year. In fall, however, it is not as crowded in the state as other seasons, even though there is still an abundance of things to see and do at this time of the year. Fall in Utah is incredibly beautiful and comes with unique experiences like leaf peeping, Halloween events, and shopping at a local farmer’s market. With its great weather, fall is also arguably the best time to explore the incredible attractions Utah offers, some of which include Arches National Park, Zion National Park, and Canyonlands National Park.
Springdale
Springdale is one of the small towns in Utah that come alive in the fall. Visitors troop to this town as it is the gateway to the incredible Zion National Park, whose stunning rock formations can be seen right from the town's streets. This, combined with the beautiful fall foliage that can be seen at every turn, the cool weather, and the fewer crowds, makes the town so magical. Without the scorching sun and chaotic crowds of summer and the freezing cold of winter, fall is also the best time to explore the otherworldly landscapes of Zion National Park from this town. In addition, Springdale sits on the North Fork of the Virgin River, beckoning adventurers to enjoy kayaking while taking in the breathtaking scenery of autumn.
Fishlake National Forest
Utah is known for presenting some of the most magical autumn scenery in the country, and Fishlake National Forest is one of the best places in the state to experience this. When the season arrives, the thousands of aspen trees in this forest transform into vibrant yellow, gold, and orange colors, which becomes even more magical at sunset. Around Fish Lake, the scenery is pronounced as the lake mirrors the surrounding trees and features a backdrop of the towering mountains.
The best thing to do here in the fall is just walk with a camera, but there are also opportunities for trout fishing at Fish Lake and camping at one of the 29 developed campgrounds in the forest. The forest also features more than 1,000 miles of trails, which set the stage for mountain biking, hiking, and ATV rides.
Fishlake National Forest is home to Pando, one of the oldest and largest organisms in the world. Pando is a clonal aspen tree with over 40,000 stems originating from a single shared root system and weighing up to 6,000 tons. It sits approximately 1 mile southwest of Fish Lake on State Highway 25 and is a must-visit, especially in fall when the trees transform into gorgeous autumn colors uniformly.
Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway
Driving the Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway in the fall is a great way to witness lots of autumn scenery in little time. This road is a short 25-minute drive from Salt Lake, and it stretches for about 15 miles, taking visitors through Brighton and Solitude ski resorts and several gorgeous lakes. Popular lakes here include Lake Mary, Lake Martha, and Lake Katherine, and each of these lakes can be accessed via short trails that are flanked with incredible fall scenery. In addition to the scenery, Big Cottonwood Canyon also offers opportunities for biking, rock climbing, and picnicking. While engaging in these adventures, watch for wildlife such as elk, coyote, fox, mountain lion, bear, and deer.
Park City
Park City is great for a winter vacation. It is also an amazing place to visit in the fall and then stay in the winter. In the fall, this city is colored in spectacular gold and orange colors, and the weather is cool for engaging in exciting outdoor activities. Visitors can go on a scenic drive on the Guardsman’s Pass Scenic Backway from this city to witness autumn scenery or hike/bike one of the city’s trails like the McLeod Creek Trail, which features views of mountains, wetlands, and creeks.
Park City also hosts an exciting Halloween festival that transforms the main street into a spooky stage brimming with parades and treats.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Forget leaf peeping for a moment; Bryce Canyon National Park is an incredible destination for a fall vacation in Utah. With cooler weather and fewer crowds, it is a great time to explore the park’s numerous hiking trails to see its stunning hoodoo formations. Don’t miss out on the 1.4-mile Navajo loop trail, which features several stunning sandstone formations like Thor’s Hammer and Bryce Amphitheater. Also, hike the Rim Trail, which has a steep descent and presents some of the park's best views.
In addition to hiking, visitors can spend their fall vacation in Bryce Canyon National Park, stargazing, horseback riding, and taking scenic drives to see more of the park’s otherwordly scenery.
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is one of Utah’s five mighty national parks, and it’s a great place for a fall vacation. Here, visitors will be met with a Mars-like landscape that offers a wide range of adventures from hiking to camping, biking, scenic drives, and more. The Capitol Reef Scenic Drive is a great place to begin an adventure here as it goes through the park’s most stunning rock formations and is just 8 miles long. For those who prefer to get their boots a little dirty, there are miles of hiking trails waiting in this park, from the Fremont River Trail, which offers views of the Fremont River, to the Hickman Bridge Trail, which takes hikers up to a large arch.
Additionally, Capitol Reef has great fall foliage, which complements the red rock scenery of this park. During sunset, the views are breathtaking.
Snowbird Ski Resort
The Snowbird Ski Resort is a haven for snow in winter and offers one of the best outdoor activities in the chilly season. But just before snow fills up the place, one of nature's finest transformations takes place here, creating gorgeous foliage scenery around the resort. For a memorable fall experience here, visitors can take a stroll around for leaf peeping or take the tram ride to soak in panoramic views of the colorful foliage. For more enjoyable views, try to get a spot on the Tram rooftop balcony. The Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort also hosts an Oktoberfest event in October, which adds to the excitement for those visiting.
Dixie National Forest
Covering more than two million acres in southern Utah, Dixie National Forest is one of the best places to visit in the fall. The forest area features a wide variety of natural wonders, from gorges to lakes, gently rolling hills, rivers, mountains, and forests. When fall arrives, it colors these incredible natural wonders with shades of yellow, orange, red, and gold, creating scenes that can only be described as magical.
There are plenty of things to see and do here to soak in all that scenery, and visitors can start by visiting Red Canyon, which is home to some of the best trails in Utah and also features stunning hoodoo formations. Other interesting areas in Dixie National Forest to explore include Hell’s Backbone, Powell Point, and Boulder Mountain. These areas all feature incredible rock formations and offer opportunities for a wide range of activities, including biking, fishing, and scenic driving.
Arches National Park
Arches National Park is one of the most famous national parks in Utah, and it is a great destination to visit for those who want more than foliage. Here, visitors will be met with views of dazzling natural sandstone arches, bridges, windows, and spires that look otherworldly. In fall, the weather is more comfortable to explore the incredible natural wonders of this park, and visitors can begin by hiking one of the park’s trails, some of which include Balanced Rock Viewpoint and Trail, Double Arch Viewpoint and Trail, and Broken Arch Trail. Each of these trails offers amazing scenery of the stunning rock formations in the park and are all less than five miles long.
Furthermore, visitors can take the 19-mile Arches Scenic Drive for more autumn scenery, hike to Arches Visitor Center to learn more about the park, and then end the day watching the mesmerizing sunset and stargazing.
Manti-La Sal National Forest
Utah is more than its five mighty parks and charming small towns. It also has massive national forests, which are best visited in the fall, and Manti-La Sal National Forest stands at the top of the list. This large 1.2 million acre forest is home to several natural gems, from charming lakes and rivers to towering mountains and dense forest areas. During fall, these natural attractions become incredibly gorgeous as they are overwhelmed with shades of red, orange, yellow, gold, and amber, making them even more exciting to explore.
Enjoy an unforgettable time in this forest by hiking or biking some of its gorgeous hiking trails; like the Peavine Canyon Trail, which goes through aspen groves, and Clark Lake Loop Trail, which leads to the beautiful Clark Lake. For more excitement, take a scenic drive along the Skyline Drive, camping in one of the 32 developed campgrounds to extend the journey.
Utah is a great place to visit year-round, but something magical about fall makes it arguably the best time to visit this state. During this season, the state becomes incredibly beautiful with the coming of fall foliage, and with calmer weather and fewer crowds, outdoor activities become more exciting. This sweet combination makes a fall vacation in Utah so exciting that travelers might return for winter, which is another incredible time to be in the state.
