Don’t let the recent 90-degree days in the Salt Lake Valley fool you: autumn is here. Over the next few weeks fall colors will dazzle those who seek them out. The east coast strongholds like Vermont and Appalachia might be the first places that come to mind for leaf watching, but Utah has numerous spots that provide just as much beauty to gaze at. Here’s a fall color guide to a few sure-fire places to catch those yellows, reds and oranges:
Neffs Canyon: Easy access and sure fire splendor makes Neffs a great choice for fall hiking. Thanks to a large and healthy population of Gambel Oak, Neffs boasts fantastic colors with minimum effort. Just a few hundred feet from the trailhead the variety of hues will impress just about anyone. From the hillside to the spot you are standing, this small canyon packs a big punch when it comes to autumn viewing. Hike all the way to the upper meadow or just wander around the trails near the parking lot, but be sure to check it out. Bonus: Neffs is dog-friendly so bring your pooch… they may be colorblind but they’ll still have fun on the hike.
Millcreek Canyon/Big Water Trail: Gorgeous drive? Check. Tons of aspens? Check. Easy hiking? Done and done. The Big Water Trail at the head of Millcreek Canyon is well worn and easy to hike thanks to all the mountain bike traffic. Plus, the upper reaches of Millcreek are stacked with aspen groves. This means a sure fire explosion of fall colors. The drive up the canyon yields plenty to look at, and the easy hike is perfect for anyone with a working set of legs. Millcreek is a dog friendly canyon, but make sure to head up on an odd numbered day to avoid the mountain bike traffic. Color viewing is more fun when your chance of a high speed collision is reduced.
Mount Nebo Scenic Loop: Every year you can find an exhaustive amount of lists ranking the top autumn viewing sites around the USA. This drive always makes a fair share, with good reason. In summertime this drive is beautiful. Add the bevy of fall color to the mix and it becomes breathtaking. Leave yourself plenty of time to enjoy the numerous pull outs along the road. Or better yet, pack a lunch and enjoy one of the many picnic areas. Mount Nebo is full of aspens, oaks and other deciduous trees and shrubs, so the color you see here may well be unmatched in the rest of the state.
Fishlake National Forest: How about a two for one? Head to Fishlake not only for the mind blowing color, but also to see the largest single organism in the world. Believe it or not, a quaking aspen colony (nicknamed “Pando”) right here in Utah is the world’s largest living thing. Pando is considered to be one tree connected by a massive underground root system. The colony of quakies covers 107 acres! Even wilder? Some estimates say the root system has been alive for over 50,000 years… old growth indeed! All amazing statistics aside, the reason to go is easy: with this many aspens, Fishlake NF is a no brainer for finding fall color. Pando can be found close to Fish Lake, but huge colonies of aspens abound in all areas of the forest.
So there you have it, just a few spots here in Utah guaranteed to deliver color seekers the goods. There are plenty of other spots that are just as outstanding, but these should get you started. When looking for fall colors the requirements are easy: just head to an area that you know has plenty of deciduous trees, pick a good spot, then sit back and enjoy. The next few weeks will be prime time, and with mild temperatures in the forecast, hiking any number of trails will mean a lot less sweaty then the past few weeks.
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