Nathan Michael
Fast Start Auto
where to see fall leaves around Ogden
by 11/23/2024
Combine the stunning beauty of the nearby Wasatch Front mountains with an array of vivid fall colors when leaves show off their dazzling red, orange and yellow hues, and it’s hard to beat the scenery of the Salt Lake area in the autumn.
It’s no wonder going on canyon drives to see the fall foliage is a popular tradition. There are quite a few routes you can take from Midvale to go explore the kaleidoscope of colors.
Little Cottonwood Canyon: This is a magnificent canyon to visit any time of the year, and especially when Mother Nature is showing off the changing colors of her leaves like a strutting peacock. There are a few places (mostly trailheads) along the highway to pull over and snap some shots as you head up the canyon, which is a few miles east of Midvale. Your best bet for photos is from one of the ski resorts, Snowbird or Alta. Hiking up to Red Pine Lake is a fun option. If you time your visit just right, you’ll be able to participate in Snowbird’s annual Oktoberfest celebration.
Big Cottonwood Canyon: This glacier-carved area offers stunning views of trees draped on and around the rugged granite peaks all year round. It also has a bevy of spots to hike for photo ops, including the scenic and accessible Silver Lake loop trail at Brighton Ski Resort. Don’t be surprised if you see a few animals, maybe even deer or moose quenching their thirst, in the idyllic setting. The hike around the loop is only 0.9 miles and is mostly flat with maintained gravel and boardwalks. If the weather is agreeable and you have a vehicle that you don’t mind driving on dirt roads, the partially unpaved Guardsman Pass, which leads to Park City, is well worth the detour.
Alpine Scenic Loop: It will take about 25 minutes to drive to American Fork Canyon, southeast of Midvale in Utah County, but you’ll be treated to an unforgettable journey up and around the windy 24-mile long road from AF Canyon to Provo Canyon. Cascade Springs has a family-friendly hiking trail through its gorgeous meadows and golden-aspen-rich forest. The Sundance Resort is another visual gem along the loop. And you’ll want to make time to explore Bridal Veil Falls on the way down to the Provo area. Splotches of autumn colors mixed with the grey rocks and glistening waterfall make for a postcard-worthy alpine backdrop.
Rose Canyon: This hidden treasure is tucked away in the southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley in Herriman. While the drive to Rose Canyon is a sight to see, the beauty of this area is magnified by traversing the trails of adjacent Yellow Fork Canyon on foot, mountain bike or horseback.
Butterfield Canyon: Thanks to the Bingham Copper Pit, the east-facing slopes of the Oquirrh Mountains always display dazzling colors. This canyon is less-traveled than canyons on the east side of the valley, but you won’t regret the views if you meander through. There’s even access to an overlook into the mine and an unpaved road that connects with Tooele on the west-facing side of the Oquirrhs.
Have you ever driven or hiked any of these places to view the fall foliage? Where’s your favorite spot?