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SALT LAKE CITY -- Summer is officially over and fall has begun. Some take this as a sign of dread since winter will be shortly around the corner. However, for those who look at the glass as half full, fall in Utah is an amazing time of year. It's not just the fact that we can turn the air conditioning off and open our windows and let the cool breezes blow in, watch our beautiful yards turn brilliant colors, or that football season is in full swing. There is so much more in Utah's backyard to get out and enjoy.
A popular fall activity is driving up the canyons to see the beautiful fall leaves. But this year, how about taking your drive and turning it into a fall hike as well? With cooler temperatures, this is the perfect time to enjoy a hiking adventure. Here are a few ideas you may not have thought of.
Take the picturesque scenic drive up Nebo Loop and then take the short half-mile hike to Devils Kitchen. You'll experience striking views similar to a small-scale version of Bryce Canyon. To get there from Payson, follow the Nebo Loop road into Payson Canyon. The Devils Kitchen trailhead is clearly signed about 28 miles from the mouth of the canyon.
Another option is to drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Go up the canyon about nine miles and park at the Mill D trailhead and take the Dog Lake Trail. This hike is six miles round trip, but you don't have to go the entire way. You'll still be able to see plenty of beauty with a shorter hike on the trail and enjoy the vivid fall colors.
Going to Secret Lake is an easy 1.5-mile round trip hike that you will definitely want to bring your camera for. The Albion Basin bursts with brilliant fall colors in early October. To get there, at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon at the west side of the Albion Basin Campground, you'll find the clearly marked trailhead.
Some may think camping in Utah is only for the summer months. However, fall is an excellent time of the year to enjoy a family camping trip. Although there are still several lower elevation campgounds along the Wasatch Front open, this is a great time of year to visit some of southern Utah's scenic treasures.
Capitol Reef National Park is abundant with rich colorful rock formations, trails to hike, scenic drives and historic pioneer and Freemont Indian sites to tour. It's less crowded than other national parks in the state and has a little something for everyone. If you keep your eyes open, you might even catch a glimpse of a desert bighorn sheep.
Snow Canyon State Park has red and white carved Navajo sandstone, sand dunes, extinct lava flows, several miles of hiking and biking trails, horseback trails and rock climbing. Located just a few miles outside of St. George, it's a perfect location for family camping. Or if you prefer, stay in a St. George hotel and drive over to the canyon for a day.
If you are looking for colorful beauty and several monolithic stone spires, Kodachrome Basin State Park is a wonderful choice. It offers camping, hiking, horseback trails, mountain biking and nearby ATV trails.
Whether you are already an active family or hoping to become one, fall is a great time to get outdoors and fill your lungs with the cooler fresh air. Consider entering a 5K or holiday fun run. From costumes to turkey trots, there are many races around Utah to choose from. Here are just a few to consider:
Saturday, Oct. 8, FrankenRun Halloween 5K. Not only is this a costume friendly race, but you'll have beautiful views of the Wasatch Mountains and the LDS Timpanogos Temple while on the course. Visit frankenrun.com for details.
Saturday, Oct. 8, Night of the Running Dead 5K/1-Mile Creep ’n’ Crawl. Costumes are encoraged but optional. The humans ( without costumes) will get a two-minute headstart, and then the undead (with costumes) will be released to chase after the living. If you are a lucky runner, you may win a Golden, Silver or Bronzed Brain trophy. Visit undeadrace.com for more details.
Saturday, Oct. 29, the Salem Witches 5K Run in Salem. Costumes are optional, but if you are in it for the fun and walking or jogging is more your thing, try your luck to win a prize in the best Halloween costume category. Visit salemwitchesrun for more details.
Thursday, Nov. 24, the Millcreek Cold Turkey 5K run/walk. Visit sports-am.com/events for more details.
Check out saltlakerunningco.com and view its race calendar for additional upcoming races.
No matter what you are into, Utah is a great state filled with endless adventures with lots of opportunities for fall fun.
Kristy Wilson lives in West Valley where she's training to race marathons in each state and runs her wedding decoration company. She blogs about her weddings and races at runawaybridalplanner.blogspot.com
