Fall colors out in full glory across Utah

BOUNTIFUL — Despite the hot, dry summer season Utah just passed through, forestry experts say the weather shouldn't have an impact on the fall colors. And as evidenced by the brilliant colors popping up across the Wasatch Front.

When you see those colors in the distance, you can be rest assured there will be plenty of people out for walks in those higher elevations.

For the Wall family, Bountiful's Mueller Park wasn't a bad place to be capturing some photographic memories Monday night. Spencer and Jenny Wall said they wanted to "add a little bit of color to the whole ensemble."

Evan Child said his family is full of regular hikers. But Monday they made a special trip to the park for the passing scenery.

"(We) saw the leaves changing and decided, ‘You know what? We have to get out here and come take a look at all this,'" Child said.

While there is some speculation that this year the colors could peak and disappear early, thanks to a hot, dry summer experts with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands and Utah State University say there's no need to worry.

Utah's fall colors seem to be reaching that vibrancy right on time. Many of those mountain trees were not affected by the dry summer, and it's actually the shorter days that trigger the change at the same time every year the experts said.

That's good news for people like the Walls, leaving them time to catch a lasting image. "You get the diversity, and it's just fun to have those colors a part of your family photo," Spencer Wall said.

The Utah Office of Tourism has created a list of the best locations to view fall colors. Visit travel.utah.gov/documents/Fallcolorsfinal.pdf for more information.

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