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Pumpkin-flavored treats and drinks, Halloween, cooler weather and color-changing leaves are universally-loved aspects of the fall. But there are unique advantages to living in Utah once the seasons start to shift. The fall colors are already appearing at higher elevations, the college football season is already underway, pumpkin patches are plentiful, the ski resorts start to rev up and the festivals abound.
If you thought summer was the best time of the year, get ready to change your mind. Here are seven of Utah's best autumn destinations to keep you awed and entertained!
Scenic fall drives
Being in Utah in the fall without driving around to feast your eyes on the bright yellow, orange and red leaves should be considered a crime. Luckily, the Beehive State serves up so many opportunities for leaf peeping from north to south that missing autumn's big show is nearly impossible.
For a short list, Logan Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Mirror Lake Highway, the Alpine Loop, Fishlake National Forest and Zion National Park are excellent starting points.
Pumpkin patches
One of the best ways to get into that festive fall mood is to load up the family and head to a pumpkin patch. Black Island Farms in Syracuse has been delighting families young and old for 17 years and is a worthy inclusion on your fall bucket list — especially if you've never visited before.
Not only do you get to enjoy farm-fresh goodies, a 12-acre corn maze and a scenic pumpkin patch ride, but your older kids might also like Nightmare Acres. It's the haunted portion of the corn maze that now includes "zombie apocalypse laser tag."
There's no shortage of options when it comes to Utah pumpkin patches, but some others worth mentioning are Cornbelly's in Lehi, Wheeler Historic Farm in Salt Lake, Staheli Farm in Washington and Cross E Ranch in Salt Lake County. A hot, fresh apple cider donut at Cross E Ranch is worth the visit alone!
Halloween haunts
If you want to get into the spooky spirit of the season, plenty of venues adopt a Halloween theme from September to October. The Witchstock Festival at the Ogden Amphitheatre includes a Witches Tea, Zombie Crawl and Monster Bash. The Tea requires tickets but the other events are free!
Fall might arguably be the best time to visit Lagoon since the theme park's Frightmares event mixes in all your favorite rides with some fun Halloween-themed entertainment. Test your bravery at more than nine haunted houses, each with varying levels of scares. For the kids, there's the not-so-scary Spook-a-Book walk-through, complete with treats and prizes. Some dark characters roam the park at night, but don't worry — they're mostly friendly.
Ski resorts
One perk to Utah's weather mood swings is that you can enjoy both the beautiful fall foliage and the fresh powder between the months of September and November at the local ski resorts. The ski and snowboarding season usually starts around mid-November, assuming Mother Nature has given the slopes a decent dusting.
If you're hoping to be one of the first skiers or snowboarders to carve up the mountain, be sure to keep tabs on the Brighton Resort ski schedule. They typically are the first to open each season.
College football
For many in Utah, fall is synonymous with college football. Last year, the University of Utah, BYU and Utah State teams all had successful seasons and hopes are high that this year will be even better. With combined crowds of around 130,000 for weekend home games and with three successful FBS teams, few other states can match Utah's fall football frenzy.
Oktoberfest at Snowbird or Snowbasin
Aside from the stunning leaves and early access to the slopes, there's yet another reason to add Snowbasin or Snowbird to your fall destination list: Oktoberfest.
At Snowbasin, Pumpkin-flavored treats and drinks, Halloween, cooler weather and color-changing leaves are universally-loved aspects of the fall. But there are unique advantages to living in Utah once the seasons start to shift. The fall colors are already appearing at higher elevations, the pumpkin patches are plentiful, the ski resorts start to rev up and the festivals abound.
At Snowbasin, Bavarian food, cold drinks, live music and fun activities occur each Sunday in September from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This year at Snowbird, the German-themed festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary and runs from Aug. 13 to Oct. 16. It's a family-friendly, free event with food, activities and plenty of drinks. Come grab a bratwurst or a Bavarian pretzel and enjoy the live music between noon and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Bear Lake
Bear Lake isn't just a popular place to enjoy your family's summer reunions. The fall is a great time to visit, too! Cooler temperatures, brilliant fall foliage and smaller crowds are some of the things you can look forward to, along with all your favorite activities. Enjoy hiking, biking, ATV-riding, bird-watching and more — and don't forget to grab a raspberry shake!
National Parks
Just like Bear Lake, fall is the perfect time to visit one (or all) of Utah's five national parks for many of the same reasons. Lonely Planet reports that the peak time to visit any national park isn't peak season — it's October. You won't be fighting hordes of tourists, scorching summer temperatures or marked-up prices. Everything is slightly quieter, slightly cooler and slightly cheaper. It's a win-win-win.
