Find Fantastic Fall Colors in Utah’s Wasatch Back

(Eden, UT  August,  2010)  Utah enjoys four distinct seasons and autumn is a favorite.  Temperatures are comfortable and the eye candy of colors throughout the mountains and valleys are spectacular.  Ogden Valley is a high mountain valley including the mountain hamlets of Eden, Huntsville and Liberty.  The centerpiece of the Valley, Pineview Reservoir, is surrounded by peaks towering more than 9,000 feet that are home to three ski resorts – Powder Mountain, Snowbasin, and Wolf Creek Utah. 

The Valley is a hub for a fall color loop tour that extends north past the turquoise waters of Bear Lake, through Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway, down to Willard Bay, past family owned orchards making up the Fruit Way to the historic railroad town of Ogden.  The circle is completed after driving through the steep rock walls of Ogden Canyon and returning back to Pineview Dam.  Since the tour includes elevations as low as 4,220 feet at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and over 9,700 at the top of Ben Lomond Peak, fall color seekers can find a beautiful, array of colors from the end of August through October.

 In order to enhance the visitors experience, bloggers from the community will be giving tips daily at www.utahfallcolors.com.  Bloggers ranging from botanists, forest rangers, hikers, bikers, fishermen, hoteliers and mountain managers will share their secrets for the best hikes, successful wildlife watching,  great meals  and hot deals.  The area offers a plethora of options for fall color action ranging from boating, bird watching, gondola rides, horseback riding and four wheeling.

OGDEN VALLEY FALL COLOR CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Flanked by Snowbasin Resort to the south, Powder Mountain to the north, and Wolf Creek Utah Ski Resort to the west, Ogden Valley’s popular Pineview Reservoir maintains its popularity for water sports well into October.  Miles and miles of paved and unpaved trails circumvent the valley offering up hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, wildlife watching and four wheeling.   The Ogden Valley is accessed from three scenic routes:  Trapper’s Loop (Route 167) from Mountain Green, the North Ogden Divide and Ogden Canyon from 12^th Street in Ogden. 

Ogden Valley is only one hour north of the Salt Lake International Airport making the area an easy mountain escape from metro areas in the western US.   There’s a wide choice of newer condos, vacation homes, lodges, B & B’s and campgrounds to suit any budget with good variety in dining establishments.   Utahfallcolors.com features a number of fall color lodging packages in Ogden Valley, Ogden City and Logan so that visitors can stay overnight in order to explore the area more fully.

Please check with the event to verify dates and times. 

ONGOING FESTIVITIES

Village at Huntsville Square Concert Series

Enjoy live music outdoors in the ambiance of a frontier town.  The Saturday evening concert series runs through September.  A variety of outstanding musicians from the region will be showcased whose styles range from rock show, to jazz, blues, and folk traditions.  With a huge pit to cater to large crowds, Texas Pride Barbeque will treat the audience to a taste of Texas.  Concerts start at 6 pm.  235 S. 7400 E., Huntsville. For details and performance schedules visit texaspridebarbecue.com/events.html

Snowbasin Wildflower Meadows Concerts and BBQ

Bring your blankets, chairs and sunshades to Wildflower Meadows every Sunday for a free concert from 1 – 5pm. No need to pack a picnic basket, the chefs at Snowbasin will offer a delicious BBQ starting at noon.  Visit snowbasin.com or call (801)620-1000 for more details.

August 22^nd                   Shades of Grey – American/Bluegrass/Country

August 28^th                    Two Week’s Notice – Classic Rock

August 29^th                    Red Shot Pony – Blues/Country/Rock

September 5^th               Abraxas – Santana Cover Band

September 12^th             Turner & Williams – Blues/Rock 

September 19^th             Flew the Coop – Classic Rock

September 25^th             Shaky Trade – Funk/Rock/Jazz

September 26^th            Zion Tribe – Reggae/Latin/Funk

Wolf Creek Utah Ski Resort Music in the Mountains

This concert series under the stars is one of the most popular events in Ogden Valley.  The cost is only $20 per carload.  Gates open at 6pm and music begins at 8pm.  Bring a picnic basket or enjoy a fabulous dinner on site courtesy of Harley and Bucks. L More information is available by calling 801-781-1455 or visiting wolfcreekutah.com

August 21:  Classic Rock Stars features Mike Pinera of Iron Butterfly, Peter Rivera of Rare Earth and Jerry Corbetta of Sugarloaf join forces to rock the house.

September 4:  The Soulistics bring the best of soul music classics to Ogden Valley.

Huntsville Library Fall Music Series                                                                                                                                                                            Every Thursday in September a free concert will be held at the Huntsville Public Library.  7:00pm For more information go to weberpl.lib.ut.us/content/calendar 

Fall Chilifest                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Every Saturday in October from 11am – 4pm in Huntsville Square and Texas Pride BBQ.  Festivities include a pumpkin patch, wagon rides, children’s arts & crafts.  Find out more at texaspridebarbecue.com

SPECIAL EVENTS IN OGDEN VALLEY                                                                                                                                                                       August 19 - 22:    Powder Mountain Motocross presented by Monster                                                                                                                    Last year’s inaugural event was one of the largest motocross events ever held in the state of Utah.  The natural terrain track was designed by Jeremy McGrath, considered by many to be the best Motocross racer of all time.  Thursday.  Racers can practice on August 14, 15 & 19^th.  The Main Event on Friday, Saturday and Sunday starts at approximately 2pm.  $10 admission includes shuttle service from Wolf Creek Festival Field.  Call (801) 745-3772 or visit powdermountain.com/motox.

August 28:  Mt. Ogden 50K at Snowbasin                                                                                                                                                             Mountain bike enthusiasts – mark your calendars! The Mt. Ogden 50k at Snowbasin was a huge success last summer. In fact the event was so strongly supported by the mountain bike community, that it has been expanded to include a 100k event and a four-person relay. 801-620-1000 or snowbasin.com.

August 28:  Ogden Valley Celebration of Women                                                                                                                                                        Women owned businesses and organizations from the Ogden Valley invite women to spend the day learning, sharing and honoring special women we know.  Women owned businesses will set up displays around Dottie Becks and seminars will be held around the Valley.  Activities include facials, lavender wand making, classes in pilates, cooking and accessorizing, nature walks and guided bike rides.  

All sales and fees will be donated to Monica Fuit, a Liberty resident , who is undergoing timely and costly treatments to help control and/ or eliminate a disease called GVHD retracted from her bone marrow transplant for her Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  For more information, email peachyface@relia.net.

September 4:  Huntsville Half Marathon and 5K                                                                                                                                                 Huntsville City Park starting at 8:00am Call (801) 728-9121 or visit www.stridersrunning.com

September 18, 25 and October 2:  Fall Color Photography Workshops

Photography buffs of all levels can choose from all three or just one of the half day workshops taking advantage of the beautiful views in Ogden Valley.  The free workshops meet at 8am in Eden Park.  From there, mentors from the Ogden Camera Club will provide tips prior to and during the field trip, taking the group to great locations throughout the Ogden Valley area, depending on the leaves showing their colors that day.  Register at ogdenvalley.travel/fall-color-photography-workshop.html

September 24:  Full Moon Mountain Top Event at Snowbasin  

The gondola will be in operation on this Friday evening, with a dinner served at Needles Lodge. You won't want to miss the spectacular moon-light views! 5:00pm – 10:00pm with the last gondola down departing at 9:30pm. (801)620-1000 or snowbasin.com

September 25:  XTERRA at Snowbasin

UTAH XTERRA US Championship, XTERRA Utah Off-road triathlons and XTERRA Wheeler Canyon Half-Marathon. This is the culminating event in the 67-race XTERRA America Tour. Visit xterraplanet.com or snowbasin.com.  Shady Trade will be playing at Wildflower Meadows BBQ in the afternoon.  After participating or viewing the race, head down to Historic 25^th Street in Ogden for the Harvest Moon Festival.

September 25:   Howlfest at Wolf Creek Utah Ski Resort

This free community event offers fun for the whole family and is a great time for families to purchase discounted season passes for the 2009-2010 ski & riding season.wolfcreekutah.com

FALL FESTS ALONG THE FALL COLOR ROUTE                                                                                                                                                         September 8 – 10:  Brigham City Peach Days                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Started in 1904 as a day to celebrate the best peaches in Utah. This family friendly event is the longest continually celebrated harvest festival in Utah and is reported to be the second oldest in the country. brighamchamber.com/pages/peach-days-schedule

September 18 – October 30:  Logan’s Farmtastic Fall at American  West Heritage Center                                                                                     The American West Heritage Center celebrates autumn with farm fun such as the Corn Maze, Train Rides, the ever-popular pioneer-era thresher, and more for all ages.  www.awhc.org

September 24 – 25:  Ogden’s Mountain to Metro                                                                                                                                                                  Live Entertainment, World Class Athletic Events, and good old fashioned family fun all in the Downtown Historic 25th Street Area. The festivities and events will kick off Friday evening, and will continue all day Saturday until 7:00pm.  Athletic events including Bingham’s Cyclery M2M Criterium Bike Race, Striders 7 Trail Run, and M2M Down River Kayak Race. http://www.goalfoundation.com/

The Ogden Valley Business Association (OVBA) is dedicated to serving the Ogden Valley Community and businesses.  Its purpose is to enhance the quality of life for citizens of Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon through the promotion and development of community and economic resources including arts, culture, education, human services, tourism and community service.

Carolyn Daniels
Powder Mountain
801-745-3772 Ext. 156
801-940-6475