It has been a sweltering summer here in Utah, but Autumn is right around the corner. Cue a collective sigh of relief; it’s time to celebrate the turn of a season. Daily forecasts are no longer calling for 100° days. Our sunsets are absolutely popping. The excitement around this Super El Niño winter is growing, and of course, the drinks and the pumpkins and the decorations.
Fall is a fan-favorite season, and with good reason. It’s our last chance to finish that summer adventure bucket list. It’s a time of anticipation. Skiers and riders start thinking about leg conditioning. We get together and share our favorite ski clips. We run our collection of steins through a wash and break out the lederhosen.
If that’s how you are approaching this fall season, and you’re looking for like-minded folk to celebrate with, here are a handful of fall activities that will keep you on the mountain right up to the winter season.
Hiking & Leaf Peeping
The natural place to start. Leaves are starting to turn and the crisp morning air has arrived. Before we know it, our high alpine trails will be littered with crunchy, colorful leaves. It’s a perfect time for hiking, rambling, and simply being in the mountains, but you’ll want to time it just right.
The best way to catch peak leaf-peeping season is with multiple outings. Leaves start turning in early September, reach peak color by September’s final week into early October, and shed by late October. Consider Utah’s resorts your basecamps, each with easy access to their own network of hiking trails. Or, check out these popular fall hiking trails near Salt Lake City:
Silver Lake
A local favorite, this trail is an approachable, incredibly scenic alpine loop circling Silver Lake near Brighton. Expect to stop for pictures and viewpoints more frequently than usual. You’ll spend most of this 0.9-mile hike on a newly built boardwalk with a well-maintained dirt trail section about halfway through and plenty of benches throughout. Keep an eye out for moose or beavers while you’re hiking; they are often sighted in the wetlands within the trail’s boundary.
Albion Basin & Grizzly Gulch
Next up, head towards Alta Ski Area to access the Albion Basin and nearby Grizzly Gulch trail networks. This is one of the most popular hiking destinations on the Wasatch Front, known for spring wildflowers that eventually give way to vibrant groves of aspen trees in the fall. Plus, a wider variety of trails offer an opportunity to cover more ground in a handful of trips. Don’t forget to pack your camera!
To dive more into the best fall hikes, check out Lexi's fall hiking guide.
Scenic Fall Drives
A scenic drive after your hike is a no-brainer, but you might consider pushing these scenic byways to the top of your itinerary. The name of the game here is slowing down. Build a playlist, have some friends along for the ride, stay alert, and stop often.
Guardsman’s Pass
Guardsman’s is a paved mountain pass that connects the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon to Park City or Heber, Utah, and it is a perfect route to take in the fall colors. Expect seas of vibrant aspen trees and pull-offs with towering canyon views. As a bonus, this route is bookended with great dining options to round out your trip. A few hikes in the area are also worth checking out, so plan accordingly and pack your hiking shoes!
The Alpine Loop
Similarly, the Alpine Loop scenic byway is a winding pass connecting American Fork and Provo Canyons, with Sundance Mountain Resort perfectly placed for a mid-drive leg stretch. If a scenic drive could skew more adventurous, this one certainly would. Tight switchback turns on narrow mountain roads make this a motorcyclist’s dream, but it can feel a bit tight in larger cars. Don't sweat it, go enjoy those fall colors and drive safe!
For a few more scenic fall drives, check out this story.
Tram, Gondola & Chairlift Rides
Rounding out this trio of leaf-peeping activities, what better way to experience the changing colors than by lift? We’ve saved the best for last here, because the lift, tram, or gondola ride really does offer the best of both worlds. Your ride up is a time to slow down, take in your surroundings, and frame a photo or two. Once you’ve reached the top, the choice is yours: ride back down for more of the same, or spend some time rambling around the hiking trails. It’s hard to go wrong, really.
Ride The Snowbird Tram
Snowbird’s tram was already a can’t-miss experience, but recent updates are elevating its reputation. The tram operates daily, with individual tickets available through early October. Looking for full immersion in the fall colors? Upgrade your ticket to include rooftop balcony access and treat yourself to open-air views from hundreds of feet above it all.
Full Moon Scenic Chairlift Rides
Sundance Mountain Resort is a local staple for fall festivities, specifically their scenic chairlift rides. This year, they are extending lift operations into the late evening hours while the moon is full. Reserve your seat between September 24th and 26th to experience the peak of the fall season beneath a full moon. While you are at it, conjure up some powdery conditions for the upcoming season?
Mountain Biking
Let’s pick up the speed a bit. What was once a limited offering, lift-served mountain biking is becoming more and more commonplace at Utah’s resorts. From the Ogden Valley to Cedar City in Southern Utah, riders have their pick of manicured trails with varying difficulties. Sure, there are many expert-level jump lines for thrill-seekers, but the best-kept secrets are the lift-serviced cross-country trails that allow you to ramble from top to bottom without pushing your limits. Here are a couple of places to consider.
Park City Mountain Biking Trails
Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain and Woodward Park City all offer exceptional mountain biking. Deer Valley is a downhill-oriented resort with more than twenty lift-served trails to fill your day. Park City Mountain Resort, on the other hand, blends dedicated downhill trails with lift-served access to a broader network of multi-use trails. Woodward Park City is perfect for progression-focused riders, with an awful lot of features and terrain packed into its trail network.
Salt Lake City Mountain Biking
Starting in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brighton and Solitude Mountain Resort both operate exceptional bike parks with plans to keep growing. Both resorts are perfect places for days spent lapping trails with friends and stopping for a patio lunch in between. Alta and Snowbird, on the other hand, do not offer lift-served mountain biking, but they still have miles of great trails you can access. Sometimes there is nothing better than pedaling up a trail you have all to yourself, right?
Ogden Mountain Biking
If you haven’t ridden around the Ogden Valley, where Powder Mountain and Snowbasin Resort are both found, you’re missing out. The Ogden Valley promises 360° scenic views, and you’ll be treated to a beautiful drive regardless of your approach. Spend a day on Powder Mountain’s network of cross-country trails, and be sure to seek out points of interest like The Paper Airplane. Or, visit Snowbasin’s growing Scott Bike Park for fast descents, high-altitude views, and great amenities waiting at the base.
Slides, Ziplines & More Fall Mountain Activities
Speaking of amenities, we’re not just talking about restaurants and bars. We’re talking alpine slides, ziplines, mini golf, ropes courses, disc golf, and more. Many of Utah’s resorts offer these summer and fall mountain activities, and we mean it when we say this is not just for the kids. Sundance and Park City Mountain Resort have some exhilarating zipline experiences. Remember to keep your head up and your eyes open.
Of course, not everything is so adventurous. Pick up a mountain activity pass and get some wind through your hair, capture that perfect video of your child’s first rope course, or place a friendly lunch bet on some mini golf. It’s a perfect addition to another reason you might find yourself at one of Utah’s resorts this fall, which is up next.
Beer, Wine & Food Festivals
Here we are, some of Utah’s most highly anticipated events. Fall beer festivals like Oktoberfest have come to feel synonymous with Labor Day, a trusted signal that fall is officially here (even before the autumnal equinox). Many of Utah’s resorts host beer and food festivals, each with a unique vibe. However, they all share a few common threads: family-friendly atmospheres that welcome all (whether you are drinking or not), a fun atmosphere to enjoy cooler fall temps, and the chance to spend the day surrounded by our kind of people. What’s not to love?
Learn more about Utah’s roundup of fall festivals here.
Live Music
Food and drinks? Check. Mountain activities and family attractions? Check. That’s already sounding pretty good, but the next part really completes the list, and that is live music. Regardless of which resort you’re visiting, there’s a good chance some mellow tunes will echo across the slopes. Most live music is scheduled alongside mountain festivals, but there are a few concert series that extend into the fall season.
Check out Park City Mountain Resort, Brighton, Snowbasin and Solitude for dedicated concert series that run through the end of September.
Ski Season Preparation
Half the fun of the fall season is the anticipation for our first snowfall. That anticipation can manifest in a number of ways, and we’re here to help find whatever suits you best.
Skill Development
Woodward Park City is a great place for guided progression and lessons, regardless of the time of year. If you're headed into the ski season with a few goals in mind, there’s no harm in starting now. Work a new trick indoors with the safety of a foam pit as your landing zone, or work on your balance at the trampoline park. No matter the goal, Woodward Park City is a great place to hone your skills before waxing your skis.
Exercise Classes
We all swear that we’ll head into the season more conditioned, and yet ski legs persist. Fear not, this year is different. You don’t need to sign up for a class to get prepared for the season. Check out this seven-day training plan we’ve outlined to help you avoid the burn at the beginning of the season.
Ski Film Premieres
If you are in it for the vibes and part of your love for skiing is the community, then we hope to see you at Utah’s ski film premieres. Utah is a renowned ski destination, and as such, our resorts and ski areas are often featured in noteworthy ski films. If that sounds exciting, just wait until you feel the energy of a packed auditorium of skiers and riders who also know that spot in the clip. It’s palpable, it’s electric, and it’s one of the most overlooked kickoff events to the ski season.
The List Goes On And On…
In a state that celebrates the outdoors the way we do, it’s tough to find a stopping point for Utah’s fall activities. Here are a few more things to consider before we see the season’s first snowfall.
Yoga
Solitude holds outdoor yoga courses at 9AM through the end of September, weather permitting. Classes are free to attend; you’ll just need to bring your mat.
Disc Golf
Have you ever hurled a frisbee hundreds of feet, more often than not downhill, into some foliage you’ll have to go digging through? If not, you should. Might as well start during one of the most beautiful times of the year. Brighton, Park City Mountain Resort, and Brian Head all offer disc golf through their fall calendar of operations.
Fly Fishing
Utah is home to The Greatest Snow on Earth®, and when it melts, that snow fills some of the best fly fishing rivers in the country. What does “the best” mean here? Well, a few were productive enough to be designated with a Blue Ribbon, one of the most prestigious designations in the sport. That’s beside the point. All you need to worry about is stepping out into a river, working on your cast, and keeping an eye out for the abundance of wildlife you’re likely to see along the river. Go with a guide, and you’ll probably even catch a fish!
Ski Swaps
Finally, with a new season comes the need (or maybe just the want) for some new gear. This time of year we see all sorts of great sales, ski swaps, and other ways to refresh your kit. See more about Utah’s ski swaps here.
