7 Best Fall Scenic Drives in Utah for Incredible Fall Colors

Utah gets a lot of attention for national parks, skiing, and basically anything involving a mountain. Fall somehow gets a little less attention, which is surprising because the mountains completely change for a few weeks every year.

The aspens turn bright yellow, reds and oranges start showing up lower in the mountains, and roads that I normally associate with ski season suddenly look completely different. It is also one of the easiest seasons to get outside without needing to plan an entire trip around one activity.

These are the seven Utah scenic drives I would put on my fall list.

1. Alpine Loop Scenic Byway

Driving the Alpine Loop is what originally gave me the idea for this post.

I drove it from the Sundance side toward American Fork and Lehi, and I liked that the drive itself was enough to make the outing feel worth it. We didn't stop and turn it into a full day of hiking, picnicking, and sightseeing. We just drove the road and enjoyed the scenery.

There is plenty to do along the way if you want to make more of it. You can stop at overlooks, head toward Cascade Springs, hike, picnic, or spend more time around the Mount Timpanogos area.

The road winds through the mountains around Mount Timpanogos, and the scenery changes quite a bit as you go. Some sections feel much more wooded, while others open up and give you bigger views of the surrounding mountains.

I drove it before peak fall color, so this is one I would absolutely go back and do again once more of the leaves have changed. With how many aspens line different parts of the road, I can see why this is one of the drives people immediately recommend when fall starts showing up in Utah.

The other thing I would mention is that parts of the Alpine Loop are legitimately narrow. There are sections where you really do need to pay attention to oncoming cars, cyclists, and the curves in the road.

This is not where I would try to take photos while driving. Use one of the pullouts or let your passenger handle the pictures.

Best for: A classic Utah mountain drive without needing a full-day itinerary

Nearby: Sundance, American Fork Canyon, Cascade Springs, Mount Timpanogos, Provo Canyon

2. Big Cottonwood Canyon

Big Cottonwood Canyon immediately came to mind for this list because I already spend a lot of time in this area during ski season.

I usually think about Brighton and Solitude in terms of snow totals, ski days, traffic, and what the mountains look like covered in white. Fall gives you a completely different version of the same canyon.

The route climbs from the Salt Lake Valley toward Brighton, passing through areas filled with aspens, maples, evergreen trees, and rocky canyon walls. Silver Lake near Brighton also gives you an easy place to stop if you want to get out of the car for a little while without committing to a major hike.

This is probably the type of route I would choose when I wanted fall scenery but did not want to turn the day into a long road trip.

You could drive up the canyon, spend some time around Brighton or Silver Lake, and head back down. If Guardsman Pass is still open, you can also keep going and connect the drive with Park City.

The biggest thing I would expect here is traffic.

Big Cottonwood Canyon is already popular, and fall gives people another reason to head into the mountains. If I were planning this specifically for fall colors, I would try to go earlier in the day or on a weekday if possible.

For me, the appeal is mostly seeing an area I know well from winter in a completely different season.

Best for: A shorter fall drive from Salt Lake City

Nearby: Brighton, Solitude, Silver Lake, Guardsman Pass

3. Guardsman Pass

Guardsman Pass is one I know well because I have driven it many times.

It connects the Brighton side of Big Cottonwood Canyon with Park City and the Wasatch Back, and I think it works best when you use it as part of a bigger day instead of just driving up and turning around.

One of the reasons I like Guardsman is that the scenery changes as you climb. You move from the tighter canyon setting near Brighton into more open mountain views, with large sections of aspens and places where you can see much farther across the surrounding landscape.

If I were doing it specifically for fall, I would probably drive Big Cottonwood Canyon, continue over Guardsman, spend some time in Park City, get food, and then head home from the other side.

It is also important to remember that Guardsman Pass is seasonal. Once winter conditions arrive, the road closes, so this is one I would plan earlier in the fall instead of assuming it will still be open later in October.

Best for: Combining Big Cottonwood Canyon with Park City

Nearby: Brighton, Park City, Deer Valley, Heber Valley

4. Little Cottonwood Canyon

Little Cottonwood Canyon is another route I would consider because I already know the area pretty well from skiing. Snowbird and Alta are places I usually think about in winter, so I would like to see what the canyon looks like with fall colors instead of snow.

The canyon has much bigger granite walls than Big Cottonwood, which means the fall colors are mixed with exposed rock and steeper mountain scenery.

That is the main reason I would pick this one.

If my goal was simply to find the highest concentration of yellow leaves possible, there are probably other drives I would choose first. Little Cottonwood looks more appealing to me because of the contrast between the aspens, the canyon walls, and the mountains around Snowbird and Alta.

This would probably be one of my easier afternoon options. Drive up toward Snowbird and Alta, stop where it makes sense, walk around for a little while if you want to, and head back down.

Best for: Fall colors mixed with dramatic mountain scenery

Nearby: Snowbird, Alta, Cottonwood Heights

5. Mirror Lake Scenic Byway

Mirror Lake Scenic Byway is one I would save for a day when I actually wanted to go somewhere instead of squeezing a scenic drive into a free afternoon.

The route heads from Kamas into the Uinta Mountains, which immediately gives it a different feel from the Cottonwood Canyons.

You are dealing with higher elevation, mountain lakes, forests, meadows, and much more of a road trip feeling. This is the one on the list that I would probably give the most time to.

The elevation is also why I would be more careful with timing. The Uintas can get cold quickly, and higher elevations can start seeing winter conditions while the valley still feels like fall.

I haven't driven Mirror Lake Highway specifically for fall colors yet, but it is one I would absolutely consider because it offers something different from the canyon routes closer to Salt Lake.

Best for: A longer fall road trip into the mountains

Nearby: Kamas, Mirror Lake, Uinta Mountains

6. Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway

Nebo Loop gives you another option if you want to head south instead of staying around Salt Lake or going into the Uintas.

The route runs through the mountains around Mount Nebo and includes overlooks, forests, lakes, picnic areas, and several places where you can stop along the way.

I wanted at least one option farther south instead of making almost the entire list about the mountains around Salt Lake.

Nebo Loop looks like one of those routes where you could make the day as simple or as busy as you wanted. You can stop at overlooks and lakes, or you can mostly stay in the car and enjoy the changes in elevation and scenery.

It is also one I would check road conditions for later in the season since mountain access can change quickly once snow starts showing up.

Best for: A fall drive south of Provo with plenty of possible stops

Nearby: Payson, Nephi, Payson Lakes, Mount Nebo

7. Provo Canyon Scenic Byway

Provo Canyon is probably the easiest route on this list to combine with other places. The road connects the Provo area with the Heber Valley and gives you access to Bridal Veil Falls, Sundance, the Provo River, Deer Creek Reservoir, and the Alpine Loop.

Instead of planning my entire day around the road itself, I would combine it with another stop. Maybe lunch in Heber or Midway, a stop at Bridal Veil Falls, or another nearby outdoor activity.

It also looks like one of the easier routes for someone who wants mountain scenery without dealing with some of the narrower seasonal roads on this list.

Best for: An easy scenic route that can be combined with other stops

Nearby: Bridal Veil Falls, Sundance, Deer Creek Reservoir, Heber, Midway

When Do Fall Colors Peak in Utah?

Fall colors in Utah can be hard to time because elevation makes such a big difference. Higher mountain areas usually start changing first, while lower elevations can stay green for a little longer. Weather also plays a big role, so a warm September, early cold snap, wind, or snow can shift the timing from year to year.

For northern Utah, late September through October is generally the window I would watch. I would check recent photos and road conditions a few days before going instead of planning around one exact weekend, especially since two roads that are fairly close together can look completely different depending on elevation.

FAQ About the Best Fall Scenic Drives in Utah