Utah Fall Colors 2026 Volume I

Since moving to Utah in March 2026, I keep falling in love with this state more and more -- the variety of natural beauty within a three hour drive of my house is absolutely staggering. The Wasatch Mountains which border the Salt Lake valley have become an immediate favorite for me - an underrated, but world class mountain range. I'd heard that Utah had good fall colors...but I had no idea how good. As it turns out, Utah has some of the most incredible fall colors anywhere in the US - including swaths of small leaf red maples on the east side of the Wasatch, creating a stunning display of reds and oranges mixed with evergreens and still-green aspen that rival anywhere else I've ever seen, including the east coast! I explored several areas on Sunday, Sep 20, some of which have mostly aspen and were only barely starting to turn. In a few more days, the maples will fade and sheets of brilliant yellow aspen will take their place! Stay tuned for Volume 2...