September 18, 2020
Fall is one of the most beautiful times of year in Utah. The leaves begin to change, the weather cools down, and the air is crisp! We have compiled a list of our favorite fun fall activities in Utah so you can start to plan your next adventure. Although some of these experiences may not be exactly what they were in past years they are still a fun and festive way to get your family into the holiday spirit!
The places on this list are open as of September 2020 but be sure to visit the official website or event pages, make reservations if needed and bring your face masks.The good news is that a lot of these fun places may feel less crowded this year. Here's a list of beautiful fall drives, family-friendly hikes, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, fall celebrations, and other seasonal events all over Utah.
Logan Canyon
Logan Canyon is great for a Fall Drive because of its length. The colors start out with red, orange and purple maples but the further you go you start finding beautiful yellow aspen trees. There are plenty of pull outs along this route to stop and take photos.
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Big Cottonwood Canyon is a great destination for a fall drive full of hikes and adventures. This canyon is more popular for it’s summer hikes but the leaves here are beautiful in the fall. We recommend checking out Stairs Gulch if you are to stop for a fall hike.
Alpine Loop
The Alpine Loop connects the Provo Canyon and the American Fork Canyon. The fee is only required if you would like to use the facilities, don’t feel inclined to pay if you are just driving the loop. If you do choose to drive the loo[, check out Tibble Fork Reservoir, the leaves here are sure to impress.
Provo Canyon
Provo Canyon is full of amazing spots to enjoy the Fall colors. The Sundance area is beautiful during the Fall and it is before the fee area for the Alpine Loop, so you can explore around this area for free. Squaw Peak road is a great drive anytime, but especially in the Fall. You can enjoy the leaves and end up at a great overview of the valley. South Fork Road is one of the best places to see bright colors in the Fall in Provo Canyon.
Nebo Loop
The Nebo Loop is a spot that never fails to amaze fall seeking riders. There are a couple of places to get out and stretch your legs during this drive. Grotto Falls is a fun family hike with beautiful leaves and a fun waterfall at the end.
Fall drives are a great way to get out and see the fall colors while keeping your social distance but another one of our favorite ways to see experience fall is by hitting the trail!
Grotto Falls
We ended our selection of beautiful fall drives with the Nebo Loop which is home to Grotto Falls and we equally recommend it as a fall hike. This is a fun, easy, and beautiful hike for the whole family.
Ghost Falls
We couldn't think of a more fitting name for a fall hike than Ghost Falls! Get into the fall and Halloween spirit with this hike full of colorful leaves and potentially a waterfall depending on when you go.
Cascade Springs
The drive out to Cascade Springs is beautiful, it’s located on the Alpine Loop will please your eyes for miles. The trail has a waterfall, and is fairly simple since it is mostly paved or a boardwalk. There are some inclines but if you take them slow it is child friendly.
Willow Heights
The trail up to Willow Heights Lake may be a little more challenging for kids, the first quarter mile is a somewhat steep incline but the rest levels out. This trail is filled with aspens and they turn golden yellow in the Fall. The lake at the top of the trail is also surrounded by aspens.
Bell Canyon Reservoir
Located in Sandy this is more of an urban hike but after walking for 15 minutes the city noise fades away. The colors around this reservoir are beautiful but the water levels drop down during this time of year.
Temple Quarry
The Temple Quarry trail is great for families with young kids and strollers. This trail is short and well cared for right at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. The leaves here are fantastic year round but they are particularly pretty in the fall.
Scout Falls
The leaves have a tendency to start turning early on this beautiful trail. This is a hike sure to impress with vibrant fall colors, a small waterfall, and mossy nature along the way.
Stewart Falls
Stewart Falls is definitely worth the hike during the fall, typically a summer destination to cool off in the waterfall but this trail offers exquisite views of bright colorful leaves starting September.
Payson Lakes
The trail at Payson Lakes is an easy but beautiful walk. The trail is paved and stroller friendly making it a great family experience. The lake is a great place for a picnic, and the colors are always beautiful in Payson Canyon.
Cornbelly’s is part of Thanksgiving Point‘s annual Halloween celebration. This year they are celebrating their 25th Anniversary with the theme of Toy Story! With a variety of activities for little kids they will be entertained for hours, but not to worry there are fun activities for teens too. If you are looking for a spooky experience consider going after dark, this is when it becomes more of a haunted house attraction. Their website uses different “scream scale rating”’s to give you an idea prior to visiting.
Cornbelly’s has tons of things to do, and every year they add new and exciting things. Visit their event page to see what they have planned for specific days. Here are some of their everyday attractions:
Celebrate fall with this local farm! This Salt Lake attraction has a lot of fun fall activities including a hay ride, train ride pulled by a tractor, corn pit, and the best corn maze ever. Some of these activities are closed 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions but a majority of them are still available. Cross E Ranch’s Fall Festival runs from September 18 through October. For more information on specific attractions or the festival please visit their official website.
Things to explore at the farm:
This small and local Lehi farm is host to a pumpkin patch and fall festivities. It will be on a smaller scale this year due to the pandemic but the pumpkin patch is still open and a petting zoo with farm animals. For information on this farm please check out their Facebook page for all the info.
This fun family pumpkin patch down in Springville is affordable and has so many fall activities. There is a pumpkin patch, wagon ride, big slides, corn mazes, farm animal petting zoo, and a corn pit! Jaker’s is open September 25 through Oct. 31.
This fun pumpkin patch hosts a month long festival and has an annual pumpkin drop. This farm has a pick your own pumpkin patch, hayrides, petting zoo, corn maze, big slides, corn cannon, zipline and more. Hee Haw Farms Fall Festival runs from September 14 through October 31. The 12th Annual Giant Pumpkin Drop will be on October 24th from 12:00-5:00pm.
Petersen Family Farm Pumpkin Patch
This local family farm has a fun pumpkin patch that is full of festive activities for the whole family. Check out the unique pumpkins they grow at this farm, the wagon farm tour, apple slingshot, and old-fashioned popcorn crank. The pumpkin patch is open September 21-October 31st.
Rowley’s Red Barn is home to a ten acre corn maze, a six acre pumpkin patch and a large play area where you will find the pedal tractor racing, giant slides, apple cannons, a sand box, a hay pyramid, jumping pillows, and zip lines. Did we mention the freshly harvested apples, hot donuts, fresh pressed apple juice, and homemade ice cream? The Rowley’s Fall Festival begins September 25 through October 31. You can also go apple picking at Rowleys starting August 29th if you would like freshly picked apples to take home with you.
This farm in Orem has their Fall Fair set up like a carnival with rides, a huge corn maze, wagon ride, slides, petting zoo and great photo spots. There is also a pumpkin patch and food trucks that are available to everyone. The Fall Fair runs September 11 through October 31.
Glen Ray’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch
Glen Ray’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Spanish Fork is a fun spot for families. There is a big corn maze, pumpkin patch, big slides, corn pits, tractor rides, petting zoo, and a separate area for smaller kids. Looking for something scary? Consider going through their haunted corn maze at night! Glen Ray’s Corn Maze is open September 25-October 31, 2020.
Scarecrow Festival | Thanksgiving Point
Thanksgiving Point hosts a Scarecrow Festival in the Ashton Gardens. Enjoy the beautiful fall colors in the 50-acre garden and dozens of fun scarecrows built and submitted by the community. This week-long festival will also feature fun outdoor games, crafts, music and yummy food!. This festival runs from October 12 through October 17.
This year Gardner Village is celebrating its 20 Year Anniversary with a variety of events, celebrations, and activities being held during Witchfest. Take a witchy walk through Gardner Village to see if you can find all of the missing witches. Print your Scavenger Hunt form ahead of time and bring it to hunt for our cackling cuties. Forms are available beginning September 19th on their website.
Sleepy Hollow Haunted Wagon Ride
Enjoy an authentic horse drawn wagon ride through the woods of Soldier Hollow while listening to the narration of the original short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". Be careful as the woods are rumored to be haunted and frequented by the apparition of the Headless Horseman! This haunted wagon ride is appropriate and entertaining for all age groups, including families with younger children.
This exciting event happens at the Utah State Fair Grounds called Pumpkin Nights. There is a 1/2 mile walk through the grounds where you will see tons of carved pumpkins lighting the way, and carved in unique ways. A 40-foot long dragon. A ghostly pirate ship. An undersea wonderland. Explore fantastical lands, built using over 3,000 hand-carved real and synthetic pumpkins. No 2020 dates have been listed yet but we recommend keeping an eye out!
Pumpkin Train Heber Valley Railroad
The Pumpkin Train takes you on a 40 minute train ride where you are entertained by costumed characters and beautiful fall colors out of each window. You also get a cookie and a pumpkin for riding the pumpkin train. At the depot you can take a trip through the (family friendly) haunted car and then pick out a pumpkin at the pumpkin patch. The Pumpkin train runs Oct. 1-30, 2020.
Clas Ropes hosts a unique Halloween Cruise in October where they pull you up and down the Provo River. There are hundreds of jack-o-lanterns and lights reflecting on the water, a pirate attack, and spooky stories. It’s very family friendly and fun to be on the water. The cruise runs Oct. 1-31, 2020.
Looking for more Fall spirit? We have curated a design gallery full of festive Fall ideas to prepare your home for the next dinner party, play date, or Halloween event. Whether you are looking for more home decor inspiration or ready to find your dream home, Visionary Homes is here to help! Please reach out to (435) 228-4702 or visit our idea gallery for more inspiration.
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