List of Fun Places to Go in Utah in the Fall
We’ve put together a list of fun places to go in Utah in the fall when the leaves are changing color and the temperatures are just right for outdoor activities.
When looking for things to do and places to visit in Utah, check out these fall-themed activities like picking apples, riding the pumpkin train, or enjoying BooLights! at the zoo!
The fall months of September, October, and November are some of the best times to visit Utah to explore its stunning landscapes and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. We have lived in Utah for over 20 years and get to explore the state often. Fall is one of our favorite times of year to see colorful foliage and enjoy outdoor activities.
Use our Utah Packing Lists to make sure you have the right clothing and gear for visiting in during the fall months. Grab your free printable packing checklist by clicking the image below!
A Photo Tour of Utah National Parks
Take a visual tour through all five Utah National Parks to see the stunning landscapes you’ll see when you visit!
Places to Go in Utah in the Fall
There are so many fun Utah vacation ideas for your fall trip: hiking or scenic drives to see the changing colors of autumn leaves, exploring national or state parks, and more!
For those who prefer a more urban experience, downtown Salt Lake City offers an array of cultural attractions that will keep you busy all season long.
The Utah weather in the fall will vary depending on the month and location. Be sure to check the weather and temperatures for the time you’ll visit. You never know when an unexpected storm will roll through and bring rain and cold air.
Utah National Parks in the Fall
Fall is a great time to visit Utah National Parks because the weather is “just right” for enjoying outdoor activities! We’ve written specific guides about visiting Utah National Parks in the fall:
- Arches National Park in the Fall
- Bryce Canyon in the Fall
- Canyonlands National Park in the Fall
- Capitol Reef National Park in the Fall
- Zion National Park in the Fall
Utah State Parks in the Fall
Check out this list of Utah State Parks where you can enjoy hiking, biking, climbing, photography, and stargazing in the fall. Here are a few of our favorite State Parks in Utah to visit this time of year:
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
- Dead Horse Point State Park
- Goblin Valley State Park
- Kodachrome Basin State Park
Rowley’s Red Barn
For fresh apple cider in Utah in the fall, Rowley’s Red Barn is the place to go. Pick your own apple harvest is available Fridays and Saturdays in September. Rowley’s also has fall activities, such as a hay maze, pumpkin patch, and play area, just a wagon ride away. Rowley’s Red Barn is in Santaquin, Utah.
Cornbelly’s at Thanksgiving Point
One of the BEST fall activities can be found at Cornbelly’s. They offer everything from a corn maze, apple blasters, and cow train, to tons of fall food options. Thanksgiving Point is located in Lehi, Utah.
Sundance Ski Lift Full Moon Ride
Take a ride under the moon and stars at Sundance Resort. The Sundance Ski Lift Full Moon Ride is offered on certain dates near the full moon, this scenic ski lift ride lasts up to one hour. Sundance is located in Provo Canyon, Utah.
Utah Scenic Drives in the Fall
Driving one of Utah’s Scenic Drives in the fall is the best ways to enjoy fall foliage around the state! These are the best scenic drives to see fall colors in Utah.
- Alpine Loop Scenic Drive
- Mirror Lake Scenic Byway
- Scenic Byway 12
- Capitol Reef Scenic Drive
- Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive
We recommend the Utah National Parks GuideAlong App to hear fun behind-the-scenes stories and local tips that play automatically as you drive, based on your GPS location as you drive through each park!
Sleepy Hollow Dinner Theater
Riley’s Farm Theater Company offers lighthearted and delicious meals and interactive shows in September and October. Riley’s U-Pick is also another option for apple picking in Utah. You can also do pumpkin picking later in the fall.
Wheeler Farm Pumpkin Days
Celebrate pumpkins and fall leaves at Wheeler Farm in late September and October. The Wheeler Farm Pumpkin Days admission ticket includes a maze and corn pit and one ride. Pumpkins also available. Wheeler Farm is located in Murray, Utah.
Autumn Aloft
Each September, for one weekend, the skies above Park City fill with hot air balloons. The Autumn Aloft launch happens Saturday and Sunday at 8am, and is free for spectators.
Sunflower Festival
Enjoy a field of sunflowers at Utah’s Sunflower Festival at the Green Acres Family Dairy in Ogden, Utah. Admission includes one cut sunflower. While you’re there you can also enjoy the Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze.
Utah State Fair
Fall and State Fairs go hand in hand! The Utah State Fair is an annual event held in Salt Lake City, Utah. The fairgrounds light up in September for 10 days with live entertainment, delicious fair food, carnival rides, and more.
Cross E Ranch Fall Festival
The Cross E Ranch Fall Festival takes place at a working cattle ranch in Salt Lake City, Utah. You’ll find animals, pig races, jump pads, zip lines, mega slides, a hay pyramid, hay rides, barrel train, amazing fall food, and more!
Places to Go For Halloween in Utah
If you’re specifically looking for Halloween fun in Utah, here are 8 places to go in Utah for Halloween.
Gardner Village WitchFest
From mid-September through Halloween, historic Gardner Village is decked out in witch-y celebration. The Gardner Village WitchFest includes everything from races (5K, 10K and half marathon), an escape room and scavenger hunts, to the decades-long tradition of Witches Night Out. Gardner Village is located in West Jordan, Utah.
Sleepy Hollow Wagon Ride
In Springville, Utah you can take a tractor-drawn hay ride through the woods. You never know what Halloween characters you may encounter on the Sleepy Hollow wagon ride. The fun thing about this event is the characters like Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman, ride horseback and interact with guests on the wagon!
BooLights! At the Hogle Zoo
Boo!Lights is an evening light event at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. You may not see many animals, but the light displays are amazing. The train is running during Boo!Lights and each evening features a variety of entertainment.
Sundance Ski Lift Halloween Ride
The Sundance Ski Lift Halloween Ride is a family-friendly ride about 45 minutes long. Weather permitting, a complimentary Halloween movie plays at the base of the lift. Hot chocolate and treats are available for sale.
Nightmare on 13th Haunted House
If you’re looking for a haunted house in Utah, look no further than Nightmare on 13th – one of the oldest running haunted houses in the US – and scariest. The Nightmare on 13th attraction has been featured on The Travel Channel. You’ll find this attraction in Salt Lake City.
Frightmares
In the fall, Lagoon amusement park offers a Frightmares experience for both thrill-seekers and young children. In addition to the amusement park rides, you’ll find haunted attractions and Halloween-themed entertainment. There are haunted houses for the older kids and adults. And there are “no scare zones” in kiddieland as well as three non-scary attractions for young children.
Provo River Halloween Cruise
The Provo River Halloween Cruise is 20-25 minutes long. As you cruise along the Provo River you’ll experience pirate attacks and see dozens of hand-carved jackolanterns. The cruise is offered during the month of October.
Heber Valley Pumpkin Train Ride
On select dates in October, you can ride the Heber Valley Pumpkin Train! Tickets include a 40 minute ride with entertainment, a pumpkin cookie and picking a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.
Places to Stay in Utah
- Coolest Hotels in Utah
- Places to Stay Near Arches National Park
- Bryce Canyon Places to Stay
- Where to Stay Near Canyonlands
- Places to Stay at Capitol Reef National Park
- Places to Stay at Zion National Park
Utah Bucket List
To help make your trip planning easier, we’ve compiled this comprehensive list of must-do activities that belong on every Utah Bucket List: things to see, do and taste all around the state! Grab the free download by clicking the graphic below!
We just returned from a trip to southern Utah. We saw the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, which were awesome and very true to their name. Also saw Bryce Canyon National Park, gorgeous beyond words. The only trouble I had was we drove down from Idaho through Nevada to first spend a little time with our daughter before moving on to the dunes and Bryce. I’m highly allergic to sage brush and ragweed and apparently both had high pollen levels. I sneezed and blew through a box of tissues in that 12 hour trip and spent the entire trip dealing with extremely full sinuses. Ugh. Next time I’ll check pollen counts as well as forecasted temperatures.
Yes, the temperatures and pollen have been very high this fall – sorry you had to sneeze your way through Utah!