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Sugar House Journal

The Crunch, Crunch, Crunch Under My Feet

Sep 08, 2016 15h25 ● By Bryan Scott

By Joani Taylor


Ah, It’s here, fall. Here come the treasured foods of warmth, kids back in school, Halloween and that wonderful sound of crunching leaves under your feet when you head outside. There is nothing like the splendor of our amazing canyons with their fiery colors this time of year – anywhere else. 


Enjoying our canyons in the fall season is not only beauty to the eyes; it can be as cheap as a few gallons of gas and a picnic lunch too. Whether you’re leaf watching consists of a quick scenic drive on a Sunday afternoon or a weekend stay amid the trees, we can agree that, when the conditions are right, autumn time in Utah is worth celebrating.


Here are a few ideas of where to see fall leaves that won’t disappoint. Lets start with The Grand Prix of Leaf Watching (Heber, Midway, and Sundance) By picking a central location; you can spend the weekend enjoying beautiful colors and a variety of fun activities in all directions.


Midway

If you are looking for a unique adventure amid the fall foliage, Homestead Resort in Midway welcomes you. The sprawling cottages provide the perfect setting and destination for the most devoted leaf watcher and a place we try to visit yearly. When the day is done, take a dip in the Crater where the temperature is always a balmy 90-96 degrees. You can find a discount for Crater swimming on Coupons4Utah.com/


Heber

No matter where you are coming from, Heber always feels like home. Heber’s small town charm is a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of big city life. When it comes to fall activities, Heber is the one of the best destinations for family fun.

For many, the Heber Valley Railroad is a longtime family tradition for every season. Come ride the Pumpkin Train, but be sure to stay and celebrate the Annual Scarecrow Festival or brave through the spine-tingling Sleepy Hollow Haunted Wagon Ride.


More adventurous visitors may choose to soar from above and take in the views on one of two different courses with Zipline Utah. The Flight of the Condor course spans 4 zipline and a suspension bridge. The Screaming Falcon is the world's longest zipline course over water! It consists of over 2 miles of 10 ziplines and 7 suspension bridges, while also showing you some of the most amazing views Utah has to offer Visit coupons4utah.com for news about available discounts on the train and/or the Zipline.


Sundance

Nestled at the base of Mount Timpanogos, Sundance Ski Resort places you right in the middle of the fall splendor. After a day of enjoying the fall colors, you can savor wonderful cuisine made special from local and organic growers. For as low as $29.00 you can enjoy a fabulous adventure on the Bearclaw or Halloween Zipline Tour at Sundance or choose to ride the tram up for some amazing views from above. Details are on coupons4utah.com.


Emigration Canyon

Take Sunnyside east past the zoo where you'll find dozens of trails full of fall color. Make a day of it and stop by the historic Ruth's Diner for a lunch on their fantastic patio.



Silver Lake at Brighton Ski Resort

The good news, the easy access for people of all ages doesn’t detract from the beauty. The lake is just large enough to provide amazing colors and scenic views and small enough for the littlest of fans to enjoy the stroll.


Guardsman Pass

This is a beautiful and quiet drive offers breathtaking views. The winding road takes you from Deer Valley over to Park City and Midway.


Mirror Lake Highway Reaching north from Kamas, Utah, to Evanston, Wyoming, traverses nearly 80 miles through the Uinta Mountains. The highway has panoramic views of the alpine landscape from the road’s high point at Bald Mountain Pass. There are also numerous lakes that offer splendid view including its namesake Mirror Lake.


Red Butte Gardens

It may seem cliché to suggest visiting the gardens. But if you are stuck in the city and need a quick change in environment to recharge your spirit, Red Butte doesn’t disappoint no matter the season. Take a sack lunch with you; there are some wonderfully tranquil little hideaways for lunching at the gardens


Wheeler Historic Farm

Wheeler Farm is a kids favorite with its mature leafy trees, open grassy space, and rustic buildings, and don’t forget the super cute farm animals Wheeler Farm is a great place for the family to visit. Remember to take your camera for this one. Wheeler farm is a photographers dream. 


Last, I want to share with you a secret little stop in Draper. Beautiful Leaves can be as close as the next neighborhood over. Go east on Wasatch Blvd. until you reach Hidden Valley Park. Follow the Bonneville Shoreline Trail as it wraps around the east bench where you'll find amazing views of the valley.


These are just a few of the magnitude of places Utah offers for enjoy fall. Where is your favorite place to see the beauty of fall?