17 Festive Fall Activities in Utah for Your 2023 Fall Bucket List

As the leaves turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and gold, Utah transforms into a breathtaking autumn wonderland. From pumpkin patches to scenic drives, Utah offers a plethora of activities to celebrate this enchanting time of year. In this guide, we’ll take you on a journey through some of the best fall activities in Utah that will leave you awe-inspired and craving for more.

17 Festive Fall Activities in Utah

Fall Activities in Utah: Go for a Scenic Drive

What makes fall in Utah magical is the fall foliage against the backdrop of our majestic mountains. Our family loves to get up in the mountains as much as possible in the fall to enjoy the crisp, cool air and yellow aspen leaves.

There are virtually limitless places in Utah to go on a scenic drive to see the fall foliage. Like hiking in the fall, you really can’t go wrong with picking one of the canyons and going for a drive. There are a few that are known to be really spectacular that are still on our fall bucket list, like Logan Canyon or Nebo Loop. Take one of these scenic drives and you’ll see why they’re two of our absolute favorite fall activities in Utah.

1. Drive Guardsman Pass

Guardsman Pass is a road in Utah unlike any other. It’s the road that connects Big Cottonwood Canyon to Park City and takes you all the way up to almost 10,000 feet in elevation! It’s only open in the summer and fall and usually closes in early to mid-October depending on the snow. We like to start in Big Cottonwood (our kids always love pointing out the famous S-curve) and hiking around Silver Lake, which is a relatively flat and super easy trail for kids.

Guardsman Pass Road is near the top of the canyon just below Brighton, so from there you wind your way up and over the mountains and down into Park City. You quite literally drive on roads that get skied on in the winter, which is pretty cool. From Guardsman Pass Overlook you can see the top of Jupiter Lift in Park City Mountain Resort then you drive through Deer Valley on your down into town.

2. Drive the Alpine Loop

Driving the Alpine Loop is another one of our favorite fall traditions that tops our list of best fall activities in Utah because it’s such a spectacular place to see the fall foliage. We even dedicated an entire post to it! Make sure to check out our Alpine Loop Scenic Byway post for the 8 must-see stops along the way.

Fall Activities in Utah: Visit the Ski Resorts

3. Park City Alpine Slide

Head on over to Park City Mountain Resort for one of the best fall activities in Utah – riding the famous Alpine Slide and mountain roller coaster. I have fond memories of doing this as a kid and it remains one of my favorite things to do in the fall. You have to be at least 48 inches to drive the toboggan, but kids 35 inches and up and double up and ride with an adult. It costs $28 for adults and $17 for kids and is open Thursday-Sunday in the fall until October 2nd.

The scenery is spectacular and you get to enjoy it while riding up a chairlift. About halfway up the mountain, you hop off the lift and grab your sled and head over to the track. From there, you descend down 3,000 feet on a cement luge-like track on your sled! Don’t worry, you can go as fast or as slow as you like. You can control your speed with a lever on the front of the sled. But if you don’t push that lever full throttle the entire time then I don’t know if we can be friends. It’s definitely a thrill you’ll want to add to your Utah Bucket List.

4. Ride the lift at Sundance Resort (bonus: zip lining)

There’s a reason why Robert Redford bought Sundance in 1969 and committed to creating a community of artists and nature lovers there for the next five decades. The place is insanely beautiful and boasts one of the best views of all of Utah – Mount Timpanogos.

What you might not know is that the ski lifts aren’t just for skiing in the winter – they run when there’s no snow, too. It’s a bit pricey at $25 for adults and $23 for kids, but kids 5 and under are free. Unlike Park City, there’s no Alpine Slide ride on the way down. So just enjoy the ride up, walk around the summit, and eat lunch at the famous Bearclaw Cabin. You’ll see why we think it’s one of the best fall activities in Utah.

And if you’re feeling especially adventurous, you’ll want to add their zipline to your bucket list as well! It boasts over 2,100 feet of vertical drop – the most of any zipline in the United States. Ages 10+ can participate. It takes about 3 hours and costs $150. October 9th is the last day of the season.

Fall Activities in Utah: Go to a Fair

5. Utah State Fair

The Utah State Fair is the longest-running annual event in the state and it takes place the second week of September every year, almost like the unofficial kickoff of the fall season. It’s located at the State Fairgrounds near downtown Salt Lake and features everything you’d expect from a state fair – barnyard animals, magicians, clowns, musical acts, funnel cakes, and rides. If you’re feeling festive, you won’t want to miss the state fair.

Fall Activities in Utah: Sunflower Festivals

6. Rowley’s Red Barn Sunflower Festival (Aug 11-Sept 2, 2023)

Rowley’s Red Barn is located in Santaquin at the south end of Utah County. They have 3 acres of sunflowers to explore and it costs $10 for adults and $8 for kids. Admission comes with one bloom per person or you can pay extra to cut more flowers and create a bouquet to take home. It makes for a great backdrop for family photos and there are lots of props that you can use in your photos.

7. Cornbelly’s Spanish Fork Sunflower Festival (Sept 8-23, 2023)

One of our favorite fall activities in Utah is to take the kids to Cornbelly’s, so we were excited to learn in 2021 that they opened a second location in Spanish Fork! This one doesn’t have as many attractions as the one in Lehi but it is still really fun. They have over 15 acres of sunflowers and over a million sunflowers!

We loved walking through rows and rows of endless sunflowers and were amazed at how tall the grow. They also have a huge playground made out of repurposed farm equipment that the kids really enjoyed. It only costs $10.95 for adults and has more to offer than Rowley’s. Or you can get a Cornbelly’s season pass that covers unlimited visits to both locations for $78.95.

Make sure to add it to your Utah bucket list!

Fall Activities in Utah: Scarecrow Festival

8. Scarecrow Festival at Thanksgiving Point’s Ashton Gardens (Oct 16-21, 2023)

We have had a Thanksgiving Point family membership since we moved to Lehi in 2015. They have a lot of great attractions for kids but my personal favorite is the Ashton Gardens. Whether it’s the tulip festival in the spring or the Luminaria lights festival for Christmas, they do a fantastic job of making the botanical gardens fun to visit year round. But the Scarecrow Festival in October is one of our kids favorite fall activities in Utah.

People can design and build their own scarecrows and enter them in the week-long contest. Visitors can wander the gardens enjoying the different themed scarecrows and vote on their favorites. We’ve seen some hilarious scarecrows, from Thanos & the Avengers to Dwight Schrute from The Office to Jack Skellington from A Nightmare Before Christmas. My all-time favorite might be the life-size version of the Bernie Sander meme, though! The Scarecrow Festival is free for members, otherwise it’s $24 for adults and $18 for kids.

Fall Activities in Utah: Get Lost in a Corn Maze

9. Hee Haw Farms in Pleasant Grove

We first discovered Hee Haw Farms in Pleasant Grove on a field trip for our pre-schooler. It’s a great place to take little kids. They have a cool playground made from farm equipment that entertained our little ones for hours, plus a small petting zoo and a pumpkin patch.

The corn maze is just the right size for kids and not too difficult. It takes about 20 minutes from start to finish. And at just $12 per ticket, Hee Haw Farms is another great budget-friendly option for families.

What really makes Hee Haw unique is the giant pumpkin weigh-off and pumpkin drop. They have huge pumpkins that weight hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pounds, which they raise into the air on a crane and promptly drop. People love gathering to watch the smashing pumpkins (not be confused with the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins).

Utah actually has a TON of great corn mazes. Check out the Top 10 Best Corn Mazes in Utah. They are simply a-maize-ing!

Fall Activities in Utah: Go Fruit Picking at an Orchard

10. Burgess Orchards in Alpine, Utah

Fall and apple cider go together like peanut butter & jelly. September is generally the best time of year to go apple picking and there are lots of popular orchards in Utah that let you pick your own fruit. Burgess Orchards in the scenic town of Alpine has been growing peaches and apples since 1926. They grow multiple varieties of apples, including Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Golden Delicious. If you want to pick your own there’s a $10 entry fee per group plus $2-3/pound. They also sell fresh fruit products like jam and fresh ice cream sundaes, as well as apple cider and fresh donuts. We live just a few minutes away from Burgess Orchards so it’s always one of our favorite fall traditions and one of the best fall activities in Utah. It’s hard to beat their fresh apple cider and cinnamon sugar donuts.

11. Fruita Orchards in Capitol Reef National Park

Strolling through the orchards on a cool fall evening makes for an enjoyable time but if you’re looking for something a little more adventurous then head to the town of Fruita where you can get the best of both worlds – hike a slot canyon or go on an off-roading adventure in the morning followed by some apple picking and fresh fruit pie in the afternoon.

Fruita is a pioneer-era orchard inside Capitol Reef National Park so there’s lots of adventure to be had. And you won’t want to miss the fresh-baked apple pie at the Gifford Homestead. Capitol Reef is probably the most under-rated national park in Utah. It’s generally not very crowded but September is a very popular time to go because of the orchards so make sure to book your stay well in advance.

Check out our post on the best things to do at Capitol Reef National Park for more info!

Fall Activities in Utah: Go on a hike to see the fall foliage

One of the best ways to see the fall foliage in Utah is to go on a hike. Almost any hike in northern Utah will do. At higher elevations further up the canyon, you’ll see a lot of quaking aspen with their trademark yellow leaves. Millcreek Canyon, Emigration Canyon, Neff’s Canyon, Little & Big Cottonwood Canyon, American Fork Canyon… name a trail up those canyons and you can expect to see spectacular fall foliage. Try any one of them and you’ll see why going on a hike is one of the best fall activities in Utah! And even in the foothills there are some fantastic fall hikes. Here are a few of our favorites.

12. Hike Coyote Hollow in Corner Canyon, Draper

Corner Canyon might be more well-known for mountain biking (which is also a great fall activity that we didn’t list) but some of the trails can also be used for hiking. Coyote Hollow is a nice easy trail that we like to take our kids on. There’s no “destination” at the end of the hike, so just go as far as you feel comfortable, enjoy the views, then go back the way you came. You cross some cool little bridges and walk through beautiful orange and red scrub oak trees. We usually go to about the point where you can see the Draper Temple and the Salt Lake Valley and then turn around.

13. Hike Horsetail Falls in Alpine

The full trail for this hike is 4.6 miles round trip and is steep enough in parts that my calves were sore the next day. Horsetail Falls is an impressive waterfall and well worth the effort! But we’ve only done that hike without the kids. When we take the littles, we just go a little ways up to see the leaves but you also get the added bonus of some nice views of the town of Alpine and Utah Lake.

14. Hike the Bear Canyon Suspension Bridge in Draper

Bear Canyon Suspension Bridge is a hidden gem in Draper. It’s a tad on the long side for small kids at 3.3 miles. And there is zero shade because you’re hiking along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail for most of it, which is why we save it for the fall and don’t go in the summer. Too hot! But when the weather cools off and the leaves start the change, it’s a fun activity for the whole family. Whether you want to pretend it’s like a mini-Golden Gate Bridge in the middle of the mountains or a knight protecting his castle from bears like our son did, this hike is sure to get your imagination going.

Fall Activities in Utah: Take the Fam Out to a Fall Festival

15. Cross E. Ranch

Utah’s fall festivals may not have Lil’ Sebastian like the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana in Parks and Rec, but they do have everything else you could possibly think of – animals, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, apple cider, rides… you name it. The best fall festival in Salt Lake Valley is at Cross E. Ranch from Sept 23-Oct 29, 2022. Tickets start at $15.95 for adults and $10.95 for kids but are more expensive on weekends.

They host a sunflower festival in early September as well as the festival from late September through Halloween. People love visiting Cross E Ranch’s fall festival because of the pig racing, hay rides, animals, Utah-themed corn mazes, and tons of fun rides and attractions. It’s up there with the best fall activities in Utah!

16. Cornbelly’s

The best fall festival in Utah County is at Cornbelly’s in Lehi, from Sept 23 – Nov 5. Tickets are $18.95 during the week and $24.95 on weekends. It’s well worth the price – going to Cornbelly’s is one of the most festive ways to spend a fall evening.

Cornbelly’s is our favorite because it has over 60 attractions, rides, and games and there’s something for everyone. We’ve never been able to do everything in one visit. Our kids favorites are the giant slides and “Corn Cob Beach” (basically a huge pit filled with corn kernels that is surprisingly fun to play in). There’s even a light show every night and fireworks every Friday & Saturday in October.

We’ve gone every year since moving to Lehi in 2015. Back then it was kind of a hidden gem. Now, the secret is out and it’s definitely the place to be on a fall weekend night. This event is the closest thing in Utah that we get to the magic of Disneyland (sorry, Lagoon) which is why it tops our list for best fall activities in Utah!

Fall Activities in Utah: Celebrate Spooky Season in October

17. Witchfest at Gardner Village

Gardner Village has started advertising on billboards that they’re “Utah’s own silo experience”, referring to Magnolia Market at The Silos in Waco, Texas (made famous by Chip & Joanna Gaines). It’s an appropriate comparison – it’s a collection of boutique shops that sits on the site of an old mill from the 1800s. And every year from mid-September through Halloween, Gardner Village hosts Witchfest.

The shops all get decked out with witch displays and there’s a witch scavenger hunt for kids. Admission is free if you want to check out the displays and do some window shopping. One of Brittany’s favorite fall traditions is going to Witches Night Out with her sisters. This year it falls on the weekend of October 14-15 and again on October 28-29. So get your group of girls together, dress up like witches, and head out for a night of shopping & festivities.

For more spooky Halloween activities, try these 13 Kid-Friendly Halloween Activities & Pumpkin Patches.

Thanks for reading. Happy fall, y’all!

-JJ

PS It’s never too early to start planning for Christmas! Once you’re done with your fall bucket list, check out these 25 Christmas activities in Utah for your winter bucket list!

Our family is on a mission to experience the best our home state of Utah has to offer and help other families find affordable, kid-friendly adventures in the process. You can follow us on Instagram @theminivanbucketlist or download our free printable The Ultimate Family-Friendly Utah Bucket List with the top 100 things to do in Utah, both kid-friendly and more adventurous!