Fall Colors Along Nebo Loop

Maple Lake along Nebo Loop.

One of my favorite mountain drives follows the Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway, between the towns of Payson and Nephi. During summer it is lush and green and cool. During winter it sparkles with deep, white snow. And in fall, it dances with a rainbow of colors.

Nebo is one of the best fall color drives in the Western U.S.

I drove the loop this morning and enjoyed a great trip. We stopped and walked around Maple Lake, which is shown in one of my photos. The day was sunny and warm and the colors were spectacular.

It was also fun walking along area trails on a carpet of fallen leaves, with a canopy of color overhead.

Colors have now peaked on top of the mountain. There were still plenty of leaves on trees but more on the group. Within a couple weeks the colors will be gone at higher elevations in northern Utah.

Colors are now strong in northern Utah canyons and at high elevations in southern Utah. Peak viewing for these areas will happen during the next couple weeks.

Zion National Park posted this spectacular photo of colors along the Kolob Terrace Road.

Colors will peak in late October in Zion Canyon and other lower elevation spots in southern Utah.

I enjoy viewing the colors while I am also pursuing other adventures. Right now conditions are perfect to hike and bike trails all over Utah. Fishing is picking up in our streams and lakes, now that the heat of summer has waned and waters are cooling. The rifle elk hunt begins next week and the general season deer hunt will take place later in October.

This is a great time to adventure in Utah. I'll be out there - hope you can join me.

- Dave Webb