Autumn Adventure
By Tom Wharton and Brett Prettyman
The Salt Lake Tribune

Whether you embrace the change of seasons or dread the thought of the approaching winter, you can't deny the beauty of autumn in Utah. There are a million things to do this time of year, with all kinds of festivals, football games and school activities, but the outdoors beckons. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Capitol Reef National Park: With the exception of select cottonwood trees near water, there are not many leaves in this desert park. The exception is the historic fruit orchards of Fruita, some right in the main campground. There are 24 varieties of apples in the park's 22 orchards and visitors are allowed to pick whatever they want to eat before leaving the orchard. If they want to take some home, the cost is minimal (payment is on the honor system). The apples are traditionally harvested between Sept. 7 and Oct. 17. Call 435-425-3791 for a harvest report. Visit http://www.nps.gov/care for more information.

Zion National Park: Temperatures are a little more tolerable at Zion this time of year and crowds are typically smaller than in the summer months. The average high temperature makes a huge drop from 91 degrees in September to 78 in October. Fall colors usually start in September and peak in late October. Visit http:/www.nps.gov/zion.

Wasatch Mountain State Park: Take in the colors while playing golf on one of the four courses and 72 holes associated with the park. Wasatch Mountain has 139 camping/picnicking areas and also has a chalet building available for rent. The park offers a variety of evening ranger talks and special events for children. Visit http://www.stateparks.utah.gov for more information.

Boulder Mountain: While the 8,200-foot elevation of Singletree, the best of four developed Dixie National Forest campgrounds on Boulder Mountain, can make for cool fall nights, views of the alpine forest, Capitol Reef National Park and the distant Henry Mountains make it hard to beat as a fall destination. Take time to enjoy the short hike to Singletree Falls. Other campgrounds include Oak Creek, Pleasant Creek and Lower Bowns.

Monte Cristo: Located 22 miles southwest of Woodruff on State Highway 39, this 47-unit campground ranks among the best fall destinations along the Wasatch. Its location away from the highway and a bit farther than some Wasatch Front camping areas makes it an ideal place to find some quiet in a peaceful fall setting. Few places in Utah can match the fall colors of Monte Cristo.

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