Autumn Updates - Park City Edition

Posted by Nikki Keye on Friday, September 22, 2023 at 7:01:22 AM By Nikki Keye / September 22, 2023 Comment

🍂 Autumn Update: Park City Edition!

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As the landscape dresses in its autumn hues, we're reminded of the joys that come with this time of year: the thrill of a scenic hike amidst the golden aspens, the comforting aromas of hot apple cider, and the coziness of a crackling fire. In this edition, we've handpicked some of the season's best offerings, from top fall destinations and events to recipes and home maintenance recommendations.

Hope these suggestions elevate your enjoyment of autumn in the Wasatch Back!

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Utah transforms into a canvas of radiant colors during the fall season, with destinations that beckon travelers and nature enthusiasts alike. Park City offers stunning mountain vistas throughout town and up at the local resorts. Elsewhere, the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway is not to be missed - offering a winding journey through glowing aspen forests with incredible views of the valleys and surrounding mountains. The photo below and many throughout this newsletter were taken by local photographer Brent Haddock. This one of the Alpine Loop was taken only a few days ago. Simply stunning!

Outside of Park City, Zion National Park showcases a contrast of brilliant foliage against its iconic red rock formations, while Fishlake National Forest is home to the renowned Pando, an ancient grove of quaking aspens set ablaze in golden splendor.

2023 FALL FOLIAGE MAP

The Fall Foliage Map by Smoky Mountains National Park is the ultimate visual planning guide to the annual progressive changing of the leaves. While no tool can be 100% accurate, this tool is meant to help travelers better time their trips to have the best opportunity of catching peak color each year. In our area, it looks like we'll reach peak peeping season in the next few weeks. Interact with the map here!

WHY DO LEAVES CHANGE COLOR & DROP IN THE FALL?

For much of the year, chlorophyll gives leaves their green color, as it helps convert sunlight into food for the tree. Without chlorophyll, leaves would always flaunt their autumn shades of gold, red, yellow, and brown. As autumn days grow shorter, trees produce less chlorophyll, unveiling these inherent colors. Compounds like carotenoids and anthocyanins also add to the spectrum of fall colors. To prepare for winter, trees form new cells at the base of leaf stems, gradually severing the flow of water and nutrients. Once this process is complete, leaves are cut off from their nourishment, causing them to weaken and eventually fall gracefully to the ground.

Learn more here!

FALL HIKES & DRIVES

There's something so enjoyable about donning a flannel shirt, a puffy vest, and hiking boots and going for a drive to find a trail or road less traveled. With the fall colors just starting to emerge, take advantage of the opportunity to go explore a new canyon or country road. We've compiled a list of our favorites for you.

See our top recommends!

WEBCAM LEAF CHECK!

Check out current fall color changes in
Park City's Main Street, Silver Star Plaza, and at our resorts!

Park City's Webcams
Park City Resort's Webcams
Deer Valley® Resort's Webcams

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SUNDANCE RESORT HARVEST MARKET
September 23-24 | 10am-4pm

The Sundance Harvest Market is a yearly festivity honoring the bounties of the harvest season. It showcases handpicked artisans and crafters, delectable cuisine, vibrant live tunes, and engaging activities for everyone to enjoy.

More info here!

SCARECROW FEST
September 30 | McPolin Farm

Come to the McPolin Farm and build your own scarecrow, displayed for everyone to see. You can also build your scarecrow at home and install it whenever you choose. Scarecrows will be on display along the Farm Trail through mid-October.

More info here!

RECYCLE UTAH'S HARVEST FEST
October 7 | 12pm-5pm

The 13th Harvest Festival at Cattlemen’s Hall in Oakley will feature a wide variety of vendors showcasing local goods and highlighting the area's unique charm, local cuisines, and local artistry complemented by kids' activities and live music.

More info here!

PARK CITY WINE FESTIVAL
October 5-7 | Various Venues

Perfect for wine and adventure enthusiasts, the weekend-long Park City Wine Festival goes beyond the Grand Tastings of 100+ wineries, with live music, dining and wine pairing events at amazing locations throughout town, educational wine seminars, and even scenic wine hikes!

See the full schedule!

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SOLAR ECLIPSE
Saturday, October 14 | Park City

The 2023 annual solar eclipse is on the horizon! The eclipse will begin around 9 AM and finish around noon, with totality occurring for three minutes beginning at 10:28 AM. During annual eclipse events, the moon appears smaller than the sun and does not completely obscure it, causing a radiant halo to appear around the moon, known as the “ring of fire.”

We are well-positioned in Utah to view this year's event. Keep your fingers crossed that we have clear skies! More Information here!

SALMON RUNS IN UTAH?

Many think salmon runs are just a Pacific Northwest thing, but Utah has its own annual Kokanee salmon run. Every fall, these fish swim up local streams to spawn! Click here for viewing locations or attend the Fish Lake Kokanee Salmon Viewing Event on Sept. 30 from 8 AM to noon. Can't make it? Watch on the Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources' Strawberry Reservoir webcam (currently down, but hopefully back soon!).

VOTE FOR PARK CITY'S BEST

It is that time of year when our friends at the Park Record ask everyone to chime in with their favorites in Park City and the Wasatch Back. This survey covers everything from local restaurants to building contractors. So if you have any favorites, we encourage you to participate in their survey, which is open through September 30th.

Vote for your favorites here! | The results will be published in Park City's Best magazine on November 18th.

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FALL RESTAURANT HOURS

A few of our local restaurants take a break during fall as they prep for the upcoming ski season, but most remain open, albeit often with adjusted hours. We encourage you to check out the Park City Restaurant Association's website for the latest info on fall schedules and hours for our local dining establishments.

SPICY PUMPKIN SOUP
WITH CURRY
by Copper Moose Farm

A creamy soup is always comforting! Add in fresh pumpkin and tasty spices, and it's something extraordinary. This recipe's wholesome ingredients will delight both your taste buds and your body.

Read the full recipe!

HOT SPICED APPLE CIDER
by Barefoot Contessa

Celebrate the fall apple harvest with a glass of hot spiced apple cider, which pairs perfectly with a cozy evening by the fireplace.

Read the full recipe!

GREEN CHILI MAC & CHEESE
by Purple Sage

This simple recipe takes a classic comfort food and gives it a western twist. If you have the time to roast some fresh Hatch Chiles on your own, it will taste even better!

Read the full recipe!

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The crisp fall evenings offer the perfect opportunity to get reacquainted with your fireplace! Don't forget to schedule an inspection and/or cleaning of your fireplace, and make sure you are stocked up on firewood before the snow starts flying.

MAD HATTER
CHIMNEY SWEEPS

Founded in 1982, Mad Hatter Chimney Sweeps have been offering fireplace inspections, repairs and service in Summit and Wasatch counties for over forty years. They service both wood burning and gas fireplaces.

ParkCityChimneySweeps.com

BD FIREWOOD
Monday, October 31 | Park City

BD Firewood is a locally owned and operated company that provides quality firewood in Summit and Wasatch counties. Now is the perfect time to get stocked up, so reach out to them to schedule a delivery.

More Information here!

For the home maintenance list-punchers out there, take this to the next level with Bob Villa's Fall Home Maintenance Checklist.

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We are entering the height of the Fall season here in the Wasatch Back, which means that winter is on the horizon. In fact, over Labor Day weekend we experienced our first snow of the season up in the high country, and there could be more on the way this weekend.

Look for our upcoming newsletter that will help you get prepared for the ski season, with dates and info for ski swaps, anticipated resort openings, and more.

Hope to see you out on the trails enjoying the gorgeous fall scenery and weather in the meantime!