Amazing Fall Colors Drive in Southern Utah - Zion NPS - Cedar Breaks National Monument - Brian Head

When moving from Minnesota to Utah, I knew we would be able to see some amazing views .. but defiantly thought I'd be missing out on some of the beauty that I grew up with.

I have never been a fan of the cold .. but I do LOVE the beauty of the changing colors during the fall. The amber, crimson & maroon colors .. Its unique. Its special.

The first weekend in October (2021), we took a drive & let me tell you .. I was amazed. The colors here, are just as, if not more beautiful than what I am use to seeing in Minnesota.

We started off the day by driving through Zion National Park.

You could spend an entire week in Zion & still not see everything.

We enjoy driving through the Mt Carmel Tunnel.

The tunnel is 1.1 miles long & was competed in 1930.

The benefit of this route, is you can drive your own vehicle, stop, get out & look around as you please.

You see popular spots such as the Mesa Checkerboard
& avoid riding the shuttle which currently requires riders to wear a mask

Mt Carmel Junction has a few shops where you can grab a sandwich, get gas, & a souvenir.

Head north towards Glendale.

There are various places to stop & this is where your really start to see the fall colors.
Pull off wherever you'd like & soak in the amazing views.
There are some great places to go fishing, have a picnic, & stretch your legs.

Continue north on HWY 89 & turn West at HWY 14.

Our next stop was at Navajo Lake .. A product of Volcanic Activity

This lake formed when a prehistoric lava flow demanded the east side of the valley. Water from Navajo Lake feeds two different watersheds - the Colorado River & the Great Basin. Water seeps through natural sinkholes in the lake bottom & travels through a series of underground channels - old lava slow tubes. These emerge as creeks near & far away.

**Try the Cascade Falls Trail .. 0.9 miles - an easy hike for the whole family**

Continuing North West to Cedar Breaks National Monument
There are various places to stop along this park.
This photo is from the North View Overlook. Elevation: 10,435.
I could sit here for hours with some binoculars.

During the Great Depression of the 1930's, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Young Men would work on improving & restoring public lands including Cedar Breaks. In exchange for hard work, they received a roof over their head & 3 meals a day. They could learn trades & complete high school while earning a significant wage. 3/4 of the wage was mailed to their families who often lived thousands of miles away.

**Try the Sunset Trail .. 2 miles round trip. This trail is paved wheelchair accessible. Leashed pets are welcome & it is kid/stroller friendly. **

What looks like a regular mountain, held some incredible views...
Brian Head Peak Overlook.. Elevation: 11,307 ft

We started driving up a regular dirt road that got pretty bumpy. A 4 door sedan made it up there but I wouldn't be driving your specialty car around. From the top of the mountain, you can see parts of Utah, Nevada & Arizona. We went from 80 degree weather in Zion to 40 degree weather at the top of the mountain. It even started snowing !

Some of the incredible views from the top of Brian Head

Heading back down, we dropped elevation pretty quickly. We entered the town of Brian Head which is Elev. 9,600 ft. This town consists of some restaurants, a bathroom stop, & even a ski lift.

Depending on where you live or are staying in the area determines where you head from here. You can hop on I-15 North towards Salt Lake City, or head south towards Cedar City & St George.

This was the perfect day spent with my hubby. You could just take the drive in a few hours or make lots of stops with plenty of hikes & spend the whole day like we did. Whichever you choose ... it will be a day to remember !

If you've been here before.. which stop was your favorite?
If you're adding this to your travel list, which spot are you most drawn to?
Drop a comment below or reach out to me!