Best Fall Activities for Utah Families

Written By Dania Ellingson

If you’re anything like me, by the time you get to the end of October there’s a part of you that panics at how fleeting the fall season is. I’m guessing I’m not alone in this, so I’ve compiled a list of the best activities for Utah kids and their families to soak in the beauty of a Utah fall!


DIY Family Fall Activities

Some of my favorite fall activities to do as a family are of the DIY variety. I think the energy of the season really adds its own magic into even the simplest activity.

Get Moving. Go for a family bike ride, neighborhood walk, or hike. See how many different shades of greens, yellows, oranges, and reds you can find. Notice together the smell of fall time, and the way that the light has started to get softer and the shadows longer. There is such a beauty in simply grounding yourself in the beauty of the season, even more so when the experience is shared with loved ones.

Tip: One of my favorite kid-friendly hikes is Buffalo Peak. This hike does have some steep sections, but they were fairly short and I found that it was those parts that gave my kids a real sense of having submitted a hike. Beautiful views of the valley from the top as well.

As a bonus, as you drive up Khyv Peak Road (formerly Squaw Peak Road) on the way to Buffalo Peak, there is a pull-off to the left with a large parking lot. This is a gorgeous location for posed family photos in the fall, as the entire mountainside turns red. My family has gone up there several times over the years with a tripod to take a quick shot, and the resulting photos are always a treasure.

Make Something. There are so many fun fall crafts and projects.

  • Make packing tape nature bracelets

  • Collect colorful leaves to press and preserve future projects

  • Make applesauce–it’s as easy as chopping and boiling some apples, and you really can’t beat the flavor of warm, homemade applesauce. You’ll get extra flavor credit if you get your apples local, just trust me on this one.

Recurring Fall Events

If you’re looking for an activity that has a little more structure than an at-home project but still want scheduling flexibility, check out these recurring seasonal events for Utah families.

  • Hee Haw Farms (Pleasant Grove)

    • Open through November 4!

      • Many pumpkin patches close on Halloween, so if you haven’t had a chance to get to a pumpkin patch this year, this gives you a little extra time!

    • Hayride, pumpkin patch, corn maze, petting zoo, zipline, corn pit.

    • Admission is $13. Can purchase tickets online.

  • KinderARTen (Neighborhood Art Center, Provo)

    • Wednesdays 10 AM - 2 PM

    • $5/child, $3/adult. You can also buy a punch pass with 10 entries for $30.

    • Themed art projects geared towards kids ages 4-6, all welcome. They also have open studio with free access to activities throughout the week!

  • Guided Nature Walk (Swaner Eco Center, Park City)

    • Saturdays 8:30-9:30 AM

    • Guided nature walk with the naturalists at the Swaner Eco Center, exploring wetland science, natural plant and animal species! Appropriate for all ages. 

Scheduled Fall Events

The colder, slower months are a great time to cozy up and create something. This fall, Utah has a wealth of family activities in the arts. Here are a few of my favorites:

P.S. Want to see one of my all-time favorite fall documentary sessions? Check out my blog post here, which features the photos I captured of the Homer family as they go through their morning routine. You’ll see Halloween costumes and leaves on the sidewalk, but more than anything I think you’ll feel the sense of a gentle October morning. It’s magic.

Dania Ellingson
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