State guide
When to catch Utahthrough the year
We follow 7 places in Utah for wildflowers, spring migration, fall foliage and winter wildlife: fall at Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef, winter at Fish Springs Refuge and spring at Arches and Bear River Refuge. Each timing below is the place's own source, in its words; none is a forecast.
When are you going?
Fall in Utah
- USUAL PEAK · FALL FOLIAGEZionAround mid-NovemberUtah
“around mid-November” · National Park Service ↗
- REGIONAL · FALL FOLIAGEBryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Cedar BreaksIn season at 3 Utah placesUtah
“about mid-September through October” · National Park Service ↗
Also good in fall
- ArchesWildflowers again in early fall, if there are a lot of summer monsoons
- Bear River RefugeOver 30,000 tundra swans, arriving in mid-October and staying through December
- Capitol ReefApple harvest
- Fish Springs RefugeTundra swans (mid-October into January)
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Winter in Utah
- SEASON · WINTER WILDLIFEFish Springs RefugeMid-October into JanuaryUtah
“mid-October into January” · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Also good in winter
- Fish Springs RefugeTundra swans (mid-October into January)
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Next peak here after winter
“around mid-November” · National Park Service ↗
Spring in Utah
- SEASON · WILDFLOWERSArchesGenerally the best months: April and MayUtah
“generally the best months: April and May” · National Park Service ↗
- SEASON · SPRING MIGRATIONBear River RefugeEarly April through mid-MayUtah
“early April through mid-May” · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Also good in spring
- ArchesWildflowers: April and May are generally the best months
- Bear River RefugeGeese and ducks begin to arrive, early March
- Fish Springs RefugeSpring shorebird migration (early April to mid-May)
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Next peak here after spring
“around mid-November” · National Park Service ↗
Summer in Utah
Good in summer
- ArchesCliffrose blooms, April to early November
- Bear River RefugeYoung birds: Canada goose goslings from May, then ducklings and young avocets and stilts in June and July
- Bryce CanyonAstronomy Festival
- Capitol ReefApricot harvest
- Cedar BreaksNight sky tours at Point Supreme
- Fish Springs RefugeDucklings and young avocets and stilts
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Next peak here after summer
“around mid-November” · National Park Service ↗
Places in Utah
- Spring
- Fall
- Winter
Places on this map, as a list
Planning a Utah trip
Towns to stay in
- Provo, UTBear River Refuge · 90 mi
- St. George, UTZion · 33 mi
- Logan, UTBear River Refuge · 20 mi
- Tooele, UTBear River Refuge · 68 mi
- Cedar City, UTCedar Breaks · 15 mi
Nearest place we follow, straight-line miles.
Current park alerts (NPS)
- Bryce Canyon: Trail Closures Due to Recent Rains ↗
- Bryce Canyon: Current Fire Restrictions ↗
- Capitol Reef: Elevated E. Coli levels - Fremont River and Sulphur Creek ↗
- Capitol Reef: Monsoon Season & Flash Floods ↗
- Zion: Watchman Trail closed ↗
- Zion: Large vehicle restrictions on Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway ↗
Browse by season and event
- Wildflowers · 1 place hereWildflowers, everywhere →
- Spring migration · 1 place hereSpring migration, everywhere →
- Fall foliage · 4 places hereFall foliage, everywhere →
- Winter wildlife · 1 place hereWinter wildlife, everywhere →
Questions people ask
Is every spring a good flower year at Arches?
No. Most desert flowers wait as seeds that only sprout after significant seasonal rain, so the show varies a lot from year to year, and how long it lasts depends on precipitation.Source: National Park Service, Arches wildflowers ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Can I step off the trail for a flower photo at Arches?
Please don't: stay on trails, rock or in washes. Stepping on sand off a trail destroys the living soil crust the plants depend on, and picking plants is prohibited.Source: National Park Service, Arches wildflowers ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When is the visitor center open at Bear River Refuge?
Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; it's closed Mondays and federal holidays. The Auto Tour Route and the trails are open sunrise to sunset all year, weather permitting.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Can I get out of my car on the Auto Tour Route at Bear River Refuge?
Only in designated areas: watching and photographing wildlife is allowed from the designated trails, the route itself and designated pullouts and parking. The route is one-way at 25 mph, so pull over to let others pass.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge: Auto Tour ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge: Rules and Policies ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Are there many aspens at Bryce Canyon?
No. The park says aspens are few and far between today; spruce and fir have shaded out groves that were once common.Source: National Park Service, Bryce Canyon quaking aspen ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Can it snow in October at Bryce Canyon?
Yes. Snowstorms in October are not unusual at Bryce Canyon, though many autumn days are sunny and pleasant.Source: National Park Service, Bryce Canyon weather ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Nearby state guides: Nevada · Colorado · Arizona · Wyoming
Utah in pictures
How we know
- Sep 29Park ServiceApril and May generally the best months; again in early fall after a wet monsoon; flowering depends on rainSource (opens National Park Service, Arches wildflowers in a new tab)
- Sep 29Park ServiceSeasons: geese and ducks from early March, shorebirds early April to mid-May, young birds May-July, fall shorebirds, tundra swans, winter raptorsSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge: Species (Seasons of Wildlife) in a new tab)
- Sep 27Park ServiceSouthern Utah's fall colors run from about mid-September through October (regional, no town named)Source (opens National Park Service, View fall colors (Cedar Breaks) in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceTundra swans mid-October into January; harriers, rough-legged hawks and short-eared owls December to March; spring shorebirdsSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge: Species (Seasons of Wildlife) in a new tab)
- Sep 30Park ServiceZion Canyon's fall colors usually peak around mid-November, depending on rainfall and temperaturesSource (opens National Park Service, Zion fall colors video in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServiceColor reaches Zion Canyon at the end of October and early November; busy May–September; monsoon July–SeptemberSource (opens National Park Service, Zion seasons in a new tab)
- National Park Service sources: no claim to original U.S. Government works.