As the leaves turn and a chill starts to nip at your nose, Utah's state parks are rolling out their autumnal red carpet with a slew of seasonal activities, from geology hikes and moonlight paddles to ghost tours and bison roundups. There's a fall festival for every outdoor enthusiast. A recent post from Utah State Parks invites nature lovers to drink in the fall vistas and witness the parks' transformations.
Autumn brings unique opportunities to mingle with Utah's wilderness, Dead Horse Point State Park is offering Pumpkin Spice Coffee chats with a Park Ranger for a laid-back introduction to spooky season while Antelope Island State Park is blossoming into a hotspot with its 'Ranch Fall Fest,' where food trucks, face painting, and pony rides will enthusiastically usher in the festive spirit even if some activities might require you to pull out your wallet, as free events are mingling with the paid ones, making sure there's some fall fun for every budget, even if the traffic gets a little hectic around these popular events.
Nocturnal nature walks are also on the menu, featuring a slate of full moon hikes and stargazing events that take full advantage of Utah's dark skies. For a touch of the supernatural, brave souls can join the paranormal investigation of Camp Floyd, whose staff will help you hunt for orbs and mists, or attend the Haunted Homestead event at Frontier Homestead State Park Museum for cemetery tours and haunted-house thrills, proving that while Halloween's ghostly aura might traditionally grip our suburbs and city streets, it has a place amongst the great outdoors too.
