Best Fall Drive in Utah: Alpine Loop Scenic Byway
As leaves in the mountains start to change colors with the cooling temperatures, thousands are looking to enjoy their beautiful colors. Last fall, my wife and I took a scenic drive up the ever-popular Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. We weren’t the only ones who had that great idea. But regardless of the number of cars and people on the road, we enjoyed seeing yet another beautiful area of Utah’s landscapes.
If you’re looking to get out on a scenic drive – spring, summer or fall – the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway is the best fall drive in Utah. NOTE: The Alpine Loop is closed to vehicle traffic in the winter because of the heavy snow.
Here are some tips to help you know what to expect.
Starting the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway
As the name denotes, this scenic byway is a loop, meaning there are more than one access point to the Alpine Loop. We started our scenic drive via the American Fork Canyon entrance and ended at Provo Canyon – a 20-mile stretch of narrow, winding roads. I don’t think one way is better than the other, as we saw vehicles driving both directions of the narrow road.
Regardless of which side you start on, you should note that there is a fee to access the road – but it depends on what you’re plans are on whether you need to pay the fee or not.
RELATED POST: Enjoy the Mount Nebo Loop Scenic Byway – a short drive south from the Alpine Loop
There is no fee if you plan to drive through the area, meaning you won’t be making any stops. The $6 fee covers access to the day-use sites, parking areas and hiking trails. If you don’t pay the fee and get caught parking without paying, you will be ticketed. If you have an Annual National Parks pass, simply place that on your dashboard and there is no fee. I love having our annual pass for this very reason – unlimited access to the great outdoors.
From I-15, take Exit 283 for American Fork Canyon and Timpanogos Cave. Head east along highway 92 and that’ll take you all the way along the Alpine Loop. Highway 92 eventually connects to Highway 189 in Provo Canyon. From our home inn Draper, Utah, the drive is about 1.5 hours – but that’s if you don’t stop and enjoy the beautiful fall leaves.
Don’t Drive Stupid along the Alpine Loop
The Alpine Loop Scenic Drive is popular – especially in the fall as the leaves change colors (early October). But with all the beautiful colors, come the masses of people. During our drive, we did a short off-shoot to see Tibble Fork Reservoir and wondered why so many people were all dressed up. Women in dresses, kids in button up shirts, and a few men in suits were littering the hillside. It was fall family photo time and photographers and their subjects were out in full force.
A few Driving Tips to Keep You Safe
Along the road, here are a few tips you need to know about so you don’t hurt someone or slow down traffic with an accident:
- The driver needs to keep their eyes on the road. It’s easy to be distracted with all the beautiful colors and mountain peaks – but don’t drive if you’re distracted. Pull over if you want to sight-see. If there are no cars behind you, you can stop and take a photo or enjoy the views with the naked eye, but don’t hold up traffic.
- Wear your seatbelt. We saw people don’t some pretty stupid things. They were sitting out their car windows with camera phone in hand, filming and photographing their experience. With how narrow the roads are, it’s possible a truck’s mirror would hit a person hanging out their car window.
- Don’t take long vehicles (including towing trailers) on the Alpine Loop. The recommendations from several websites is to not exceed 30′ in length. The roads are narrow, but there are also some u-turn like areas. A long vehicle won’t be able to make the turn safely.
- Don’t speed. With all the sharp turns, a speeding car can surprise you around a corner. Stay on your side of the road and take corners cautiously. Sadly, there are a lot of stupid drivers out there.
The road is narrow. Sometimes it feels as though your tires are going to fall off the road or our drivers’ side mirror is going to smack an oncoming vehicle. It’s nail-biting in some spots – all the more reason to be alert and attentive if you’re in the driver’s seat.
Overnight Camping or Day Use Areas
In American Fork Canyon there are several spots you can use for an evening picnic or marshmallow roast. If you want to camp overnight, there are spots available for that, too. Some of the picnic areas are on offshoots of the Alpine Loop. For example, three picnic areas are on the east side of the road toward Tibble Fork – Echo, Roadhouse and Mile Rock Picnic areas. They are first-come, first-served.
If you want to camp overnight along the Alpine Loop, there are some designated campground areas you can explore. Some of the campsites are first-come, first-served, while others accept online reservations.
- Little Mill Campground
- Timpooneke Campground
- Altamont Campground (Group campsite only)
- Mount Timpanogos Campground (Near Aspen Grove)
Pullouts and Hiking/Biking Trails
Along the way there are numerous pullouts that allow you to get off the roadway. You’ll see many signs to remind you to only park in designated, numbered pullouts. You’ll also find larger parking areas, which are usually associated with a trailhead.
In American Fork Canyon, we saw a paved biking trail that ran through the Little Mill Campground. We also saw cyclists making their way up the canyon – kudos to them on that. So drivers need to be mindful of cyclists who are out to enjoy the fall colors as well. We caught brief glimpses of mountain bikers enjoying some trails on the loop, too.
Two trailheads used to summit Mount Timpanogos are along the Alpine Loop – Timpooneke and Aspen Grove. As you can see from the photo above, there is a large parking area at each trailhead. But during peak seasons, the parking areas may fill up as people make the trek to the top. It’s a challenging hike, so be prepared if you want to adventure to the summit.
If you want a more family friendly hike, you can stop at the Timpanogos Cave trailhead in American Fork Canyon. That’s a paved trail from the Visitor Center to the cave entrance. Cave tours are by reservation only, and are only offered during the summer (May-Sept).
You’ll find other hiking trails along the Alpine Loop, which are wonderful if you just want to get off the main road and out among the leaves.
Summary
I really enjoyed the Alpine Loop Scenic Drive. Although following our completion of the loop, I commented to my wife that I would enjoy the scenery more if I wasn’t the one driving. But not sure I’m ready to let her drive while I enjoy the scenery. Her driving kinda scares me. Don’t tell her I wrote that. 😉
If you want smaller crowds for your scenic drive, make the drive in the middle of the day. Weekdays are going to have fewer drivers than a weekend. And I think sunset is a popular time to visit, as there are a bazillion photographers hoping to capture the landscapes during the Golden Hour.
Regardless of when you make the drive, don’t rush your way through. Take the time to enjoy the beautiful colors and the majestic Utah mountains.
PIN THIS
