4 Fall Hikes to Add to Your List
This blog post was created in partnership with Backcountry.com
I wait all year long for fall. Fall is magical and mysterious for me. It can be short lived but when it’s good it’s the best time for an adventure. Why? You might ask. Well, Fist of all the temperatures are more pleasant. To be honest, I have a hard time hiking in the heat of the summer. Also all the annoying bugs are pretty much gone, kids are back in school and there are less crowds in general. Most people get put off by colder temperatures, but if you have the right gear and clothing cold is not an issue, in my opinion. That’s why fall is a great time to go visit more popular places and hikes that otherwise would be buzzing with people making it next to impossible to score those coveted backcountry permits. The cherry on top for me is the foliage change. Warm color tones are my favorite so when the leaves turn yellow, orange and red it’s a feast for my eyes.
That’s why I always look forward and wait for fall. I want to share with you two hikes in California and two in Utah that I consider excellent fall hikes for all the reasons I described above. If you are looking for a fall adventure, these hikes are worth adding to your list.
Big Pine Lakes, CA
This trail is located in eatern Sierra Nevada. It is popular because of its beautiful glacial blue lakes with towering 14,000 cliffs above them, and the views are postcard worthy. The trail to get to the lakes climbs along the North Fork of Pine Creek, and there are actually 9 lakes along this trail (Lakes 1-7, Summit and Black Lakes). We hiked only to the Second Lake, because it is one of the prettiest of them, and probably because we were feeling a little lazy and just wanted to chill by the lake and enjoy the view for a while. Second Lake has a beautiful shoreline of smooth granite cliffs and boulders, and impressive Temple Crag rising above it.
The hike to the Second Lake is 4.8 miles with 2,200 feet of elevation gain, and there are beautiful fall colors along the trail in October. First and Second lakes are only a short distance from each other, and there are a number of great campsites around the Second Lake, which is popular amongst backpackers. You do need a backcountry permit to camp here so you can either reserve it in advance online or try for a walk-in permit at the Inyo National Forest visitor center. If you decide to camp here start hiking bright and early to get a better campsite. This hike was on my bucket list for a long time, and I am glad I was finally able to witness its beauty in person.
What I am wearing: Backcountry Timpanogos Tech Fleece Hoodie, Prana Kanab Pant, Salomon X Ultra GTX Hiking Shoe, Osprey Sirrus 24L Backpack
Dewey Point in Yosemite National Park, CA
Dewey Point hike is not a secret one because there are not many secret places in Yosemite National Park, but it’s overlooked by many visitors of the park because there are many other more popular and shorter/easier hikes and viewpoints. That being said, I am very happy that many other people are content with shorter hikes in the park. I personally really enjoyed this hike because this time of the year we saw only a handful of people on the trail. We also saw a black bear while hiking, and a few minutes later we saw two bear cubs which was really special since I’ve never seen them in the wild before. The hike is pretty chill with a minimal elevation gain and it’s roughly 4 miles one way (8.2 miles roundtrip). You will have spectacular views from Dewey Point down into the Yosemite Valley and especially El Captain in all its glory. If you would like to have an additional view of Bridalveil Falls you can continue up the trail for about half a mile to Crocker Point. I have to mention that when we visited Yosemite this time of the year falls were just a trickle. It was a bit disappointing but there are plenty of other stunning views to make up for it.
There are a number of great campsites near Dewey Point. You do need a backcountry permit and a bear canister to store your food, both of which can be obtained at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. Please follow all the bear safety guidelines and put all your food away properly, and only use the existing fire rings.
Enjoying sunset over the Yosemite Valley from this campsite was a real treat, and as the dark set in we could see tiny lights (climber’s headlamps) all over El Captain.
To get to the trailhead follow the Glacier Point Road for about 7.5 miles until you see a small sign on the left marking McGurk Meadow Trailhead. That being said, you can only do this hike when the Glacier Point Road is open (it closes due to snow). There is no official parking but there is a big pullout along the road that can accomodate about 10 cars.
Our Gear: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 Tent, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad, Mountain Hardwear Phantom Sleeping Bag:15 Degree Down, Jetboil MiniMo Stove
Fifth Water Hot Springs, UT
Fifth Water hot Springs or Diamond Fork Hot Springs in Utah is another popular destination. It’s one of the prettier hot springs I’ve been to and it’s an easy hike. In contrast with all the other hikes I’ve listed here, this hike doesn’t decrease in numbers during the fall season. It’s a perfect destination when the temperatures are cooler because it makes the hot springs even more enjoyable, and everyone is aware of it. Plus this hike is simply beautiful when trees change color, and ,in my opinion, it is one of the best fall hikes. Don’t expect to be alone here but if you have a very early start and come in the middle of the week there will be less people.
There are several milky blue pools with a waterfall at the end. Pools vary from hot to warm so you can find one with the temperature to your liking, and might even score one all to yourself for sometime. Water has a distinct sulfur smell recognizable even before approaching the springs. That’s how you know that you are almost there, but the smell doesn’t make the experience any less enjoyable.
The main pools are about 2.5 miles from the trailhead which is located in Diamond Fork Canyon(about an hour drive from Salt Lake). The trailhead has a good size parking and a bathroom. The road to the trailhead is closed during winter time but you can still do it by walking, biking or skiing the additional miles.
This is a special place for me because I went there with my husband on one of our first dates. We still think that this is one of the best hot springs we’ve been to. Please bring a garbage bag with you and collect trash on your hike out to help keep this place clean and beautiful.
What Zoey and I are wearing: Patagonia Hi-Loft Hooded Down Sweater, Fjallraven Byron Hat, Patagonia Reversible Tribbles Hooded Jacket, Prana Talula One-Piece Swimsuit
Coyote Gulch, Escalante, UT
Coyote Gulch was one of the first backpacking trips I did in the United States and to this day it remains one of my favorite places where I like to come back over and over again. In the past several years it has increased in popularity, and it is also more regulated in order to protect and preserve it.
There are different ways to hike into Coyote Gulch. You could hike in and out from the same trailhead or you could do it as a loop hike if you have another vehicle to carpool with in order to drop the car off at a different trailhead (Crack in the Wall). We did this hike via Hurricane Wash which is 12.3 miles one way to the Escalante River and it is relatively flat and straightforward. Also, you don’t have to go all the way to the river if you are planning to hike out the same way. Coyote Gulch is a magical place with towering canyon walls and overhangs, two arches, a natural bridge that looks like a coyote and several waterfalls. A good portion of the trail in the canyon will require to get your feet wet as you will be crossing water multiple times. I would recommend to bring a pair of sandals for that purpose in addition to your hiking shoes.
There are plenty of beautiful campsites throughout the canyon. Our favorite section is right by the Jacob Hamblin Arch which is about 7 miles in from the Hurricane Wash trailhead. You do need to obtain a free overnight backpacking permit at the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center in Escalante. No fires or pets are permitted in Coyote Gulch. You will also need to purchase and bring with you a Wag Bag or something similar in order to pack out and dispose of solid human waste. It is not allowed to bury human waste in the canyon. Please read more information and rules applying to this area on the National Park Service website.
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Hi, My name is Natasha Moon. I am a blogger, photographer, traveler and an adventure mom. I consider nature and experiences in the outdoors to be a much needed therapy for me and my family. I hope you can find inspiration and motivation on my blog.
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