Fall Color Report

Click here to view the 2008 Fall Color Photo Contest Page

High Elevation - Alpine Brian Head, Cedar Breaks and Panguitch Lake Percent of Change: PAST PEAK Color Report: Due to the freezing temp and snow the leaves have all fallen. Click here for a high elevation view of current foliage

Mid Elevation - Sub-Alpine Parowan Canyon and Cedar Canyon Area Percent of Change: PAST PEAK Color Report: Fall leaf watchers are reporting that because of the colder temp the majority of the leaves have been lost. *Caution* Please be mindful of livestock that may be on the roadway, they are currently migrating to winter grazing areas.

Low Elevation - High Valley Cedar City and Kolob Canyons Area Percent of Change: MODERATE Color Report: Fall color observers are reporting that the leaves as you enter into Cedar Canyon just east of Cedar City and in Parowan Canyon along Hwy 143 still have great color. Zion National Park officials are reporting that the leaves in Kolob Canyons are in full color with lots of vibrant yellows and oranges. They are also reporting that the colors in the high elevations in east Zion along Hwy 9 are near peak and that the leaves in the main canyon are starting to change showing lots of yellow. Park Officials are expecting the trees along the canyon floor to peak around the last week in October and should last through the first of November. Click here for a low elevation view of current foliage

Foliage Color Key
Low	0 - 25% Color Change
Moderate	26-50% Color Change
Peak	75-99% Color Change
Past Peak	100% Color Change

Where in Southern Utah should I go to see the fall colors if I arrive in...?

Early September: This is the very early stage of the fall foliage season. You may be able to see some color near Brian Head and Cedar Breaks.

Mid September: Southern Utah's high elevation areas are traditionally experiencing 30% to 50% color change at this time. We suggest you visit the Cedar Breaks area.

Late September through early October: This is typically the best time to see the leaves in Southern Utah . The leaves around Brian Head and Cedar Breaks should be at peak and the Duck Creek, Navajo Lake and Panguitch Lake should also be near peak. A great fall color trip is what's known as the "Fall Color Loop". The Fall Color Loop begins in Parowan, where you start up Hwy 143 though Parowan Canyon go past Brian Head and turn east towards Panguitch Lake, then head south on Mammoth Creek Rd. to Hwy 14, turn west on Hwy 14 go past Duck Creek Village, Navajo Lake, Zion Overlook, then down Cedar Canyon into Cedar City.

Mid October : The colors in the high elevation generally are past peak at this time, however, there should be some great colors along Hwy 14 from Cedar City to the Zion Overlook. Parowan Canyon, along Hwy 143 should still have some great fall colors. Take the gravel road that leads to Vermillion Castle and Yankee Meadow as a nice side trip.

Late October through Mid November : Zion National Park offers the best fall color viewing at this time.

*Please note that this information does not imply any guarantee in respect to the current conditions of the fall foliage. This information is based upon average conditions over the last ten years.

Why Do The Colors Change?

Springtime and Plenty of Chlorophyll: Each spring, budding leaves contain green, red, orange and yellow pigments. Throughout the summer, the green is dominant due to chlorophyll production.

Day Length, Rainfall and Sugar: Many factors influence autumn coloration and the most important being day Length, followed by rainfall, sugar accumulation in the leaves, wind, and prolonged periods of cool, bright, sunny autumn weather without a killing frost. The brighter the light is during this period, the greater the production of these pigments in the leaves.

Cool Autumn Days: When the days of autumn are sunny and cool, and the nights are chilly but not freezing, the brightest colorations usually develop. This is when the production of chlorophyll, which is created by sunlight during photosynthesis, slows down. As sunlight hours decrease, the green starts to disappear and the other pigments; red, orange, yellow, scarlet and purple come alive.

Getting Ready for Winter: Meanwhile the tree produces a waxy substance to protect itself from the elements once a leaf separates from the branch. That's why leaves can withstand strong wind and rain during the summer, but come down so easily during a fall rainstorm. The key is to get a picture of your favorite tree when you see it-don't wait!

Easy tips for taking great fall color photos

Use a tripod - Put the camera on a tripod and if you don’t have a remote shutter release use the timer on your camera so that you are not touching the camera and possibly causing camera movement when the shutter snaps.

Choose the time of day -Early and late in the day are the best times to photograph outside. At these times of day, the light is diffused and gives a rich golden colorcast to the scene. If it is an overcast day, anytime is good for taking colorful fall photos because the clouds diffuse or soften the light which enhances the colors of the trees.

Include foreground objects - Objects in the foreground of a landscape give the image more depth. Include a tree branch, tree, person or large rock in the foreground to give the image a feeling of actually “being there.”

Shoot at different angles - Study the light and decide at what direction you want to photograph the scene. The image can have different effects depending on the angle of the light. Try avoiding direct frontal lighting.

Shoot from different positions - Get on the ground and shoot the subject from a low position. Try lying on your back and shooting up through the trees with the blue sky as the background.

Shoot at different zoom levels - Shoot the same subject at wide angle, medium telephoto and extreme telephoto if possible. Don’t forget about trying some close-ups as well. If you are using a digital point and shoot, put it in macro mode and get close for some dramatic, eye-popping effects.

Look for reflections in water - Reflections of colorful fall trees in the water can have a very dramatic effect. In the early morning or early evening there is usually less chance of wind. The still water from the lack of wind causes sharper, more colorful reflections.

Enjoy the time – Getting out in the country on a beautiful morning or evening is a great feeling. Enjoy the time, have fun and take a lot of photos.

How Do I Preserve Leaves?

There are different ways to preserve leaves. Our suggestion is to make a solution of one-third glycerin and two parts boiling water. Place the stems in the solution while it's still hot. Keep the leaves in the solution over night. Remove and dry the next day.

To press leaves, place them between sheets of newspaper and then under something heavy like a stack of books. You can also press leaves with a warm iron, but first place the leaves between tissue or wax paper. The color will last longer if you keep leaves our of direct sunlight and away from the air.

Fall Pictures Gallery

Click here for The Fall Color Photo Gallery