(Photo Credit: Kaya Lindsay) 

Fall has fallen in Moab. It hit us like a ton of bricks when we went from an average of 95 degrees and sunny to a high of 65 and cloudy. It’s time to pack up the river gear, and start pulling out your climbing and mountain biking equipment! If that’s not your style, then just dust off your sturdy hiking boots and be prepared to see the most beautiful vistas of the year. The temps in Moab have dropped, and with them, the summery green leaves. 

The oak and cottonwood trees have made the most dramatic changes recently. With their leaves turning from dark green to a spectacular mustard yellow. We highly recommend taking a trip to the La Sals for some hiking before the winter snow hits. And if it happens to have a dusting of snow on the peaks, well that might just make the stunning views even more beautiful. 

A Note On Current Conditions

It recently snowed up in the La Sals, and the snowpack is super low on the mountain. The colors are likely still beautiful, but perhaps covered in a light dusting of white!

Beautiful Places to Hike in the La Sals

(Photo Credit: Kaya Lindsay) 

Oowah Lake


(Photo Credit: Kaya Lindsay) 

“Oowah!” Is exactly the sound you will make when you walk up to Oowah lake to observe the fall colors. With free parking and bathrooms on site, Oowah lake is a great place to take your family for a short picnic or a nice lakeside hike. There’s a few hiking trails that lead off from the lake itself, or you can simply enjoy the views from the picnic tables nearby. It is a stunning drive up into the La Sals, and an enjoyable place to spend your afternoon. Bring a winter coat and a pair of sturdy hiking shoes! If you don’t have a pair, we can get you set up at Moab Gear Trader.

Geyser Pass Road (Currently Closed)

(Photo Credit: Kaya Lindsay) 

At the time of the writing of this article, Geyser Pass is closed, but it will be opening up at the end of October 2021, and it would be worth it to hike up to see the La Sals change colors even then. 

There are plenty of places to pull off on the side of the road in Geyser Pass and take a stroll to see the leaves, however, the best place would be the Geyser Pass Trailhead which you can get to by turning off the La Sal Loop road at Geyser Pass and driving until you reach the Geyser Pass Trailhead. Geyser Pass Trailhead can take you miles up into the La Sals for a stunning view of our little mountain range. 

La Sal Lookout Point

(Photo Credit: Kaya Lindsay) 

Not feeling like getting out of the car on a chilly fall afternoon? The La Sal Lookout Point is a stunning place to take a drive. Take the La Sal loop road up the windy mountain pass, enjoying the views of the changing leaves. Avoid the cows as you go, remember they live there and you’re just a visitor. Drive for about 30 minutes until you get to a large parking lot. Pull out on the left, park here, and enjoy the view of all of Castle Valley below you, and around you, the breathtaking mountain scenery. 

(Photo Credit: Kaya Lindsay) 

It is glorious in the La Sals right now, and fall won’t last forever. Take a drive, bring a thermos of hot chocolate, grab your windbreaker, dust off those hiking boots, and see the La Sals at one of the most beautiful times of the year.