In Search of Fall Colors

Yesterday after church Kent and I picked up a couple of cold sub sandwiches from Firehouse Subs and headed up I-15. We exited at Summit just south of Parowan and started our search for some Fall colors. The colors were just starting show on some of the trees; as we drove further up in elevation the trees were definitely changing. We saw more sheep than cars and even a few deer. We stopped for lunch before heading up Sugar Loaf Mountain, it was quiet and peaceful in the aspens. It only took us 18 minutes to get to the top, an easy ¼ mile hike although it climbs straight up. The skies were pretty clear so the views from the top were amazing. Up on top we were surrounded by Bristlecone pines which only grow in a few places in the Western United States.

We're on Summit Canyon Road in search of Fall colors

ah ha . . . now we're getting somewhere

Little did we know we'd be herding sheep

It's a clear day and the views are worth the drive

Aspens make it feel like Fall

We'll take a short hike to get a better view

Sugar Loaf is the little peak on the right at 9,998 ft.

Starting up Sugar Loaf with a nice view to the South

A short climb and we were up on top of Sugar Loaf in just minutes

The Tushar Mountains near Beaver are visible to from here

Looking towards Cedar Breaks

Heading back down the ridge

A close-up of a young Bristlecone pine

Remnants of an older Bristlecone pine

Cedar Breaks off in the distance

It's always fun to see some deer

Driving along we're getting close to BrianHead Ski Resort

The sun shining brightly through the aspens

Heading back through Parowan Canyon