Wild Wasatch: A dry summer leaves its mark on fall color

Photo: TownLift // Kevin Cody

PARK CITY, UT — The Wasatch Back is already whispering autumn. In the higher elevations, Gambel oaks and bigtooth maples are starting to flash red and orange, while most aspens hold onto their green. But after a long, dry summer, the season ahead is likely to look different—quicker, muted, and less predictable.

KSL meteorologist Matt Johnson saw the shift firsthand this week. “To see the leaves this far along with a week left in August is pretty unordinary,” he wrote in a Facebook post after returning from a foliage tour of the Wasatch Back. Cascade Springs, which usually turns first, is running “almost 2–3 weeks earlier than normal.” Johnson added that in some places, “the leaves are just turning brown and falling off, no color change at all. The summer drought is really taking a toll on certain areas, while others are still green as ever. I can tell you right now this is going to be an interesting leaf season.”

Scientists say he’s right. Climate Central reports that drought can reshape fall color in different ways: severe dryness often causes trees to shut down photosynthesis early, producing leaves that brown and drop before pigments emerge, while more moderate drought can delay coloration and shorten the window for peak viewing. The result is an uneven, unpredictable palette—some trees flare briefly, others fade without fanfare.

But the story isn’t entirely written. The U.S. Forest Service explains that the brilliance of autumn depends on what happens in the weeks ahead. Warm, sunny days paired with cool, crisp nights—not yet freezing—trap sugars in the leaves, producing the bright reds of anthocyanins. Yellows and golds, carried by carotenoids, tend to shine through regardless. Without this balance, the season’s colors can appear muted or fleeting.

Taken together, the outlook suggests that fall in the Wasatch Back this year may be patchwork and short-lived. Some maples may catch fire and fade fast, aspens may hold green before dropping quickly, and oaks may curl brown without the expected blaze.

No matter how the colors play out this year—brilliant, muted, or fleeting—it’s still worth getting out on the trails to hike, ride, or simply stand still and take in the changing Wasatch.

Have photos/videos of Park City’s fall colors? Share with tips@townlift.com for a chance to be featured!