Moab may not be the first place that comes to mind for fall color photography, but I’m here to tell you: it should be. From desert to mountains, our season starts near the end of September, continues through the beginning of November, and the kaleidoscope of colorful leaves is guaranteed to give your shutter finger a good workout.
In this post, I’ll guide you to five of my favorite spots around Moab for fall color photography, starting in the La Sal Mountains and working our way down to the high desert.
1. La Sal Mountain Loop Road
The “Loop Road,” as locals call it, passes through large stands of aspen trees and hillsides covered with Gambel oak—a colorful combination of foliage that commonly displays vibrant yellows, oranges, reds, and greens all at the same time.
Best Direction: Though the Loop Road can be driven in either direction, I strongly recommend driving counterclockwise from Moab, as some of the best views are found near the end as you descend into Castle Valley.
Gear Tip: Bring your long lens! Using a telephoto lens to extract small scenes from the grand landscape is my favorite tactic to deploy every autumn. My preferred lens for this type of photography is the Sigma 60–600mm. The huge range of focal lengths and razor-sharp optics allow for endless creative opportunities.
Essential Filter: A circular polarizing filter is essential to cut through glare and reflections on leaves, dramatically improving contrast and saturation.
2. Geyser Pass Road
Geyser Pass is a graded dirt road passable by almost any vehicle, accessible off the Loop Road. It ascends through massive stands of aspen trees, providing spectacular views of the high peaks above and Spanish Valley below, presided over by the Moab Rim.
Unique Compositions: Some areas were impacted by a wildfire a few years ago and have since begun the recovery process. Bright yellow leaves mingle with charred tree trunks, creating endless opportunities for interesting, intimate landscapes.
Don’t Forget to Look Down! I discovered some of my favorite autumn images on the forest floor, where fallen leaves arrange themselves in beautiful patterns.
3. Courthouse Wash (Arches National Park)
Leaving the mountains behind and heading into the heart of the desert, let’s go for a hike through Courthouse Wash in Arches National Park. Here you’ll find a perennial stream winding through a deep, narrow canyon supporting a healthy population of cottonwood trees.
Reflections & Cascades: In areas, the stream collects in calm pools that catch reflections of grand old cottonwoods exploding with yellow leaves against the reddish-orange sandstone canyon walls. You’ll also find small cascades that you can include in the foreground of images with colorful trees dancing along the stream bank.
Lens Selection: Pack lenses ranging from wide-angle to telephoto, as there are opportunities to use all of them.
Mastering Reflected Light: If you are unfamiliar with Canyon Country, you may not be familiar with reflected light. Courthouse Wash is a great place to photograph this phenomenon, as sandstone walls act like giant reflectors, bouncing rich, warm light into the canyon. This light causes the sandstone onto which it is reflected to glow, and camera sensors are especially sensitive to it (if you’ve ever seen a photo of a slot canyon, that is reflected light).
⚠️ Safety Note: Courthouse Wash is known to have areas of quicksand, and hikers have become trapped in it. Watch your step!
4. Grandstaff Canyon
This is one of the most popular hikes in Moab, and for good reason. The trail follows a perennial creek below sandstone walls and dead-ends at an idyllic grotto, above which sits a massive natural bridge.
Autumn Colors: From start to end, the canyon is filled with trees and bushes that display vivid colors in autumn. Even the poison ivy gets in on the action, often turning a deep red color that contrasts beautifully with the predominantly yellow cottonwood and birch trees.
Composition Strategy: I don’t usually enjoy out-and-back hikes, but this one is an exception because the canyon looks vastly different once you turn around and head back toward the trailhead. Focus on intimate landscapes here—look for contrasting colors, interesting patterns, and textures you can isolate from the greater landscape with a longer focal length.
5. Kane Creek Road
If you’re unable to do the hikes in Courthouse Wash or Grandstaff Canyon, you can still have a wonderful desert fall color experience by driving Kane Creek Road. As a bonus, there are several unique petroglyph panels viewable directly from the road or within a five-minute walk.
Driving Conditions: The road is paved for the first few miles before transitioning to graded dirt. If you continue past the point at which the canyon opens into a broad valley, the road becomes much rougher and is no longer navigable by passenger cars.
Moonflower Canyon: If you can manage a short hike, Moonflower Canyon is a great stop. You’ll find a petroglyph panel next to the parking area, and the canyon itself is filled with vibrant cottonwood trees.
Where to Shoot: When the pavement ends, Kane Creek flows intermittently in the small canyon on your right. The foliage within this canyon will be your primary target for the duration of your drive.
Pro Tips for Photographing Moab in Autumn
Dress in Layers: Temperatures in the La Sal Mountains can be 20–30 degrees cooler than down in town. If you’re headed into the mountains, dress in layers and pack warm clothes.
Prepare for Desert Hiking: Hiking in desert canyons is more difficult than you might anticipate. Be prepared to cross the creek multiple times and climb over or under fallen trees. Also, expect rapid changes in temperature—shaded canyon areas are often substantially cooler than spots in direct sunlight just a few feet away.
Work the Lighting: Overcast skies or shaded areas reduce dynamic range, making it easier to showcase subtle textures, patterns, and colors without dark shadows or blown highlights. However, when working in direct sunlight, look for backlit leaves—they glow brilliantly!
Don't Ditch the Tripod: Tripods seem to be falling out of favor, but I still regularly use my Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod, especially in autumn. It makes fine-tuning compositions much easier, and when photographing intimate landscapes, securing your framing is essential.
Plan Your Moab Autumn Photo Trip with eFotoGuides
Want precise locations, timing recommendations, and insider field notes for capturing Utah's red rock country? Take the guesswork out of your next photo run with our digital eFotoGuides.
Each guide delivers exact GPS coordinates, detailed sunrise and sunset strategies, seasonal foliage advice, and gear breakdowns for iconic locations across Moab, Arches, Canyonlands, and beyond.
👉 Explore the eFotoGuides Store Today and get ready to shoot portfolio-worthy images on your next adventure!