Utah has many incredible places to experience autumn, but few compare to hiking through a forest of golden aspens with the Wasatch Mountains rising all around you. One trail that really shines during the fall season is Stewart Falls near Sundance, Utah. Tucked away in the mountains above Provo Canyon, Stewart Falls combines colorful fall foliage, beautiful mountain scenery, and a spectacular waterfall at the end of the hike. If you’re looking for a fall adventure that offers a little bit of everything, this is definitely one to put on your list!
Stewart Falls Trailhead
N 40° 24’15.49 W 111° 36′ 20.53″
Decent-sized paved lot. There is also some parking on the side of the road outside the parking lot.
This hike requires a permit that can be purchased at the trailhead. You can also use the America the Beautiful pass.
Vault toilet at the trailhead.
Dogs are allowed on the Stewart Falls Trail, but they have to be on a leash.
4 miles R.T.
718 ft
Moderate.
Takes an average 2-3 hours
To reach the Stewart Falls trailhead, head up Provo Canyon on US-189 toward Sundance, Utah. Turn onto the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway (UT-92) near the Sundance Mountain Resort area and follow the road toward Aspen Grove. Watch for signs for the Stewart Falls Trailhead and Mount Timpanogos. The trailhead parking lot is located near Aspen Grove, just off the Alpine Loop.
Important: The Alpine Loop Scenic Byway is a seasonal road that typically closes during the winter. Before your visit, check current road conditions.
We hiked Stewart Falls in mid-October, and it was incredible. We were surrounded by tons of golden aspen trees. It reminded us of Bridal Veil Falls, not too far from here. Just a short distance from the trailhead, we reached 2 separate junctions. Both of these junctions are well-marked. We went left at both of these junctions to follow signs for Stewart Falls. Soon, we found ourselves in the first aspen grove. This spot seemed almost surreal as we watched the sunlit golden leaves dance in the light breeze.
This peaceful moment was short-lived because the trail started its ascent. We were gaining about 282 ft over the next mile. This climb is fairly consistent. Not only is this climb steep at times, but the Stewart Falls also started at 6,768 ft above sea level. I’m not gonna lie, we had to take quite a few breaks.
After the junction, we dove into our second Aspen Grove. We were still climbing, but I think that the beauty of our surroundings distracted us, at least a little bit. This area is prone to avalanches, and you can see its effect on the aspen trees. Some of the trees in the grove are almost bent into a J shape. It is pretty cool to see how resilient they are.
Fun fact! Aspen trees are some of the most fascinating trees in the American West! They look like individual trees scattered across a mountainside, but many of these trees are actually connected underground as parts of one enormous organism.
After the second Aspen Grove on Stewart Falls Trail, we soon reached the highest point of the trail at the 1.1-mile mark. Here the trail opens up, giving us some panoramic views of the area. However, as soon as the trail crested, we went right back into the third aspen grove. This grove was more enjoyable because it was mostly going downhill. This gave us a better chance to enjoy our surroundings.
Once we started our descent into the canyon, the Stewart Falls got steep quickly. While it wasn’t anywhere as steep as some of our other hikes like Moapa Peak or Pu’u Ohulehule, this trail can get slippery, especially if it rained. Make sure to wear grippy shoes. There is one section on the way down the Stewart Falls Trail that can be tricky. You have to make your way along a rocky ledge. It isn’t that difficult but can be dangerous if you fall.
Once we reached the bottom of the hill, we came to a viewpoint. Stewart Falls is 200 ft tall with two levels. At this viewpoint, we saw Stewart Falls in its entirety. If this view is all you want, you can turn back to the trailhead from here. However, if you want to get to the bottom of Stewart Falls, you’ll need to hike further, about 0.1 miles.
To get to the bottom of Stewart Falls, we descended a few more switchbacks. Once we reached the bottom of the valley, it was a simple stroll to the base of the falls. In our opinion, it was definitely worth it to go all the way to the bottom of the falls. Stewart Falls wasn’t flowing much at this time, but we bet it’s impressive during high flow. That being said, the view from here is still beautiful. On one side, you have the waterfalls. On the other side, you have a scenic view of the river. Once you’re done here, you can return the same way!
If you’re visiting this area, check out Albion Meadows to Cecret Lake, Willow Heights, Donut Falls, Gloria Falls, and, of course, Bridal Veil Falls.
Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to check out the related posts below for more inspiration on your upcoming adventures. While at it, follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel! We’ll love you forever!
These are the gear that we personally use and find helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
Our favorite biodegradable, eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen!
This is Vy's favorite hiking bag! It has tons of room for snacks and water!
It's always good to bring a GPS tracker with you. We use the Garmin inReach.
This jacket is packable into a super small and light little ball. Perfect for when you just need a little…
This jacket is packable into a super small and light little ball. Perfect for when you just need a little…
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
If you tend to have foot blisters on hikes, get this! We use this all the time.
These hiking poles are sturdy, and great to help keep your balance on short or longer hikes
Compact GoPro pole that extends to 25", perfect to bring on your adventure.
This is our go-to camera for all of our adventures. It comes with us everywhere!
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Hi! We are Dustin & Vy, the proud creators of Live That Adventure. We created this website because we wanted to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest. On here, you’ll find everything from hiking, canyoneering, kayaking, and snorkeling to adventure and travel tips, gear reviews, and bucket list items such as bungee jumping or wing walking. We’ll show you the ropes so you can do them too!
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