Guardsman Pass
Scenic drive · Utah
A steep, narrow road switchbacks to 9,717 feet between Big Cottonwood Canyon and the Heber Valley, linking Brighton to Midway through some of the Wasatch Range's densest aspen stands with views toward Park City and Deer Valley.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 1–October 5
Color builds from September 19 · mostly bare by October 25
Sampled at Guardsman Pass’s own coordinates and elevation (2961 m) rather than a regional average.
46 weather points cover Utah, and the model shifts their answer 5 days earlier, which is what it takes to match 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com. Against Utah's own climatology, the 2026 weather puts the peak 2 days earlier. How the forecast works
When to go to Guardsman Pass
You get about 23 days of color here, from the first turn through to roughly October 12. That runs roughly 9 days earlier than the rest of Utah. Most of that is elevation. It sits at 9,715 ft.
From Salt Lake City it is about 20 mi, close enough for a morning drive.
Guardsman Pass on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Utah, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in Utah
Leaves & views
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Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When does Guardsman Pass peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 1–October 5 (best estimate October 3). Color starts around September 19 and is mostly bare by October 25.
- How do I get to Guardsman Pass?
- The closest city is Salt Lake City, about 20 mi away. It's part of Utah's fall lineup.
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