Utah

On a foliage trip through the Guardsman Pass Scenic Backway outside Park City, be sure to pack a camera, some lunch, a light jacket, and a printout of this article. Most online map searches and GPS devices will steer you onto the interstates and state highways from Park City to Brighton since the Backway is only open during summer and fall. Indeed, you should still be cautious since summertime storms can quickly turn the drive into a harrowing trip.

Here's the route for a road trip that provides scenic vistas and stunning color at every turn. From Old Town in Park City, head south on Main Street and onto Highway 224. You'll pass Deer Valley Resort, and prepare for a steep climb that hits an altitude of 9700 feet at its highest point. Bear right at the fork onto Highway 190 and on into Brighton where the Wasatch-Cache National Forest provides more color.