Planning a trip for sept/oct 2009. I know it is mainly a rock area. However is there any/much wildlife, birds, plants in the area that time of year?

thanks.

Be a little more specific on what area of the state you are planning your trip.

Moab, arches, canyonlands. (thought it said in title, guess it got lost.).

also salt lake city area - will fly into to.

More trees further north from SLC to Moab. Your right there aren't trees(at least the way I think of trees around Moab). We did see a few deer in Arches NP. Moab is one of our favorite trips we have taken. if your adventurous check out www.deserthighlights.com

It will be good weather the time of year you are planning, meaning cool not hot. One negative thing, is that there won't be any rafting that time of year.

Joanel,

If you go at the end of Oct, you will see some fall color leaves. There are lots of trees, aspens up high (although they will be done by end of Oct), cottonwoods along streams and creeks turn bright yellow. A few other types too.

Flowers, probably not much. The flowering season is short in the desert - April and May. Some types go all summer, like Indian Paintbrush. Still it's such a dry area they are sparce by the rest of the US standards.

It's really a great time to visit and especially for photography. Get up and get some great shots at sunrise, sunset too.

Lots of wildlife, but again you have to be out early/late and away from the crowds to see it. You may see antelope on the road south heading into Moab from I-70.

Deer, elk (up high), cougars, jackrabbits and cottontails, tons of lizzards. You might see a snake, I never have, but they are there. Sidewinders and rattlers, some other non-poisonous types. If this concerns you, ask at the visitor's center about which trails you should pay special attention. Normally just the much less traveled ones.

Lots of birds, especially hawks.

Biking will be great too. Try it!

Have fun

I drove through Moab from SLC two days ago, so about the same time you'd be going through. Once you get south of Provo on Highway 6, the scenery is superb. There are trees just south of Provo in the mountains and they are yellow and red - not exactly east coast fall colors but still really pretty. The most amazing thing for me (I've done this drive before) is how quickly the landscape changes as you drive south.

I was headed for NM and detoured for only a few hours out to Dead Horse Point State Park, which offers some breathtaking scenery (worth the 25 mile detour from the highway to Moab). It was pretty hot even this late, about 80 during the day. Next time: Arches!

Great time of year to visit. If you have time, try Canyonlands, Arches, and Capitol Reef NP and Dead Horse SP. You won't be disappointed.