This time of year, an enthusiastic hiker needs to keep an eye on the calendar. Most of us love high-elevation hikes and try to wedge in a few before shorter days, school schedules and early snow conspire to make them impractical.

For such a place to go while the going is good, I recommend Bunker Creek Trail on Utah's Markagunt Plateau. The trail is good for putting miles on hiking boots or knobby bike tires, while enjoying spectacular scenery and one of the earliest foliage seasons in our region.