Utah’s Most Vibrant Fall Foliage Is Hiding in a Giant Living Organism

Step inside the Trembling Giant.

Inside the bully “ Trembling Giant , ” millions of leaves quiver at the slightest air , lift in unison . The soundscape is unlike anything else : These Wood do n’t just have an energy . Theyhum . The closest comparison is a firm rainfall , the kind that giddily drowns out all the reasons you needed to get off in the first position .

And herein is the deception of Pando — an all - encompassing , individual - soothing sense of interconnection that may only be find in this massive , single - tree diagram timberland insouthern Utah .

Pando’son the listing of Earth ’s most telling and beautiful botanic wonders . And each autumn , its golden canopy and stark white stem glister against crisp blue skies . The final result is a kaleidoscope of color that has lure in - the - knowvisitors to the Beehive Statefor X for a chance to tent in and around one of the with child living organisms on the satellite .

Pando aspen grove

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How this ancient “Trembling Giant” came to be

According to Friends of Pando , somewhere between 9,000 and 12,000 twelvemonth ago a single seed bourgeon inUtah ’s Fishlake National Forestand birthed the out of the question : the globe ’s large , heavy , and now oldest known being .

Pando is a quake aspen settlement . As far as colonies go , aspen are pretty vulgar — there are ton stretching fromAlaskatoMexico . But what makes Pando so special is its immense underground ascendent system that spans an stupefying 106 acres . That ’s a lot of solid ground for a individual tree . And if that wow gene is n’t impressive enough , Pando weighs over 13 million pounds ( even more when wet ) , making it the heaviest lifeform ever known .

Here ’s a painless Plant 101 translation of how Pando got so dang big : aspen restore themselves by cloning and suckering . In other words , they ’re perpetually spawning genetically identical halt and crowd them up some 80 foot above the ground . Because Pando has been doing this since at least the last Ice Age , it has more than 47,000 shank , and each one helps to feed the entire entity .

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This form of ontogenesis cook aspen plantation especially resilient to born disasters like forest fires , because their main life force is protected underground . And keep back Pando alive is a self-aggrandising deal for its devotees , as this picky patch of land does n’t have formal protections like other forests . From its vigorous root word to its heart - form leaves , Pando has long been a metaphor for timeless existence , harmoniousness , and endurance .

Pando translate to “ I spread ” in Latin , but not just because it creates tons of aspen babies . Each Pando arm carry the shaking of rustle leave rumble deep into its root system . Sort of like a emblematical whispering reminding us humans that force take up from within , it ’s a seat where both the residential district and individuals flourish by coming together .

How to get to Pando

Salt Lake Cityis your good starting point , whether you ’re flying or driving in . Renting a car atSLC Airportis super straightforward , and Fishlake Forest , Pando ’s mother country , is just three hours south of Utah ’s capital .

Plug “ Pando Aspen Tree ” into the GPS and you ’re off on a mostly straight shooting until you attain a smattering of turn - offs toward the ending of your journeying . Pando straddles State Route 25 , thescenic bywaythat ring the democratic Fish Lake ( Utah ’s largest ) , and there are a few spots along the main road where you may park and ramble around the plantation . ( Pando is denser on the west side but more approachable by car on the eastward , so take your pick . )

before long you ’ll see an official sign of the zodiac for Pando , and short afterward , a dirt road marked FR 1483 will pop up up on the right . Here you ’ll find a once - in - a - lifetime chance to cruise through a mega - being . subsequently , you’re able to keep abreast this path all the way to the water .

Pando aspen tree

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And if you ’re after more sweeping eyeshot , slue off UT-25 at FR-046 , a.k.a . Mytoge Mountain Road . It ’s constellate with sensational sentinel points brilliantly showcasing Pando ’s warm hue .

Experience fall foliage within a mega-organism

Pando is more than worth see any prison term of year , but as summer turn to fall , a prismatic yellowness aura surround the forest . And because Pando is a single being , the leaves light up in sync , enhancing that feeling of Earthly unity with an ambient incandescence . It ’s no wonder so many creative person flock here for inspiration .

Fishlake National Forest sits at an meridian of over 8,800 feet , so colour change occurs early in the time of year . Peak leaf - pop has slight pas seul , but optimal tree diagram - gazing generally hits mid - September through the first week of October . And Pando looks especially brilliant late in the twenty-four hour period , when the sunset reflects off the lake in spook of shimmering amber .

Camp and hike in and around Pando

Though a bit off - the - beat - itinerary , the sphere around Pando is , in fact , develop , as well as outfitted with peck of choice for camping and tramp . There are ahandful of state running campgroundson the western bank of Fish Lake , but onlyDoctor Creekoffers an up - come together - and - personal Pando clash . Here you may pitch your collapsible shelter directly on top of Pando ’s tooth root for a sincerely found autumnal experience . If a rustic Sir Oliver Lodge is more your speeding , Fish Lake Resortsis stocked with homey group cabins and an outdoorsy vibe .

Lakeshore National Recreation Trailcircles Fish Lake and the trailhead is perched just west of Doctor Creek Campground . you may thru - hike up all 20 miles of the Lakeshore Loop , deny some in high spirits - EL peaks for prime autumnal scenery , or take your clip and conquer it in sections . section three and four are the most intriguing , but bring the biggest reward . There are long switchbacks as you climbMytoge Mountain , giving way to a bumpy outcrop with awesome Pando - ramic vista .

Pando aspen tree