By late October or November, the fall rain has returned to Seattle. That leaves us looking for some sun, and we’re missing our summer hiking. This has often brought us to national parks in the Southwest US. Crowds have thinned and hikes that don’t work in the summer heat become doable.
Zion National Park
Angels Landing · The Subway · Kolob Canyons
November in Zion is quieter than the rest of the year and more varied than people expect. The Subway, Kolob Arch, and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway are easy to miss if you only follow the main canyon. Fall colors along La Verkin Creek and the red waterfalls on the Subway hike were the highlights.
Day hiking
Trip guides
Moab: Canyonlands & Arches
Island in the Sky · Needles District · Devil’s Garden
October in Moab puts you in two national parks without the summer crowds, and lets you do the hikes the Park Service recommends against in the heat. The Fiery Furnace, Syncline Loop, and Druid Arch all work better in the fall.
Day hiking
Bryce National Park
Navajo Loop · Peekaboo · Fairyland Loop
November at Bryce can be uncrowded.The low November casts beautiful, long shadows into the hoodoos for much of the day, and Thor’s Hammer turning intense orange at sunrise. Snow is possible above 8,000 feet; a light dusting transforms the landscape into something even more surreal.
Day hiking
Trip guides