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So, you’re planning a trip to Zion in the fall? Good choice!
I visited Zion in November, and the fall foliage was truly stunning and there were way less crowds. Win, win.
I will sing the praises of Zion in November from now to eternity. It truly can’t be missed.
Benefits of Visiting Zion in November
Fall colors. In Zion, there are beautiful autumn trees and rocks all around you. Zion is a gorgeous place in November and definitely worth a visit in your lifetime. I’d like to make a case for visiting in autumn as the fall colors are spectacular.
Beautiful weather. The cooler fall weather is much nicer than the hot summer temps. For example, July temperatures reach 100 ℉ on average (no, thank you).
Last chance for the shuttle. November is last month the shuttle runs, a good thing because the shuttles are a convenient and eco-friendly way to travel around the canyon.
Less crowds. Zion National Park consistently ranks in the top 10 most visited U.S. national parks. In 2023, over 4.6 million people visited Zion National Park, a truly staggering number. I guess word has gotten out about how beautiful this national park truly is. Summer is the most popular time to visit Zion, but visitation drops in November, the month I visited. I have first-hand experience that November brings a nice break from the crowds.
To illustrate this point, here are Zion’s visitation statistics from the most and least visited months as well as October and November, for comparison:
- June: 556,426 — MOST visited month
- October: 484,521 — still a lot of people
- November: 286,923 — nearly half as many!
- January: 130,503 — LEAST visited month
No matter when you visit, help protect the beauty of Zion National Park by taking the Zion Pledge.
Downsides to Visiting Zion in November
Waterfalls are but a trickle. There are some waterfalls on the trail to Emerald Pools, in the Narrows, and at Archangel Falls near the Subway. They will be fuller in the spring, but unfortunately, in the autumn, they are just a trickle.
May be too cold for the Narrows. The temperatures are colder in November, in the 60s ℉ on average, which may be too cold to do hikes through water such as The Narrows. If you do hike the Narrows, be prepared with proper gear and clothing.
3 Easy Hikes to See Fall Colors at Zion National Park
Hiking is the best way to discover Zion, and luckily there are three easy hikes that allow you to see Zion’s fall colors on full display.
What I love about easy hikes is that they’re usually short, so you can fit several into your one day in Zion. We were able to do three easy hikes in three different areas of Zion, allowing us to see more pretty fall trees and experience more of what Zion has to offer.
These three easy hikes below are incredibly beautiful in the fall and well worth doing while in Zion National Park in November.
1. Riverside Walk
Length: 2 miles RT
Elevation gain: 57 feet (flat)
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: At the Temple of Sinawava shuttle stop #9
The Riverside Walk trail is also the start of the trail for The Narrows. It goes for a mile on flat ground, and then you turn back once the trail merges with the river.
There are some beautiful canyons and trees that you’ll pass by on the trail, and it does go alongside the Virgin River (though you won’t have to walk through it).
Fall color report: In autumn, many of the trees’ leaves turn yellow, and it is a very beautiful sight.
2. Emerald Pools
Length: 2.5 miles RT to all three pools (lower, middle, and upper pools)
Elevation Gain: 350 feet
Difficulty: Easy to moderate (depending on how many pools you hike to)
Trailhead: At either shuttle stops #4 or #6 (#6 is recommend) — see note below
Note: Though this trail is usually accessed via the Zion Lodge shuttle stop #5, note that the bridge to the trailhead is currently closed. You can access the trail via shuttle stops #4 (Court of the Patriarchs) or #6 (The Grotto).
The Emerald Pools Trail is an incredible hike. We originally planned to just visit the lower pools but decided to keep going because we were enjoying the trail so much.
You’d normally start at the Lower Emerald Pool Trailhead, which is right across the bridge from Zion Lodge, but as mentioned, this bridge is currently closed. Instead, you can start at shuttle stop #6 (The Grotto), which won’t add much more time to your hike as you’ll be reaching the lower pool via a back way.
There are connecting trails to reach the middle and upper pools.
You’ll pass behind waterfalls, see pools of water, climb stone/dirt steps, and walk among gorgeous trees.
Fall color report: In autumn, the trees’ leaves are red and yellow, just gorgeous.
Highly, highly recommend this trail!
3. Canyon Overlook
Length: 1 mile RT
Elevation Gain: 163 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Off of Zion Park Blvd. (UT-9), just after exiting the Zion Mt. Carmel Tunnel’s east entrance, about a 15-minute drive from Zion Lodge
Canyon Overlook is a really interesting trail with a lot of fun obstacles — crossing bridges, walking under canyons and along cliff sides.
At the end, you’ll reach the overlook with amazing views of Zion below.
It’s only a mile-long, fairly flat hike, but it’s rated as moderate because of all the obstacles. My grandma did this hike with us and struggled a bit.
Fall color report: There are some fall trees on this trail, which blend in beautifully to the red and orange colored rocks.
How to park near this trail: No shuttles go to this trailhead and parking is very limited. Try to get here as early in the morning as possible if you decide to do this trail. We ended up parking on the side of the road a ways back from the trailhead (there is room on some parts of the road to do this). The parking headache is worth it.
Getting Around Zion and Using the Shuttles
During shuttle season (roughly May to the end of November), cars are forbidden on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. You’ll have to park at one of the designated parking lots and use the shuttles to get around.
Shuttles are free, and reservations are not required.
Cars can drive up the UT-9 (for example, to access Canyon Overlook).
Zion Lodge guests are allowed to drive into the lodge’s parking lot on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive but can’t go past that. Guests are given a gate access code to do this.
Definitely arrive early during shuttle season as parking lots can fill up.
See the NPS website for more information on the shuttles.
How Many Days to Stay in Zion?
It really depends on what time you’re able to arrive and how late you can stay. You can definitely do Zion in one full day. But you have to take into consideration how far you are driving to reach Zion and where you plan to stay the night afterward.
While you can do these three easy hikes in one full day, I’d suggest staying two nights at Zion so that you can take full advantage of that single day.
Essentially, you’ll need three days:
- First day to arrive and settle in
- Second day to explore
- Third day to head home
Where to Stay Near Zion National Park
Stay at Zion Lodge
I highly recommend staying at Zion Lodge, the only in-park lodging at Zion National Park. It gets booked far in advance, so try to book as soon as possible.
You’ll be staying in the park. Zion Lodge is right there in the middle of the beautiful canyons, among deer and wildlife.
You’ll see LOTS of deer. At night, dozens of deer come up on the hotel’s front lawn to graze. And we even spotted a deer (as well as rock climbers) from our room’s porch, which looked out to the canyon.
You’ll have a prime parking spot. Only guests of Zion Lodge are allowed to drive on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive up to the lodge, when shuttles are operating from May-November, so you’ll be given an access code to enter the gate.
You can dine in the lodge’s restaurants. The restaurants at the lodge (Red Rock Grill and Castle Dome Cafe) are great. We stayed during the pandemic so it was take-out only, but we found an empty table in front of a flickering fireplace in one of the lobbies. It’s a fond memory eating dinner there with the rest of my family.
I can’t say how much we loved our stay at Zion Lodge.
Stay in Springdale, UT
If you’re unable to book a room in Zion Lodge, your next best option is to book a hotel in Springdale, UT. Don’t fear as it’s just a stone’s throw away from the national park.
Here are some of the best-rated hotels in Springdale:
Explore Springdale, UT
Springdale, UT is a beautiful little town just outside Zion National Park. There are several great restaurants, coffee shops, and souvenir stores to check out.
Here are some restaurants we tried and would recommend:
- Deep Creek Coffee Company
- Cafe Soleil — cute ambience, great breakfast, and vegetarian options
- Oscar’s Cafe
Is It Worth Going to Zion National Park?
Yes, it’s definitely worth visiting Zion National Park, especially in November. It’s such a beautiful place!
Zion has incredible nature. Zion has some of the tallest sandstone cliffs in the world as well as famous hiking trails that draw in the crowds.
Zion has lots of history. It was designated a national park in 1919, but its history goes back much further as indigenous people once inhabited Zion thousands of years ago.
There is so much to learn and say about Zion. I’d recommend seeing it for yourself to truly understand how special it is.
Map of Fall Activities in Zion National Park
Entry and Fees
It costs $35 per vehicle to enter Zion National Park, and your entry is valid for one week.
If you plan to visit more than three national parks in a year, definitely get an America the Beautiful pass to save money.
Is Zion National Park open 24 hours? Yes, Zion is open 24 hours, every day of the year.
Does Zion National Park require reservations? No, reservations are not required to enter Zion National Park. You do, however, need to pay a fee upon entering.
Before You Go: Check Current Conditions
Always check current conditions at Zion National Park before setting out, especially if rain is on the horizon.
Beware of floods: Flash floods are known to sweep through the park, and you don’t want to get caught in that.
Check for closures: You’ll also need to stay in the know of any trail or road closures, so check the NPS site often before your trip.
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