Are you wondering if November is a good time to visit Utah? It sure is! November is considered a shoulder season for Utah. With ski season in Utah getting ready to kick off and crowds in the famous Big 5 National Parks diminishing, visiting Utah in November is a great month to plan a trip, especially if you love the outdoors!
Whether you’re looking to hike National Park trails, visit the famous Salt Flats of Utah, or hit the slopes at one of Utah’s ski resorts, November can be a fantastic month to explore Northern and Southern Utah. After all, there is SO much to see and do between the two!
When visiting Utah in November, you can expect colder to freezing temperatures. In terms of packing, layers will be your best bet as temperatures can vary from the morning to afternoon and into the night.
With 84,899 square miles to explore, Utah is a state that truly lives us to its “life elevated” slogan. So let’s get to it! Check out some amazing places to visit in Utah in November just below!
1. Bonneville Salt Flats
Stretching over 30,000 acres, the Bonneville Salt Flats is one of the most unique natural outdoor features located 1.5 hours from Salt Lake City.
The Bonneville Salt Flats are remnants of a once giant lake that eventually dried up, leaving massive amounts of salt deposits behind after the lake water evaporated.
Today, visitors can enjoy the Bonneville Salt Flats as a day trip from Salt Lake City or, on their Utah National Parks road trip route as they drive on i80.
The entrance is free and if the weather allows, you can even drive on the Salt Flats! However, in order to drive out onto the Salt Flats, the surface must be completely dry. If the Salt Flats are wet, you’ll need to avoid driving on them and just enjoy the pooled water reflecting photos and scenery you’ll get instead.
2. Park City
A great option if you are visiting Utah towards the end of November is Park City! While you can visit the town of Park City all year round, if you are wanting to hit the ski and snowboarding slopes, the end of November is when ski season officially kicks off!
Park City is a historic mountain town, located about 45 minutes southeast of Salt Lake City. Doted as having some of the best slopes and ski runs in Utah, Park City is a fantastic place to spend a few days skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, dog sledding, or enjoying the town’s historic and charming main street.
Note: If you want to ski or snowboard, definitely check the slope conditions before planning a visit to Park City. Even though the town may not get a ton of snow in November, Park City has a massive snowmaking system that can provide an epic snow surface for skiers and snowboarders in November!
3. Arches National Park
Located just outside of the Utah outdoor junkie town of Moab, Arches National Park is one of the five U.S. National Parks found within the state. Home to towering red rocks, winding hiking trails, and iconic sights like Delicate Arch, Arches National Park can be tackled in one day leaving you plenty of time to explore more of Utah in November!
Whether you drive Arches National Park Scenic Drive, hike Devil’s Garden Trail Primitive Loop to see Landscape Arch, or go stargazing in the park after the sunsets, a trip to Arches National Park in November will be light on crowds and full of amazing views.
4. Canyonlands National Park
Conveniently located about 30-40 minutes away from Arches National Park is Canyonlands National Park. Known for its dramatic desert landscape, towering buttes, and vast canyons carved by the Colorado River, Canyonlands is the largest national park in Utah
You can choose to visit all three sections of Canyonlands National Park: 1) Island in The Sky 2) Needles 2) The Maze, or opt to visit Island in The Sky, which is the most visited and accessible area of the National Park.
Whichever you choose, just be sure to not miss sunrise at Mesa Arch.
5. Capitol Reef National Park
Located nearby the town of Torrey, Utah you’ll find the golden-red sandstone formations of Capitol Reef National Park. Capitol Reef National Park is the second biggest national park in Utah and is home to scenic vistas like Panoramic Point and Sunset Point and awesome hiking trails like Cassidy Arch and Hickman Bridge.
You can drive Highway 24, the main road that runs through the park, to see some of the best sights in the park or pull over to see what ancient petroglyph etchings you can find.
Regardless of how you choose to spend your time in Capitol Reef, one thing is for sure, Capitol Reef is a fantastic destination to experience in Utah in November – just remember to dress warm 🙂
6. Bryce Canyon National Park
Utah is packed with epic sights and even better views, which is exactly what you’ll find at Bryce Canyon National Park. Home to the largest concentration of Hoo-Doo’s (spire-shaped rock formation) on the planet, Bryce Canyon is unlike any other National Park in Utah and the U.S.
You’ll enter the park and be greeted with an amphitheater full of hoo-doos of different shapes and sizes. You can walk the rim of the amphitheater to different viewpoints in the park, like Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, and Inspiration Point, or forgo walking the rim and opt for a different view of Bryce Canyon by getting up close and personal with the hoodoos by tackling the popular Queen’s Garden Trail.
Perfect for one or two days, visiting Bryce Canyon should be on everyone’s list of things to see in Utah list! Aside from November, Bryce Canyon is also one of the best places to visit in June.
7. Zion National Park
Consistently ranking in the top 10 most visited U.S. National Parks is none other than Zion National Park. Located in southern Utah in Springdale, Utah, if you plan to add Zion to your trip to Utah in November, you’ll need to plan your visit accordingly. Meaning booking your accommodations well in advance and if you want to hike the famous Angle’s Landing, getting your permits secured is a must.
When you visit Zion National Park, you’ll find towering steep red cliffs, amazing hiking trails and overlooks, waterfalls, emerald pools, and the famous “Narrows” River. Personal vehicles are not allowed within the park. Rather, you’ll need to use the Zion Park Shuttle (or walk) to each destination and trail within the park.
Allocating at least 2-3 is a must when planning your trip to Zion National Park. The amount of beauty and adventure that awaits you is why this park remains among the most visited parks in the U.S. It’s a must add to your USA bucketlist!
8. Utah State Parks (Dead Horse, Coral Pink Sand Dunes, and Goblin Valley)
While Utah may be known as home to 5 of the best National Parks in the U.S., Utah’s state parks are definitely not to be missed! Located throughout the state, Utah’s State Parks offer unbelievable valley views, beautiful geological formations, and vast sand dunes.
Some of Utah’s best and must-visit state parks are listed just below:
- Dead Horse State Park: Conveniently located right next to Canyonlands National Park is Dead Horse State Park. While the views are similar to those in Canyonlands, Dead Horse State Park is a great addition to your Utah itinerary!
- Goblin Valley State Park: Located along Utah’s Scenic Byway 24 in between Moab and Capitol Reef is Goblin Valley State Park. Visiting Goblin State Park is a perfect pitstop on your Utah road trip. You’ll find hoodoos (locally referred to as goblins, hence the park name) and other, rock formations and pinnacles.
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes: Located between Mount Carmel Junction and Kanab in southwestern Utah is Coral Pink Sand Dunes. Home to warm, pink sand dunes that cover around 3,370 acres and are estimated to be between 10,000 to 15,000 years old. Today, visitors can explore, hike, sandboard, and drive off-road vehicles over the dunes and the park!
9. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
The Grand Staircase–Escalante is a National Monument protecting the natural wonders that are the Grand Staircase, the Kaiparowits Plateau, and the Canyons in southern Utah. Established in 1996, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument sits along Scenic Utah Byway 12 between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks.
The area making up the National Monument is vast, so planning what you want to see and do must be done upfront to ensure you are visiting the correct areas within the National Monument.
The Canyons region of the Escalante National Monument is the most popular. For those who are looking to hike the slot canyons of Peek-a-boo and Spooky Gulch or Calf Creek Falls, the Canyon’s region of the National Monument is for you!
The area is rugged, offering amazing views of canyons, fascinating formations, rock arches, and red rock landscapes that you can only find in the southwest of the United States.
Conclusion
Whether you choose to visit Utah in November and spend all your time in the north, enjoying salt flats, ski towns, and slopes or opt to road trip through the state to see all five National Parks, Utah is a place that needs to be on everyone’s must-see list.
It’s a state full of adventure, packed full of scenery, and truly has something to enjoy for every type of traveler, family, and couple. To put it plainly, there’s no place quite like Utah!
