There’s nothing quite like trekking in the desert in the autumn and winter. Daytime temps are nice, nights are crisp, and yellow leaves provide comparison to reddish rocks.
October, November, and December are the best times to see much of the desert Southwest. Summer’s oppressive heat has passed, making autumn and winter an ideal time to climb the mesas, spend more time in sunlight, and roam through hammering canyons in search of the next good opinion.
And that doesn’t mean that each and every day is identical. It may snow one day and hit 80 degrees the next. You never know what will happen in the desert in the shoulder season.
Interested? Read on for a couple of top places for desert trekking in the autumn and winter, together with some expert tips for how to find fun (and calmness and quiet) in town. We’ve also got a packing set of must-have gear items for trekking in town.
Huckaby Trail — Sedona, Arizona
Photo Credit: AlbertHerring via Wikimedia
Start at either Schnebly Hill Trailhead or Midgley Bridge to traverse a section of Oak Creek on this Gorgeous hike. Both options end around red stone formations, over ridges, and also to the base of Oak Creek Canyon.
There you can listen to the rush of Oak Creek and find some shade from sunlight under a few trees. The reddish rocks provide a picturesque backdrop for yellow and green leaves equally.
Before climbing up to Midgley Bridge, there is a creek crossing. Be careful when crossing the water, nor cross when the creek is high. This happens more often in the spring, however, use your best judgment. This is a great moderate hiking option that just requires basic route-finding skills and offers tons of great views.
More Details:
5.5-mile round trip
900 feet of altitude gain
Red Rock or America the Beautiful Pass Required for parking
Petroglyph Point Trail — Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Photo Credit: Rationalobserver via Wikimedia
Petroglyph Point is a brief loop trail that begins at Spruce Tree House, that is that the third-largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park. It passes several smaller ruins on the way to the biggest petroglyph panel from the park. The road is mostly flat, but you must be ready to hike up steep (and narrow) staircase carved from the canyon wall as well as rugged and sandy sections.
This is a excellent trail to really experience the beauty and culture of Mesa Verde, and the autumn is the best time to visit enjoy cooler temperatures. Howeveryou won’t need to think about while raining — half the attractiveness is in climbing the coastal paths and seeing the sun make its way around the waves of cliffs.
More Details:
2.5-mile round trip
Elevation Gain: 300 ft Because this trail is in a National Park, a National Parks Pass or some $20 per vehicle entrance fee is billed to get into the park. This is good for seven days of entrance to the park.
Find more details on Mesa Verde and other items to do in the park here.
Pa’rus Trail — Zion National Park, Utah
Photo Credit: Ilana Newman
Just take the Pa’rus trail at sunset for a few of the most gorgeous viewpoints that Zion has to offer you. This wheelchair-accessible paved road winds across the Virgin River — from the visitor center to Canyon Junction.
Take from the iconic views of the Watchman and other excellent rock features from down from the sea. Additionally, there are lots of great places to stop and hang out by the river.
This is a wonderful hiking or biking trail to take in some of the beauty of Zion National Park. It’s also a great place to watch for wildlife, that you won’t see here nearly as often throughout the bustling summertime.
More Details:
3.4-mile round trip (roughly 1.7 miles if you take the shuttle to Canyon Junction)
Elevation Gain: 157 feet
Wheelchair available, bicycles let National Parks Pass required or $35 entrance per automobile to Enter the park
Shuttle support Necessary to achieve Canyon Junction or to head into Zion Canyon ($1 on line booking fee required)
Fremont Gorge Overlook Trail — Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Photo Credit: CEBImagery via Flickr
Push past the Capitol Reef visitor center on Capitol Reef Scenic Drive to Obtain the unsigned trailhead to the Fremont Gorge Overlook. The trailhead is about 1.7 miles from the turnoff from Hwy 24, next to the blacksmith shop.
As one of the very strenuous trails in the park, this trail climbs to the top of a mesa that you’ll follow till you ascend once again to the overlook in the conclusion. The last opinion over Fremont Canyon is 360 degrees of spectacular desert scenery.
More Details:
4.3-mile round trip
Elevation Gain: 1,000 ft No fees necessary for parking or trekking Corona and Bowtie Arches — Moab, Utah
Photo Credit: Ilana Newman
This hike can get busy, like many approximately Moab. Nonetheless, it is well worth it, particularly for sunrise.
Hike across the red sand desert and into a broad canyon. To get to the arches, then you may ascend a wooden ladder about 10 feet to a massive ledge of stone. There there are two large arches and a great deal of space to wander about and explore.
More Details:
3-mile round trip
Elevation Gain: 500 ft No license Necessary for parking
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Desert Hiking Gear List
The weather can be unpredictable in the desert southwest in the fall and winter. Be prepared with lots of layers, as it could be 30 degrees in the morning and warm up to 70 by midday.
Water: Bring lots of water! A good rule of thumb is to bring one liter of water per hour of hiking or exercise.
A Hydro Flask water bottle can be a great thing to have in the desert. Having hot tea or coffee hot in the morning can be a lifesaver. Also, keeping water cool for the afternoon heat will often make you want to drink more water than if it was warm from the sun.
Footwear: Desert hiking can involve anything from deep sand, like you are on the beach, to rocky scrambling. Come prepared with lightweight shoes or boots with a good grip for whatever terrain you find. Look for a breathable shoe/boot that still provides stability and durability.
Check out the Merrell Zion Mid Hiking Boot for women and men for a perfect desert hiking boot for any season.
Baselayers: A T-shirt or long-sleeve shirt made out of wool or synthetic materials will keep you warm when the temps drop, even after sweating all day. Try the Patagonia Women’s Cool Trail Short Sleeve Shirt or Smartwool Merino 150 for women and men.
Insulation: Hiking in the desert southwest requires gear you may not bring in the summer — extra layers. Wear a fleece or light puffy over your base layers in the morning and evening to keep the chills away. Try the Patagonia Los Gatos Jacket for women and men, or opt for a puffy layer like the Arc’teryx Atom LT.
Wind/Rain Layer: It doesn’t often rain in the desert, but if it does (or if it snows), it’s good to be prepared. More likely, it will just be windy. Bring a lightweight wind or rain layer to be prepared for whatever you encounter on your hike.
Try the Outdoor Research Helium for men and women for a lightweight, packable wind and rain layer that you will always feel justified in bringing.
Navigation: Either bring a paper map (and a compass!) or a GPS-capable device to help navigate on your hike. Apps like Gaia or TopoMaps+ are great resources for your phone and can download maps offline to be used on the trail.
First Aid Kit: Even if you don’t think you will use it, throw it in your pack! You never need it, until you really need it. Check out this premade kit from Adventure Medical Kits, or make your own!
Backpack: Having the right pack can make or break your hike. Bring something big enough to fit all your water, your layers once you get warm, and plenty of snacks. (That’s really the only reason we go hiking, right?)
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