Thanksgiving falls on November 26 this year, which gives outdoor travelers a long weekend that lands in the sweet spot between fall color and winter snow. Campgrounds, lodges and trailheads are far less crowded than in summer, but holiday weekends still fill popular spots, so reservations matter. Some families make a hike part of the holiday itself, walking off the meal on a ranger-led trail, while others plan a full getaway that starts the Wednesday before. Daylight is short at this time of year, with sunsets before 5 p.m. in much of the country, so plan your hikes for the middle of the day and carry a headlamp. Mild destinations in the South and Southwest are safer bets for weather, while mountain areas can turn wintry without warning. Check road and trail conditions before you leave, pack layers, and tell someone your plans. Many state and national parks also offer holiday programs, so look at park calendars when choosing where to go. The seven trips below range from desert canyons to Appalachian gorges.
Red River Gorge in Daniel Boone National Forest is a sandstone wonderland of cliffs, natural arches and hardwood forest, and by Thanksgiving, the leaves have fallen and the views open up. The area contains more than 100 natural arches, including Natural Bridge, Gray's Arch and Sky Bridge, all accessible by trails that range from easy to strenuous. Rock climbers from around the world visit for the sport routes, and the gorge is considered one of the premier climbing destinations in the country. Daytime temperatures are cool, typically in the 40s and 50s Fahrenheit, which makes for comfortable hiking, but trails can be muddy or icy. Camping is available at Red River Gorge Geological Area campgrounds, or rent a cabin in the nearby towns of Slade and Stanton. The Natural Bridge State Resort Park offers a lodge and a skylift ride. Bring a headlamp, since days are short.
Tallulah Gorge State Park in northeast Georgia surrounds a canyon that drops nearly 1,000 feet and stretches about two miles. A suspension bridge crosses the gorge 80 feet above the rocky floor, and trails run along both rims, with stairways leading to viewpoints over the waterfalls. In the fall, the park hosts a ranger-led Thanksgiving hike, a long-running tradition aimed at working off the holiday meal. The gorge floor can be visited with a permit, and the number of permits is limited each day, so check ahead. Whitewater releases from the dam occur on select weekends in the spring and fall, drawing kayakers and paddlers. The hike down to the gorge floor is strenuous, with hundreds of stairs and steep sections, so be ready for a workout. The park's Interpretive Center provides information about the gorge's history, including the tightrope walk across it by Karl Wallenda in 1970. Camping and cabins are available at the state park. Cooler temperatures make for a comfortable hike.
Hocking Hills State Park in southeastern Ohio is a landscape of recessed caves, gorges and waterfalls carved into Blackhand sandstone, and the area is a popular fall and winter getaway. The famous trails include Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave and Cedar Falls, all within a short drive of each other. Ash Cave is a huge recess cave with a 90-foot waterfall at its head, and the path to it is flat and accessible. In late fall, the crowds thin, and the bare trees open up views of the gorge, while icicles begin to form on cliff edges by early winter. Cabin rentals are plentiful in the surrounding area, and lodging fills early for Thanksgiving weekend. Lodges in the area often serve holiday meals, so ask when you book. Trails can be muddy or icy and some stairs are slippery, so wear sturdy shoes. Hocking Hills is close to Columbus, about an hour away, so it is easy to reach. Some trails close for maintenance, so check the park's website.
Sedona's red rock country is at its most comfortable in late November, when daytime highs are typically in the 60s Fahrenheit and the summer crowds have thinned. The landscape is a blend of sandstone buttes, juniper forests and Oak Creek Canyon, which has creeks lined with golden cottonwoods and sycamores in the fall. Trails like Cathedral Rock, Devil's Bridge and the West Fork of Oak Creek attract visitors, and the Red Rock Pass or other required passes are needed at many trailheads. Mountain biking is another draw, with miles of slickrock and singletrack. The holiday weekend can be busy, so start early to find parking at popular trailheads, or use the Sedona Shuttle where available. Sedona is known for its vortex sites, which many visitors find spiritual, and for its clear skies, which are good for stargazing. Evenings are chilly, so bring a jacket. Lodging fills fast for the holiday weekend, so reserve early. Flagstaff is about 45 minutes north.
Yosemite Valley is spectacular at Thanksgiving, when crowds have eased and the granite walls, waterfalls and meadows are in their quiet season. The Ahwahnee, the park's historic lodge, hosts Thanksgiving dinners, and reservations fill far in advance. Daytime temperatures in the valley are typically in the 50s Fahrenheit, with cold nights, and snow is possible at higher elevations. Tioga Pass and Glacier Point Road close for the season, so the valley floor and the Mariposa Grove area are the main areas for visitors. Popular easy hikes include the Mist Trail to the base of Vernal Fall, though ice makes parts of the stairway hazardous, and the flat loop around the valley floor offers views of El Capitan and Half Dome. Waterfalls like Yosemite Falls may be low or dry in fall, but the cliffs are striking in any case. Chains may be required on park roads, so carry them. Lodging inside the park is limited, and outside options include El Portal, Midpines and Mariposa. Check the park's website for any entry reservations.
Rocky Mountain National Park is an excellent choice for those who want a taste of real winter at Thanksgiving. Trail Ridge Road, the high-elevation highway that crosses the park, closes for the season by this time, but the lower valleys around Estes Park remain open for hiking, wildlife viewing and snowshoeing. In late November, the elk rut has ended, but herds still gather in Moraine Park and Horseshoe Park. Popular short hikes include Bear Lake, Sprague Lake and Alberta Falls, with Glacier Gorge offering longer options for fit hikers. Snow can fall at any time, so microspikes, snowshoes and layers are necessary. Check the Colorado Avalanche Information Center before heading into steep terrain. The town of Estes Park hosts holiday events and offers lodging, restaurants and gear shops, and the Stanley Hotel is a historic landmark. Parking at Bear Lake is limited, and a shuttle might operate on select days. Check the park website for conditions and any timed-entry requirements.
Assateague Island is a thin barrier island on the Atlantic coast that is best known for its herds of wild horses, and late November is a quiet, atmospheric time to visit. The horses, often called ponies, roam the beach, dunes and marsh, and legend credits them to survivors of a shipwreck, though historians suspect they descended from animals pastured on the island by colonial settlers. The island is split between the Assateague Island National Seashore, managed by the National Park Service, and Assateague State Park in Maryland, and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. Daytime temperatures are cool, usually in the 50s Fahrenheit, with crisp ocean air, and the biting insects that plague the island in summer are gone. Visitors can walk the beach, paddle in the bay or drive on the beach with an over-sand permit in designated areas. Keep a safe distance from the horses, which can kick and bite, and never feed them. Camping is available at the national seashore, though facilities are limited in winter. Nearby Ocean City and Chincoteague provide lodging and seafood.
