Cooler camping: Explore Utah national parks in the fall

Southern Utah’s national parks are often overcrowded and overheated during the summer months. But once temperatures start dropping? They become go-to spots for the best fall camping in Utah. Whether it’s for a few days over a school break or just a quick weekend, you can’t beat the weather or the scenery. 

Pack up your tent, your hiking shoes and some beef jerky, it’s time to get out to explore incredible landscapes and sleep among the stars. Just remember to bring a sweater too.

Arches National Park

Though leafy trees are sparse in Arches, the few with golden yellow and deep reds provide a beautiful contrast to the sandstone rocks, making it a unique setting to see fall foliage while camping in Utah. There is only one campground inside the park — Devils Garden — but there are plenty of other campgrounds in nearby Moab.

Be sure to make reservations, as timed entry passes are required through October 31. However, you can enter without one before 7 a.m. and after 4 p.m. Not a problem if you’re camping with kids — they’ll be up at the crack of dawn anyway.

Overnight temperatures can dip to the low 40s in October, so if you’re camping in a tent, be sure to bring gear to keep you warm: heavy sleeping bag, bag blanket, an air mattress or a cot to keep you off the cold ground.

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Bryce Canyon National Park

From late September to mid-October, Bryce becomes a kaleidoscope of fall color, with brilliant yellows and varied reds on the quaking aspens, cottonwoods and oaks. Camp at higher elevations to see the first signs of fall as early as September.

You can camp within the park at either the North Campground or Sunset Campground. Both are located near the Bryce Canyon Lodge. Park your car at your camp site, then ride the free shuttle (through mid-October) to the popular hikes. To the west of Bryce, hike Thunder Mountain Trail in Red Canyon for a birdseye view of the spires and seasonal color. 

Kodachrome Basin State Park

For fewer crowds but scenery similar to Bryce, camp at Kodachrome. The hills turn a golden yellow in mid-September — a spectacular view to wake up to. There are several campsites within the park, most with standard hookups.

Bring along your mountain bikes and try the Panorama Trail Long Loop, the Grand Parade Trail, or cover both on the 9.3 kilometer Full Loop. Along the route you’ll see two caves and the Ballerina Spire.

After eating your hard-earned marshmallows, spend some time stargazing. The sky isn’t any bigger, but it sure looks like it is.

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See a bounty of rich colors when you overlook Canyonlands in the fall.

Canyonlands National Park

With daytime temperatures in the 70s and low 80s, fall is a much more pleasant time to hit Canyonlands. There isn’t much foliage, but who needs leaves when you have rocks in rich color? If you are pining for something other than coral orange, you’ll find some cottonwoods wearing yellow along the rivers.

Camping is limited in Canyonlands, with only 12 sites at Willow Flat Campground and 26 sites at The Needles. You may have better luck securing a spot at nearby Dead Horse Point State Park. And from late October to early November, you’ll catch some exceptional fall color there too. 

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Capitol Reef National Park

One of the lesser visited national parks in Utah, Capitol Reef is even quieter come fall. For a unique adventure, skip the tent and camp a night or two in a teepee or a Conestoga wagon near the park.

If you have the time, or your route allows, drive along Scenic Byway 12. Beautiful anytime of year, in the fall you’ll find vivid red and yellow oak trees and long yellow grass on either side of the road. They provide a stunning contrast to the colorful rock and vivid blue sky.

Goblin Valley State Park

For some otherworldly camping, head to Goblin Valley, where the desert park is chock-full of red-rock hoodoos. By October, the average daily high drops to the upper 60s, so you can investigate the unusual landscape in sweat-free comfort. 

There is just one campground at Goblin, with both tent pads and RV spaces. But if you want to glamp it, or you’re camping in late October or early November, you might try one of the park’s two yurts. For the evenings, bring a coat for bundling, because you’ll want to sit out under the canopy of stars.

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Zion National Park is much cooler and less crowded in late fall.

Zion National Park

Nearly half a million visitors make their way to Zion in October, making it one of the most popular Utah national parks in fall. But visitor numbers drop to nearly half that in the next month, so you can actually take your time snapping pictures. Another bonus: Tougher hikes such as Angels Landing don’t seem nearly as rough when temperatures are in the mid-50s. 

We recommend skipping The Narrows this time of year — unless you have protective clothing such as neoprene socks — as the water temperature is pretty frigid. But the adjacent Riverside Walk should have some outstanding fall foliage, which is usually vibrant through early November.

If you don’t own one, you may want to rent an RV in Utah for camping. Overnight lows can drop to near freezing in November.

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Prepare for fall camping in Utah

Do you have everything you’ll need for a worry-free campout? See what you might have missed with our complete checklist. Then find deals on used camping gear on Salt Lake’s classifieds site, KSL. 

Not seeing the camp chairs or camp stove you want? You can put together a wishlist of sorts when you have a KSL.com account. Use the Saved Search feature and you’ll be notified when an item is listed. 

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