Hey, six days there is better than a lot of people do. We always joke about the people we see with a camera hanging out the window, taking a video. We call it the six NP's in five days tour.
๐ When they get home, they can look at the videos and see what they should have seen when they were there.
From SLC, I'd head right down to Moab and spend your time there.
The biggest limitation in November in the short days. We have been out there for several Thanksgivings and sometimes we have to hit the trail when it's still pretty cool in the morning as the sun sets so early.
If you like hiking, I'd plan on two full days in Arches. Just hiking to the major arches like those in the windows section and Sand Dune and Broken Arch takes some time. Head up to Delicate Arch near sutset for great pictures. If you have the stamina, hike the trail out of Devils Garden. Lots of arches along the trail and the side trails. Return via the primative trail.
Definitely do a tour of the Island in the Sky at Canyonlands. There are some shorter hikes up there, but nothing major. Mesa Arch and Aztec Butte are sdcenic and interesting. At the end, Grandview Point is another sunset picture opportunity.
I don't know how much 4x4 experience you have, so the will determine what to try. One reasonablly non-technical route we love is the White Rim Trail around Island in the Sky. The White Rim is nearly 2000' lower than the Island in the Sky. Several short trails off of it. It will take most of a day to do it, so start early. The hardest part are the approaches to Murphy Hogback but any decent jeep can handle it. I've always dropped in on Shafer Trail and done the loop clockwise, but if you go down Mineral Bottom first, you can exit via the Potash Road which eventually parallels the Colorado River. There are some interesting petroglyphs on the walls alongside the road when you're eight or so miles below Potash.
Don't miss the drive up river along UT 128. The hike out to Fisher Towers is interesting. That time of year you might have the trail to yourselves.
Plenty of rooms available in November as the crowds have thinned. One interesting place we have stayed a couple of times is the Inca Inn. Funky might best describe it. Bathroom tile is from the 50's but it is clean. Rates quite high on TripAdvisor, but I think it's because it is quaint. Most of the big motel chains have places there.
For restaurants, we like the Moab Brewery. (Or is that because of the beer?) Pasta Jays has outdoor seating, and even in the fall, they have plastic windows they roll down to keep the heat in. If you're hungry, Zax's has a pizza/salad buffet. The Blu Pig looks interesting but we haven't been there yet.
If you have a shopping card from one of the Kroger affiliated stores, you can use it at City Market for gasoline. Generally the best prices in town.
Ken & Allison
2 Camping Cats (1 diabetic)
1996 4Runner, TRD Supercharger, Edelbrock headers
2007 Fleetwood Arcadia, Honda EU2000i
4 mountain bikes, 1 canoe, 4 tents, 8 sleeping bags, 2 backpacks
(You get the idea!)
