Are there any places in the lower 48 that are good for climbing/hiking in Late November? Rockies/Cascades/Sierras? I am looking for either Hiking or Stable snow routes. I know snow in Colorado ROckies is very unstable in November. I am not sure about northern rockies and other ranges mentioned above. Any information would be really helpful.

Thanks!

Ash

Agree CA deserts are a good bet. Every year the past 4-5 years I've done Thanksgiving in Death Valley, Mojave, Saline Valley, etc... Lots of great hiking, peaks, mines, and other places to explore.

Why would you want to climb on Thanksgiving? Save it for Christmas.

Anyplace in the vast western desert at low-elevation is a delightful place to be in Late November: Outside of Tucson or Phoenix, AZ...western TX, including Guadalupe Mountains National Park or Big Bend National Park...more options than I have time to list here.

If you are worried about avalanche dangers, check out a book on backcountry skiing for your particular area. Most are excellent in pointing out the avalanche areas.

For example, if you are on Colorado, check out Lou Dawson's Guide to the Colorado 14er's. vol. 1 and 2. For each 14er, Dawson has a snow climb for each peak.

Check Bryce Canyon or Zion National Park - should have good weather and there's some nice climbing and hiking in the area.

Desert Southwest is great in November. Long nights make for great Astronomical viewing. Desert peaks, Grand Canyon, are good. Joshua Tree is filled with rock climbers. It's a good time.

That's a good time of year to hike in the Southeast. Even the most popular hikes are thinly populated, the foliage is mostly gone so the views are more expansive and the air is usually chilly but not oppressively hot like it can get in the summer.

The Sierra is pretty... whimsical that time of year. My friends and I like it that way, so we try to put on a "Thanksgiving Sierra Sufferfest" every year. Sometimes there are lots of people, sometimes there aren't any. Sometimes it's frigid, sometimes balmy. Sometimes there is a real snowpack, sometimes ankle-breaking stuff which obscures holes in talus, and sometimes times no snow at all. Exciting and recommended!

Thanks All for the comments I will consider your ideas about the California/southwest desert. However, I am looking for higher elevation hiking (12000 - 14000 ft) and I generally love the feeling of being surrounded by mountains rather than a few big hills surrounded by desert. I do appreciate the information though.