Great Basin in November: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Shoulder · VisitWhen score 75/100 · #4 of 12 months

November is a quiet month with trade-offs at Great Basin National Park: crowds run 9% of the July peak (2,230 average visits). Weather: highs average 48°F and lows 26°F, with 0.9″ of precipitation and 10.1 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Great Basin in November: what the park service says

November at Great Basin is the slide into winter quiet. Lehman Caves tours keep running, but not on Thanksgiving Day, and each tour takes at most 20 people and often sells out, so reserve on Recreation.gov. All visitors, infants included, need a ticket, and you must check in at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center at least five minutes before your tour or lose it. The park grounds are open around the clock all year.

Source: NPS 1, NPS 2, checked 2026-11-05.

Crowds in November

Great Basin averages 2,230 recreation visits in November — 9% of what July, the peak month, draws. Plan lodging and entries with that in mind — crowds are thin by this park's standards.

Weather & daylight

Expect cool days (highs average 48°F), and nights drop below freezing (lows average 26°F). It is typically dry (0.9″ of precipitation). Normal snowfall is 7″ — expect snow on the ground. Mid-month daylight runs 10.1 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station GREAT BASIN NP, NV US (0 mi from park coordinates, 6,850 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of November.

What to pack for Great Basin in November

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves — nights average 26°F, below freezing
• Traction devices (microspikes) and gaiters — 7″ normal snowfall (compare other options)
• Headlamp — only 10.1 hours of daylight in mid-November (compare other options)
• Insulated, waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 7″ of snow is normal this month

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Looking for a better window? The computed best months for Great Basin are March and April.

Also at their best in November

Other parks whose computed November verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• Canyonlands in November — 35% of peak crowds, highs 55°F, score 72/100
• Mammoth Cave in November — 33% of peak crowds, highs 61°F, score 72/100
• New River Gorge in November — 33% of peak crowds, highs 54°F, score 72/100
• Petrified Forest in November — 45% of peak crowds, highs 58°F, score 72/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in November · Last verified 2026-09-24