It doesn’t take much to want to escape the holidays, especially those following a presidential election. You’re in an itchy wool sweater, tiptoeing around conversational booby traps under the guise of family tradition, and eating leftover ham to the point where it’s no longer appetizing. If you’re lucky enough to have Thursday and Friday off for the holiday, why not take advantage of the long weekend and take a three- or four-day backpacking trip?

Depending on where you’re located, you may have a drive ahead of you. By now, fair-weather hikers across the U.S. have likely considered hanging up their boots for the winter, but in the southern, desert parts of the country, November’s a great time to explore. The trails are quieter, and the brutal winter weather hasn’t completely set in yet, even through the end of the month. Taking a trip now means you’ll have plenty to discuss and pictures to share in all the holiday parties you’ll attend come December. Looking for a way to turn Thanksgiving into the best backpacking trip you’ve taken this year? Check out these trails, or find one near you on Gaia GPS or Trailforks. 

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Loop, Gila National Wilderness

On this 55-mile trail starting from Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, which was once a home to ancestral Puebloans, you’ll spend days hiking between skyscraping canyon walls and along rushing springs. This trail gets more and more rugged the farther you get from the cliff dwellings. Embrace the solitude: You might not see another person on this trail. Be sure to download a map and bring a paper backup because there aren’t many markers or signs on this route. Although the weather is perfect during the day, prepare for some chilly nights. In the area, forecasted temperature lows could dip below freezing on Thanksgiving weekend. Need cold-weather camping tips? Check out our guide here. 

Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop, Death Valley National Park

This summer was Death Valley’s hottest on record. There were nine consecutive days in July where the temperatures were above 125 degrees, and on July 7, the mercury climbed to 129 degrees. (The record-hottest temperature is 134 degrees, back in 1913, but that mark has been called into question.) Because it’s not very hospitable to hike here in the summer, leaving November the perfect time to visit the park that was once a Star Wars filming site. At times, this loop through Cottonwood and Marble canyons requires a little scrambling around steep canyon walls. As of mid-November, there is reliable water in Cottonwood Springs, where you can set up camp one night. Keep your eye out for wild horses roaming around, too. (Even if you don’t see the horses, you’ll definitely see their poop lining the trail.) Note: If your car only has 2WD, park at the staging area at the beginning of this trail and hike 2 miles along Cottonwood Canyon Road until it intersects with Marble Canyon Road. If your car has 4WD, you can start the hike right from that intersection. 

Rancherias Canyon, Big Bend Ranch State Park

Big Bend Ranch State Park has the same views and ecosystem as its neighboring national park, but luckily, it has a fraction of the crowds. This will certainly help when you’re looking for a trailhead parking spot during a holiday weekend. On this 21-mile, unmaintained hike, you’ll explore the drainage of Rancherias Canyon and all the native Chihuahuan Desert flora. The trail winds through dry wash flanked by plenty of distinctive, indigo-tinted Opuntia azurea cacti before ascending into the Bofecillos Mountains. Luckily, there are plenty of streams along this hike, too. The weather is forecast to be in the low 70s Thanksgiving weekend, so pack a swimming suit and after your hike, stop for a dip in the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool at the nearby Balmorhea State Park.

Paria Canyon, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area

Between 100-plus-foot-tall walls of Navajo Sandstone, you’ll find one of the best slot canyon trails in the American Southwest. Spend your holiday weekend hiking under massive cave amphitheaters, scrambling up red rocks, and through the Paria River. Yes, through the river: Most of the hiking is within the riverbed, like the Narrows trail in Zion National Park. That means that navigation’s pretty easy here. The risk of flash floods is highest in summer months, but even in fall, be sure to check Paria Canyon’s weather forecast, as well as the weather at Bryce Canyon. The national park flows into Paria’s watershed, so even if there isn’t rain in Paria, you could face swelling streams. The river runs year round; its depth varies each season. When in doubt, call the ranger station for advice. 

Because you’re spending a lot of time hiking through silty, rocky water where you can’t necessarily gauge exactly what’s underfoot, bring trekking poles to steady yourself as you go. Also, don’t expect to hike quickly on this trail. The terrain will slow you down, but that means you spend more time looking in awe up and around you. To camp on this trail, you’ll need a permit. They’re still available for Thanksgiving weekend, but act fast to snag one now.