Autumn Availability at National Park Lodges

{{{EmbeddedGallery|gallery=44|align=right}}}Have you tried to book a stay at a national park lodge lately? I have, and was unsuccessful, as it seems everyone who plans farther ahead than me booked every last room.

So I was interested—interested enough to pass the information along to you—when I got a press release about fall room availability at a number of national parks in the Western U.S.

Here’s the rundown:

• Death Valley: You can find rooms at the Inn at Furnace Creek, the Ranch at Furnace Creek, and Stovepipe Wells Village during October and November.
• Grand Canyon: In November and December, there are rooms available at Grand Canyon lodges El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Kachina Lodge, and Thunderbird Lodge.
• Yellowstone: The park’s nine lodges all close sometime between late September and mid-October, and a few reopen for the winter season. But Xanterra reports availability at the Old Faithful Inn between October 1 and 17, and at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge between October 1 and October 25.
• Zion: Zion Lodge, which is open year-round, has rooms beginning in October.

Nature seekers and foliage fans in the Northeast can book a third night free at any of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s New England lodges and White Mountain huts on Sunday through Thursday nights.

Have you visited a national park during fall? Would you recommend it to others?