We arrived around 745 and the lot was about half full. I believe it opens at 7 but people start lining up prior. I do not know of any other parking nearby.

Arriving at 6 AM is highly recommend this time of year. There are several parking spaces outside the gates, which means you don’t have to wait for the attendant. His name is Bill if you meet him - very nice guy.

yup 7 round trip, hope you like it

Yes it's worth $10. You have toilets and picnic table and trash cans. Plus a great Trail. What else can a car full of people get for $10 ? Maybe a bottle of wate at Disney World.

End of October

Good morning Jamie! 4 total miles should be do-able in 2.5hrs. As Connie mentioned earlier, I'd time yourself to 1hr 15min in and then turn around to make sure. Time constraints might be time spent getting into the parking area, weather in early November, how many people on the trail and how much time you spend taking pictures, etc. I would think November would encounter less of a crowd since people from PHX are driving up to get away from the heat. There's plenty of shade and you'll enjoy your hike.

People do park on the side of the road. Personally I think they are crazy. Very narrow, curvy road. Arrive early. We have never had a problem.

Using hiking sticks or not is a personal preference, and in this case would also be dependent on the conditions. I am generally a one stick person but found two useful with the icy conditions in January. We saw many people without sticks - some struggling, some not - but I would recommend taking at least one, particularly if you are accustomed to using it. Cannot comment on afternoon parking other than when we were leaving the trail in the early afternoon, the parking lot was full. It is my understanding that the earlier you go, the better.

If you coming from Phoenix you will "feel" the traffic on your way to this point when hitting 89A as there is a main attraction on the way before the W Fork (Sliding Rock Park). It will give you a pulse of what is going on ahead. Might not be a bad idea to postpone for later your visit to the W. Fork if you are not doing the whole thing, why? Well, be aware that the three first miles of the total 8 miles trail (even less) has the most iconic places to see and great spots to rest under the vertical rocky wall with water running at your feet (it's on the first encounter with the river with the trail going left (but you need to take a right following the current. It's like 200 meters beautiful walk under a ceiling of rocks. You will be surprise how many people miss this cue. After that you can go back and follow the trail back). With that in mind and due the short version of the walk, you don't need to be there early and better late when the people have mostly left (later than noon of course). Now, By coming from Phoenix (South going North) on 89A, you can pass the parking lot of the trail and find (200-300 meters ahead) a side spaces used for parking (on your side of the road). It's unofficial but not illegal to park there (check for the signs that prohibit to do so close to the parking lot. Its a narrow side of the road space for maybe 15-20 cars the most (used as a last resource as it is hard to turn back to the official parking lot). Be aware that the lines of cars waiting to park are in line oriented North to South in case you want to wait in line. Now, If you are coming from Flagstaff, the entrance to the official parking lot will be on your side and also the line of car waiting to enter. But obviously, by coming this way you will have the chance to see the open spaces for parking on the other side of the road 200-300 meters before the parking lot, so you can turn around on the entrance to the parking lot (there is room for it) and go for those beside parking spots. I had the Red Rock Pass which doesn't works for official parking lots (you need to pay anyway for those parking's). There is no signs saying which Pass you need to park on the side of the road where is not signs prohibiting to do it and I saw no tickets on any of the cars that park there, including me. As long you are not in the actual road in this unofficial parking area you should be ok.

Yes there is shade from the trees