3 free nights in southern Utah
#1
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3 free nights in southern Utah
I am planning a tone week trip to Southern Utah in early June. I'm spending 2 nights in Zion at the beginning and one night in Bryce at the end.
I have three free nights in the middle.
I don't want to go to the Grand Canyon this trip.
Also will skip Glen Canyon/oops I mean Lake Powell.
I'd like to visit some of the other parks in south central or south eastern Utah, but would like to avoid the mountain bikers and other invasive recreators.
Any suggestions?
I have three free nights in the middle.
I don't want to go to the Grand Canyon this trip.
Also will skip Glen Canyon/oops I mean Lake Powell.
I'd like to visit some of the other parks in south central or south eastern Utah, but would like to avoid the mountain bikers and other invasive recreators.
Any suggestions?
#3
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Capitol Reef National Park via scenic Hwy 12 is your best bet for one or two nights with out driving to far.
Capitol Reef is 187 miles from Zion and you go right by Bryce and I would drive back the same way because the scenery is incrediable and you get different perspectives going the different directions.
Arches was mentioned but that's 365 miles from Zion (one way) so you would spend most of your free time driving back and forth and wouldn't get much time to spend there.
Cedar Breaks National Monument is ok, but it's just a mini Bryce and you would be better to just spend another day in Bryce.
Krodachrome State Park is near Bryce and it's an OK park.
Snow Canyon State Park just outside of St. George is a scenic park.
Just south of Cedar City is the Kolob section of Zion National Park.
Monument Valley is about 250 miles and you would go past Lake Powell.
If it were me I would spend an extra night in Zion and two nights in Torrey, Utah near Captiol Reef National.
Utahtea
Capitol Reef is 187 miles from Zion and you go right by Bryce and I would drive back the same way because the scenery is incrediable and you get different perspectives going the different directions.
Arches was mentioned but that's 365 miles from Zion (one way) so you would spend most of your free time driving back and forth and wouldn't get much time to spend there.
Cedar Breaks National Monument is ok, but it's just a mini Bryce and you would be better to just spend another day in Bryce.
Krodachrome State Park is near Bryce and it's an OK park.
Snow Canyon State Park just outside of St. George is a scenic park.
Just south of Cedar City is the Kolob section of Zion National Park.
Monument Valley is about 250 miles and you would go past Lake Powell.
If it were me I would spend an extra night in Zion and two nights in Torrey, Utah near Captiol Reef National.
Utahtea
#5
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Torrey is a small tourist town but it has many new modern motels.
Here is a great website for Southern Uath. This is the Capitol Reef section but also check out Hwy 12. Capitol Reef is a less traveled jewel of the National Park system.
http://www.so-utah.com/capitol/homepage.html
The offical web site:
http://www.nps.gov/care/scenic.htm
Utahtea
Here is a great website for Southern Uath. This is the Capitol Reef section but also check out Hwy 12. Capitol Reef is a less traveled jewel of the National Park system.
http://www.so-utah.com/capitol/homepage.html
The offical web site:
http://www.nps.gov/care/scenic.htm
Utahtea
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I'll chime in here with an off-the-wall suggestion:
Kanab, Utah.
There are two notable places here; The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, a world renowned no-kill animal shelter that allows animals of all kinds to live out their natural lives. It's really a special place, and it is a fascinating tour (http://www.bestfriends.org/).
Also, Best Friends is located in the canyon where they shot The Lone Ranger television series. If you have any interest at all on where they went to "head 'em off at the pass", you'll want to see this.
Kanab, Utah.
There are two notable places here; The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, a world renowned no-kill animal shelter that allows animals of all kinds to live out their natural lives. It's really a special place, and it is a fascinating tour (http://www.bestfriends.org/).
Also, Best Friends is located in the canyon where they shot The Lone Ranger television series. If you have any interest at all on where they went to "head 'em off at the pass", you'll want to see this.
#7
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Also near Kanab and very beautiful is the Paria River and ghost town of Paria. A couple old Clint Eastwood westerns were filmed here & the false front town still stands. Surrounding clay mountains are literally "candy stripped" colors. A true bit of the old west with original settlers cabins all along the river bed. They got flooded out many times before giving up the place.
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torrey is a tiny, sweet town, main street lined with trees, views everywhere. i stayed at the capitol reef inn, which is inexpensive and nice, and has a restaurant on site featuring lots of fresh vegetables and healthy food. the owner is building a kiva next to the motel with all sorts of wonderful rocks. there are places to hike up the washes in c.r. park, also off-road jeep tours available. little towns to the west settled by mormons. i spent 3 nights in torrey and found many things to do. highway 12 to bryce is unforgettable along and up and over the aquarius plateau with views east over the valley to capitol reef, a 100-mile-long uplifted reef of red and white rock.
one of my favorite areas.
one of my favorite areas.
#9
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Ditto on Utahtea;s suggestions. I have been over the same ground, and the suggestions will take you to some scenic country. If you take the road from Bryce to Capitol Reefs, Utah 12, there is a small state park along the way.
It is very good, and worth a stop.
Capitol Reef is a gem.
It is very good, and worth a stop.
Capitol Reef is a gem.
#10
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Bob,
Actually there are a few state parks on Hwy 12. Kodachrome Basin State Park just outside of Cannonville, Escalante State Park which has petrified wood is just outside of the town of Escalante, Anasazi State Park an ancient Anasazi village in Boulder.
Also on this route you travel thought the Escalante Grand Stair Case National Monument and you go pass the BLM Calf Creek Recreation Area.
And if all that's not enought you also connect with the Burr Trail in Boulder, Utah.
Utahtea
#11
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My husband and I just did the southern utah trip over Christmas. There is a lot to see in that area. The whole drive across I-70 is beautiful. We stopped off at Goblin Valley on the way to Capitol Reef. It is a small park, but the rock formations are amazing. We stayed at the SkyRidge B&B near Capitol Reef - it was quiet, but very comforable and had good food. There are tons of great hikes to do in Capitol Reef, as well as a nice scenic drive. In June there should be fruit to pick in the Fruita orchards inside the park. The drive along Hwy 12 from Capitol Reef to Bryce could take a full day, especially if you stop to hike to the waterfall at Calf Creek in Escalante. We stopped at the Escalante St. park as well, but it wasn't very interesting. The nice thing about the trip is that very little research is needed. We only booked hotels in advance and played the rest by ear and had a wonderful time. Have fun!
#13
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In mid July, w/ my grown kids and 76 yr. old mom, I'll be visiting Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Moab for whitewater rafting, Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon North Rim for what will unfortunately be a world wind tour (9 days w/ 2 spent in Vegas). If you had to choose between Arches and Canyonland for a quick look, which would you visit and what would you do (assuming an afternoon arrival from Torrey)?
Also, can anyone shed any light on what type of footwear would be appropriate for doing the Riverwalk in Zion?
Also, does anyone have any 1st hand experience w/ the mule trip at the North Rim (probably the 1/2 day but don't know the difference between the one to Supai tunnel and the one to Uncle Jim's point) and the horseback trip in Bryce (probably the 1/2 day Peek-a-boo-Loop Trail).
Love reading all the great tips posted!
Also, can anyone shed any light on what type of footwear would be appropriate for doing the Riverwalk in Zion?
Also, does anyone have any 1st hand experience w/ the mule trip at the North Rim (probably the 1/2 day but don't know the difference between the one to Supai tunnel and the one to Uncle Jim's point) and the horseback trip in Bryce (probably the 1/2 day Peek-a-boo-Loop Trail).
Love reading all the great tips posted!
#14
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Hi Travlbug,
Yes, that will be a world wind tour! Just remember the driving times are not as fast as interstate highways. I hope you plan on taking Scenic Hwy 12 from Bryce to Torrey.
The Riverside Walk in Zion is an easy paved walk. Any shoe you are comfortable walking 2 miles in is fine. Now at the end of the Riverside Walk is the beginning of the Narrows hike and if you keep going you will spend time in the Virgin River. At first it will be shallow and then get deeper in spots. I always wear an old pair of (walking) tennis type of shoes that I save just for the river. Just make sure that whatever you wear won't come off in a water current like backless shoes or thongs.
If I had to choose between Canyonlands and Arches I would choose Arches. Canyonlands is beautiful but mostly you see scenic overlooks similar to the Grand Canyon. In Arches you witness the effects of errosion in the forms of arches, fins and other magnificant forms close up and many of them are right on the scenic drive. If you do a hike I suggest to Delicate Arch. See my pictures:
http://pages.ivillage.com/utahtea2/id15.html
Another great website is:
http://www.so-utah.com/
You might want to start your own thread on this question. Sometimes people see an old question and don't realize there is a new question at the bottom.
Utahtea
Yes, that will be a world wind tour! Just remember the driving times are not as fast as interstate highways. I hope you plan on taking Scenic Hwy 12 from Bryce to Torrey.
The Riverside Walk in Zion is an easy paved walk. Any shoe you are comfortable walking 2 miles in is fine. Now at the end of the Riverside Walk is the beginning of the Narrows hike and if you keep going you will spend time in the Virgin River. At first it will be shallow and then get deeper in spots. I always wear an old pair of (walking) tennis type of shoes that I save just for the river. Just make sure that whatever you wear won't come off in a water current like backless shoes or thongs.
If I had to choose between Canyonlands and Arches I would choose Arches. Canyonlands is beautiful but mostly you see scenic overlooks similar to the Grand Canyon. In Arches you witness the effects of errosion in the forms of arches, fins and other magnificant forms close up and many of them are right on the scenic drive. If you do a hike I suggest to Delicate Arch. See my pictures:
http://pages.ivillage.com/utahtea2/id15.html
Another great website is:
http://www.so-utah.com/
You might want to start your own thread on this question. Sometimes people see an old question and don't realize there is a new question at the bottom.
Utahtea
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ronkala ~
The 3 mile rt hike to Delicate Arch was fairly strenuous getting there. I think it will depend on when you plan to go. Definitely try to make this hike first thing in the morning.
My family did this hike last July. We waited until 5:00 p.m., but it was still 102 degrees. It was a long, HOT hike! We each had 1 quart of water w/us, and we drank every bit! The elevation increases dramatically while you're climbing up and over slickrock getting to this arch. (We're an active, fit family ~ my younger son and I had to sit & rest once, while my husband & older son went ahead of us).
I can't even tell you how impressive Delicate Arch is! This was the most memorable of our hikes while out west last summer. We spent 2 days @ Arches ~ even after the Grand Canyon ~ it remains my personal favorite National Park. My entire family loved Arches!
We also spent time at Canyonlands and if you're in Moab, don't miss Dead Horse State Point for the best views of the Colorado river below and Canyonlands beyond. Just beautiful!
The 3 mile rt hike to Delicate Arch was fairly strenuous getting there. I think it will depend on when you plan to go. Definitely try to make this hike first thing in the morning.
My family did this hike last July. We waited until 5:00 p.m., but it was still 102 degrees. It was a long, HOT hike! We each had 1 quart of water w/us, and we drank every bit! The elevation increases dramatically while you're climbing up and over slickrock getting to this arch. (We're an active, fit family ~ my younger son and I had to sit & rest once, while my husband & older son went ahead of us).
I can't even tell you how impressive Delicate Arch is! This was the most memorable of our hikes while out west last summer. We spent 2 days @ Arches ~ even after the Grand Canyon ~ it remains my personal favorite National Park. My entire family loved Arches!
We also spent time at Canyonlands and if you're in Moab, don't miss Dead Horse State Point for the best views of the Colorado river below and Canyonlands beyond. Just beautiful!
#17
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To ronkala,
No it's not that easy of a hike. It is 3 miles round trip and you have an elevation change of 480 feet going up to the arch. Coming back is a lot easier and that's why people prefer to do it in the early morning.
We prefer to do this hike in the late afternoon around 6 or 7 because it's a little cooler. The reason we prefer eveninig over morning is you get the sunlight on the arch for pictures. In the morning the arch will be in it's own shadow.
Take plenty of water and we like to take a snack and relax & eat it once we get to the arch.
BTW, I was 50+ years old the last time I did the hike if that helps!
Utahtea
No it's not that easy of a hike. It is 3 miles round trip and you have an elevation change of 480 feet going up to the arch. Coming back is a lot easier and that's why people prefer to do it in the early morning.
We prefer to do this hike in the late afternoon around 6 or 7 because it's a little cooler. The reason we prefer eveninig over morning is you get the sunlight on the arch for pictures. In the morning the arch will be in it's own shadow.
Take plenty of water and we like to take a snack and relax & eat it once we get to the arch.
BTW, I was 50+ years old the last time I did the hike if that helps!
Utahtea
#18
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Thanks Tricia and Utahtea. We're both in good physical condition and workout out in a fitness program daily. That includes 1 1/2 miles on the treadmill in just under a half hour. We have a hill in our town that we sometimes walk up (slowly) that is more than 500' in elevation, but being 70 & 65, we'll wait and see what happens when we get there.