skydiva

I am planning - and replanning - trip to Utah and Las Vegas for Nov '07. We are late 50's couple who will rent a car in Las Vegas then maybe head to Zion for Nov 7&8. We want to see what we can of Bryce Canyon then head to Grand Canyon South Rim, Sedona, and fly out by way of Phoenix. This Board has been so helpful and I am now resigned to returning another time to the Moab area. Since the Bryce Canyon Lodge is closed for Novemeber I assume that the weather may be bad. Maybe we can still drive through the park and get out at overlooks? Where should we stay for a night (or 2?) before hitting Grand Canyon? By the way, neither of us has been to this area so we are goiong to be dazzled! thanks in advance for your help.

rm_mn

Bryce Canyon is about 8000 ft altitude and in November is likely to have snow so the road to the overlooks may be closed.....or maybe not. If you can get to them, I would think that the hoodoos would be really fascinating with snow on them.

utahtea

I've never been in November, but the park is open year round. Ruby's Inn is just outside the park entrance.

Utahtea

MJLR321

My one and only visit to Bryce Canyon was mid-November 1998, and I could not have chosen a better time had I tried - and I certainly did a lot of research for that particular trip. Cold, it was, but with sparklers on the snow that made the place look like a fairyland. In my view, the hoodoos were enhanced by the powdering of snow atop and even set the rest of the canyon into relief that would not be possible at other times of the year. There were no motoring problems, and at that time of year, accommodation was very affordable.

Presumably, you're going to Moab with the intention of visiting Arches, Dead Horse Point, and Canyonlands. These you must see. Again, I walked Arches on the crispest blue-sky morning, I doubt if I saw more than 3 other people. Magical, and before I die, if I can return to Arches and gaze up at the inky black sky at night with millions of stars (more than we can see here in the UK), I'll die happy.

I don't know Zion as well, only having driven though it and would love to return.

Nowhere in the Grand Circle area at that time was closed because of road conditions.

Please post a trip report and take me back there.

Best regards

MaryJo

skydiva

Wow, Mary Jo, thanks so much for telling me about your visit. I am sick that we are not going to the parks around Moab. They sound stunning. Since our time is fairly limited, I've taken seriously the advice that others have given on the travel sites to take sufficient time in each place. We are in our 50's and will be traveling for the first time to the Canyon area - so we are starting at Las Vegas, since I am, at heart, a party girl. Then to Grand Canyon, Zion Ntional Pk, Bryce Canyon, then back to Vegas to fly home. At least that's the current plan, which I can still turn upside down. I want to return another time to Moab and visit Arches, Canyonland, Escalante. But after your rousing testimony, perhaps we should start our planning all over again!