Exploring the red rock canyons of Utah and Arizona: Trip Report
Apr 8th, 2007, 04:17 PM
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Exploring the red rock canyons of Utah and Arizona: Trip Report
We just got back from a great trip to Utah and Arizona. My husband and I took our boys, son #1 (14) and son #2 (12). We flew to Las Vegas, and home through Phoenix.
My husband and I have visited this area 3x before, but this was our first visit with the boys. It was also our first spring time visit, which I would HIGHLY recommend - we had glorious weather, highs in the 70s - perfect for hiking and being outdoors. My kids generally don't like to hike (declaring it boring), but they had a lot of fun on the hikes we did here!
Day 1 - PHL to Las Vegas
We flew into Vegas and spent the night at the Flamingo (our room looked very tired). We walked the strip south from the Flamingo - saw the fountains at Bellagio, ate at ESPN Zone, rode the Manhattan Express at NYNY, saw the 3D show at M&M World and walked the "streets" of Paris. We were disappointed that we missed the world's tallest rock wall - Gameworks took it down around 3 months ago.
Day 2 Vegas to Zion via Valley of Fire SP
In the morning, we walked around the Venetian and Caesers and saw the flamingos at (guess); checked out and started our red rock adventures.
I do not like Vegas (understatement) and do not think it is a kid friendly place, but I did have fun walking around with my kids and showing them the illusions, riding the roller coaster, etc. And I have to say that I enjoyed the casino illusions more after having actually visited the real Paris, Rome and Venice. The last time I was there (about 5 years ago), I got frustrated with how many people were handing me ads for strip clubs while I walked by myself on the strip at 10am (while my husband was at meetings). (Do I look like the their typical customer? At 10am no less?) This time, I have to say, no one handed either me or my husband a flyer while we were walking with our kids.
Hike: Mouse's Tank, Valley of Fire
This is a great hike! The boys loved scrambling all around the rocks, through the arches and holes in the rocks and generally exploring. It took us a long time to hike the mile b/c they had so much fun. I am fascinated by Indian petroglyphs and there were several panels along this hike.
We also walked up to Elephant Arch Rock and got some neat pictures around this area.
We ended up in Springdale, UT around 5pm. We stayed at Desert Pearl, very nice.
We were there on 3/31, and found out that the shuttles started running on 4/1. We decided to drive the Zion Canyon scenic drive that evening in our car. Now I have been on the shuttle system before, and found it very efficient, and sorely needed. But it was nice to drive the road and stop wherever we wanted for as long/short was we wanted.
Zion is amazing. The red rock cliffs are so beautiful - and were nicely lit by the setting sun. It is one of my favorite national parks.
Day 3 Zion to Bryce to Kanab
The drive out of Zion is also stunning.
Hike: Canyon Overlook Trail
This was a fun hike, but the drop-offs were scary. Was never quite comfortable with my kids here, but views were great.
Hike: Queens Garden, Bryce
We weren't planning on doing the Navajo/Queens Garden loop (have done it before and would highly recommend it) b/c we didn't want to burn the kids out on hiking. But they really enjoyed the Queens Garden Trail - still more hiking with no complaints. The trail took us from the top of canyon, down into and among the hoodoos to the canyon floor. It was cooler here - around 55 - great hiking weather.
We stopped along several viewpoints on the rim drive - Sunset, Bryce and Inspiration (liked Inspiration best), and then in the evening drove to Kanab.
My husband and I have visited this area 3x before, but this was our first visit with the boys. It was also our first spring time visit, which I would HIGHLY recommend - we had glorious weather, highs in the 70s - perfect for hiking and being outdoors. My kids generally don't like to hike (declaring it boring), but they had a lot of fun on the hikes we did here!
Day 1 - PHL to Las Vegas
We flew into Vegas and spent the night at the Flamingo (our room looked very tired). We walked the strip south from the Flamingo - saw the fountains at Bellagio, ate at ESPN Zone, rode the Manhattan Express at NYNY, saw the 3D show at M&M World and walked the "streets" of Paris. We were disappointed that we missed the world's tallest rock wall - Gameworks took it down around 3 months ago.
Day 2 Vegas to Zion via Valley of Fire SP
In the morning, we walked around the Venetian and Caesers and saw the flamingos at (guess); checked out and started our red rock adventures.
I do not like Vegas (understatement) and do not think it is a kid friendly place, but I did have fun walking around with my kids and showing them the illusions, riding the roller coaster, etc. And I have to say that I enjoyed the casino illusions more after having actually visited the real Paris, Rome and Venice. The last time I was there (about 5 years ago), I got frustrated with how many people were handing me ads for strip clubs while I walked by myself on the strip at 10am (while my husband was at meetings). (Do I look like the their typical customer? At 10am no less?) This time, I have to say, no one handed either me or my husband a flyer while we were walking with our kids.
Hike: Mouse's Tank, Valley of Fire
This is a great hike! The boys loved scrambling all around the rocks, through the arches and holes in the rocks and generally exploring. It took us a long time to hike the mile b/c they had so much fun. I am fascinated by Indian petroglyphs and there were several panels along this hike.
We also walked up to Elephant Arch Rock and got some neat pictures around this area.
We ended up in Springdale, UT around 5pm. We stayed at Desert Pearl, very nice.
We were there on 3/31, and found out that the shuttles started running on 4/1. We decided to drive the Zion Canyon scenic drive that evening in our car. Now I have been on the shuttle system before, and found it very efficient, and sorely needed. But it was nice to drive the road and stop wherever we wanted for as long/short was we wanted.
Zion is amazing. The red rock cliffs are so beautiful - and were nicely lit by the setting sun. It is one of my favorite national parks.
Day 3 Zion to Bryce to Kanab
The drive out of Zion is also stunning.
Hike: Canyon Overlook Trail
This was a fun hike, but the drop-offs were scary. Was never quite comfortable with my kids here, but views were great.
Hike: Queens Garden, Bryce
We weren't planning on doing the Navajo/Queens Garden loop (have done it before and would highly recommend it) b/c we didn't want to burn the kids out on hiking. But they really enjoyed the Queens Garden Trail - still more hiking with no complaints. The trail took us from the top of canyon, down into and among the hoodoos to the canyon floor. It was cooler here - around 55 - great hiking weather.
We stopped along several viewpoints on the rim drive - Sunset, Bryce and Inspiration (liked Inspiration best), and then in the evening drove to Kanab.
Apr 9th, 2007, 01:15 PM
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One more note about Bryce: I learned that there was a rock slide in May 2006 that closed the section of the Navajo Trail in the Wall St. area. You can still complete a loop of Queens Garden/Navajo, but not through this area.
Day 4 Kanab
We spent the morning at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park running up and down the huge dunes. The boys loved this. We have seen big dunes at Cape Cod - but you are not allowed on these. So it was fun for them to roll around to their hearts content. It was a long way back uphill!
In the afternoon we took a tour of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the largest no kill animal shelter in the US. It is quite an operation. We got to visit the dog and cat areas. A side benefit was seeing their beautiful location. Several westerns were filmed in this area - we saw "ambush curve" and a cabin built by Disney for a movie, that Best Friends is now actually using as a barn.
We took a brief stop at Moqui Cave, which my kids and husband declared a Tourist Trap. Yeah, it kinda is, but I am fascinated with western American history, and liked looking at the dinosaur tracks, Anasazi pottery, flourescent rocks, etc. It was only $4 and I think worth a brief stop - just don't expect too much.
Day 5 Kanab to Page
Hike: Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch
This was a great hike through several narrow slot canyons. It ended in an amphitheatre type area at the confluence of Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch. We tried to hike a bit further up and down stream in Buckskin Gulch, but pools of water were blocking the path. We got great pictures here.
In the evening in Page we took the hike to Horseshoe Bend - what a great view, but a steep drop off at the end! We were there around sunset and stayed to watch the sun set. Son #2 was breaking rocks way away from the ledge in an isolated area away from all the people that were there. All of a sudden he started running away, yelling "Snake!" We're not sure what he saw, but we felt that was a signal to leave!
Day 4 Kanab
We spent the morning at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park running up and down the huge dunes. The boys loved this. We have seen big dunes at Cape Cod - but you are not allowed on these. So it was fun for them to roll around to their hearts content. It was a long way back uphill!
In the afternoon we took a tour of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the largest no kill animal shelter in the US. It is quite an operation. We got to visit the dog and cat areas. A side benefit was seeing their beautiful location. Several westerns were filmed in this area - we saw "ambush curve" and a cabin built by Disney for a movie, that Best Friends is now actually using as a barn.
We took a brief stop at Moqui Cave, which my kids and husband declared a Tourist Trap. Yeah, it kinda is, but I am fascinated with western American history, and liked looking at the dinosaur tracks, Anasazi pottery, flourescent rocks, etc. It was only $4 and I think worth a brief stop - just don't expect too much.
Day 5 Kanab to Page
Hike: Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch
This was a great hike through several narrow slot canyons. It ended in an amphitheatre type area at the confluence of Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch. We tried to hike a bit further up and down stream in Buckskin Gulch, but pools of water were blocking the path. We got great pictures here.
In the evening in Page we took the hike to Horseshoe Bend - what a great view, but a steep drop off at the end! We were there around sunset and stayed to watch the sun set. Son #2 was breaking rocks way away from the ledge in an isolated area away from all the people that were there. All of a sudden he started running away, yelling "Snake!" We're not sure what he saw, but we felt that was a signal to leave!
Apr 9th, 2007, 10:32 PM
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Great report so far. I've been to Zion at this time of the year, but not Bryce. Was there any snow in Bryce? I take it the trails were open since you did the Queens Garden. I've always wondered when the trials in Bryce opened.
Waiting for next installment.
Utahtea
Waiting for next installment.
Utahtea
Apr 10th, 2007, 03:07 AM
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We made a stop in Bryce Canyon in mid-March. There was a bit of snow on the ground but the roads were clear. This was quite unusual as referenced by the ranger on duty at the desk when he mentioned that the road to one of the lookouts was opem and that normally at that time of year it was a cross country ski trail.
Apr 10th, 2007, 08:06 AM
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Thanks for the report karens! I always like to hear how people like Utah.
Utahtea,
One of my co-workers just spend a few days at Bryce last week. There is no snow and the trails are good for hiking. We have only had half of our normal snowfall this year. It's a bad thing - global warming.
Utahtea,
One of my co-workers just spend a few days at Bryce last week. There is no snow and the trails are good for hiking. We have only had half of our normal snowfall this year. It's a bad thing - global warming.
Apr 10th, 2007, 02:39 PM
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KellyGreta - I have been to Zion before in June - it was near 100. It was so much more pleasant this time! The only advantage (and it is a big one) - we were able to hike the Narrows, which we weren't able to do this time.
Re: snow. There was only very spotty patches of snow at the higher elevations in Bryce - some of my pictures at the viewpoints show some snow at the very top, but we encountered none on the trail.
Continuing on....
Day 5 Page to Flagstaff
Float trip
We took the float trip that started at the base of the Glen Canyon dam. Great views. The air temp was warm, but the water is a cold 50 degrees b/c it is released from the bottom of the dam. My younger son still jumped in. Brrrr.
We enjoyed this, but would have appreciating floating a bit faster. I guess we are used to whitewater, although whitewater rapids would have made us freezing! We made a stop at a beach and there was a short walk to a small petroglyph panel.
It was an interesting drive back to Page through the Navajo Indian Reservation. The bus driver was an Indian woman and she gave us a lot of interesting background information.
There is a new company doing the float trips, and I think they need a bit more experience. We left 30 mins. late b/c of some mix up with the buses to take us to the base of the dam. (and there's now all these security measures since 9/11). The company also picked up people from the Grand Canyon area, and their 7am departure was an hour late. We didn't get back too late, but usually trips like this run so smoothly -- this company needs to iron the rough edges out a bit.
Flagstaff. We drove to Flagstaff for just an overnight. I have no idea why I pictured Flagstaff to be a dumpy town or a sprawl filled kind of place. In actuality, it's a really cool place! It's surrounded by forest and there were views of snow-covered mountains on our way into town - very different terrain from that surrounding Page. We had a very good meal at the Beaver Creek Brewery and spent a short time just walking around the historic area. There were some nice looking older hotels - one had a wraparound balcony. I could have spent more time exploring the town here.
Day 6 Sedona
We drove to Sedona along the very scenic Oak Creek Canyon. First - we stopped to get my favorite candy - dark chocolate covered caramels from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Co. (we don't have any of these back east - wah!).
We walked around the shops in Sedona a bit, then walked around Tlapeneque (I know I butchered the spelling) and then had a good lunch at the Javelina Cantina.
In the afternoon we took the Broken Arrow Pink Jeep Tour. This was GREAT!! Beautiful views, a great ride (one part was 45 degrees!!), and an entertaining guide. I would highly recommend this - we all enjoyed it and got some great pictures.
Then it was time to head to Phoenix b/c we were flying home the next morning.
Had no idea where to eat. Pulled off the highway and ended up in not-great area (it's not a good sign when there are lots of pawn shops around), so we drove downtown and ended up eating at Coach & Willies. I would imagine this is a crowded place on game nights. The Suns were out of town, so it was a quiet night, but our food was good.
We flew home the next day and hit a triple bonus: our flight landed on time, our luggage actually got the carousel in 30 mins., and we had no wait to get our car back. (Those of you who do not fly through PHL may not appreciate these things!) It was a great ending to a great trip! Our pictures look so good.
Re: snow. There was only very spotty patches of snow at the higher elevations in Bryce - some of my pictures at the viewpoints show some snow at the very top, but we encountered none on the trail.
Continuing on....
Day 5 Page to Flagstaff
Float trip
We took the float trip that started at the base of the Glen Canyon dam. Great views. The air temp was warm, but the water is a cold 50 degrees b/c it is released from the bottom of the dam. My younger son still jumped in. Brrrr.
We enjoyed this, but would have appreciating floating a bit faster. I guess we are used to whitewater, although whitewater rapids would have made us freezing! We made a stop at a beach and there was a short walk to a small petroglyph panel.
It was an interesting drive back to Page through the Navajo Indian Reservation. The bus driver was an Indian woman and she gave us a lot of interesting background information.
There is a new company doing the float trips, and I think they need a bit more experience. We left 30 mins. late b/c of some mix up with the buses to take us to the base of the dam. (and there's now all these security measures since 9/11). The company also picked up people from the Grand Canyon area, and their 7am departure was an hour late. We didn't get back too late, but usually trips like this run so smoothly -- this company needs to iron the rough edges out a bit.
Flagstaff. We drove to Flagstaff for just an overnight. I have no idea why I pictured Flagstaff to be a dumpy town or a sprawl filled kind of place. In actuality, it's a really cool place! It's surrounded by forest and there were views of snow-covered mountains on our way into town - very different terrain from that surrounding Page. We had a very good meal at the Beaver Creek Brewery and spent a short time just walking around the historic area. There were some nice looking older hotels - one had a wraparound balcony. I could have spent more time exploring the town here.
Day 6 Sedona
We drove to Sedona along the very scenic Oak Creek Canyon. First - we stopped to get my favorite candy - dark chocolate covered caramels from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Co. (we don't have any of these back east - wah!).
We walked around the shops in Sedona a bit, then walked around Tlapeneque (I know I butchered the spelling) and then had a good lunch at the Javelina Cantina.
In the afternoon we took the Broken Arrow Pink Jeep Tour. This was GREAT!! Beautiful views, a great ride (one part was 45 degrees!!), and an entertaining guide. I would highly recommend this - we all enjoyed it and got some great pictures.
Then it was time to head to Phoenix b/c we were flying home the next morning.
Had no idea where to eat. Pulled off the highway and ended up in not-great area (it's not a good sign when there are lots of pawn shops around), so we drove downtown and ended up eating at Coach & Willies. I would imagine this is a crowded place on game nights. The Suns were out of town, so it was a quiet night, but our food was good.
We flew home the next day and hit a triple bonus: our flight landed on time, our luggage actually got the carousel in 30 mins., and we had no wait to get our car back. (Those of you who do not fly through PHL may not appreciate these things!) It was a great ending to a great trip! Our pictures look so good.
Apr 15th, 2007, 12:46 PM
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Karens - and others,
My apologies. I did not phrase my question accurately. Instead of simply asking if you had been in September, I should have asked how a September time compares with May? The same - in terms of cooler temps and fewer visitors? or not as good?
My apologies. I did not phrase my question accurately. Instead of simply asking if you had been in September, I should have asked how a September time compares with May? The same - in terms of cooler temps and fewer visitors? or not as good?
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