Digitalmike4

I would like to take a trip in late April or early May to the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, I am thinking about flying into Las Vegas and then renting a car. I plan on being on vacation for 9 days, but with only about 7 days to explore since I will spend a couple of days getting to and coming back from Vegas. Anyone have some suggestions on how I should schedule my trip, ie: what order to see the Parks in, and other stuff like that. I am a young 51 year old man in good shape for walking/hiking. Thanks!

Placename

There are several very good guidebooks out there to give you a base to plan from.

Lonely Planet makes a good one, but there are others.

Myer

I assume you'll want to go to the South Rim of GC.

Seven days is a fair amount. You can even add a few things more or less on the way.

A clockwise or counter-clockwise route will work. I'm sure others will give reason why one is better than the other.

For Zion I would spend the night inpark. Get up early for a sunrise at Bryce Point. Then after a bite to eat you can hike down Navajo Loop and back up Queens Garden. That will give you a good feel for the park. Then you'll walk along the rim back to your car.

So far you would have been to Bryce Point, Sunset oint to start the hike and Sunrise Point to end the hike.

You can stop at a few other viewpoints on the scenic road but the only one that's really very different is Natural bridge.

Since you'll probably be too early to hike the Narrows in Zion or may not want to hike in water, I suggest you go to one of the slot canyons in the area.

I've been to Willis Creek a few times and like it. It's 10 miles below Cannonville that about 10-15 miles east of Bryce Canyon. Nice easy walk in a real slot canyon.

Zion has a bunch of very nice hikes. While the two parks are only about 90 miles apart they are very different. bryce is over 8,000ft and Zion is about 4,000ft lower. That makes it a lot warmer.

Hikes in Zion.
Canyon Overlook at the east entrance
Emerald Pools
Riverside Walk or extend that to the Narrows if it's not to cold, fast and you don't mind being in water up to your waist.
Angel's Landing. Either to Scouts Lookout or if you're brave to the top.

tomfuller

Find the time to see Valley of Fire State Park and Hoover Dam.
If you wanted to stay at The South Rim, the direction of travel would depend on when you could get the reservation.

Digitalmike4

Thanks so much for every ones responses thus far.

Tomsd

Red Rock Canyon is also very pretty - and only about 20 minutes from the Strip in Vegas.

emalloy

Your first job is to get lodging, preferably in the parks. Grand Canyon is most important as it is great to be there early in the morning and at sunset. I have never had a problem there in April, but they get cancellations all the time so call back frequently if they say they are full.

If you can get a flight that gets in early, you can be well on your way before sunset. If you decide to do Zion first then head there if it is early enough, otherwise look for lodging on the north side of Vegas and you could plan on a stop at Hoover Dam on your way back to Vegas. If you decide to Grand Canyon first, look for lodging on the south side of Vegas as the south rim will be open but the north rim will not.

How much time you will want in each park will totally depend on how much hiking you will want to do in each. Do try to do some, and do go down into Grand Canyon at least a short way. Bryce has had snow when we have been there in April and the trails were icy.

In your time frame you could do a loop: Vegas - Zion - Bryce - Page - Grand Canyon - Vegas in either direction. This would give you one or two locations with two nights and depending on timing of flights time to visit Valley of Fire (perhaps on the way up to Zion or on the way back from GC after a look at Hoover Dam) and/or Red Rock Canyon (perhaps in the morning if you have an evening flight).

I've included Page as it is a place with lots of lodging between Bryce and GC and Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend are interesting places to see.

Have a fantastic trip.

Digitalmike4

Thanks again to all who have responded!