smmccurry

My family will be traveling to the Southwest next summer and staying inside all three parks. 2 days at Grand Canyon, 3 at Zion and 2 at Bryce. We will be traveling with 2 children, girls ages 4 and 8. Both girls are adventurous and have some experience hiking in Vermont. We are looking for some advice on making the most of our family trip. In addition, I am very interested in hiking at least part of the narrows with the girls in Zion, but don't know how much they can handle with the depth and current of the river. How much of the narrows would they be able to walk/wade into? Also I want some advice on areas that the girls can relax and play around in the Virgin River during the middle/hottest part of the day. Thanks for your suggestions. We are so excited about out trip.

capxxx

I think you'll have to wait and ask when you get there -- it depends a lot on the recent rainfall. Our young teenagers weren't able to get too far upriver, because the current was too strong though less than knee-deep. People said it would have been different if we had come at a different time.

The river water in the area around the park entrance/cabins is mild and shallow, so you should be able to have some fun there, in any case.

Van_Ness

If you happen to make reservations at the Desert Pearl in Springdale, right outside Zion (and on the shuttle line to the park), you will have the Virgin right on the grounds. Check out their Web site, www.desertpearl.com. It's a wonderful place!

Momof3boys

We stayed at the Zion Lodge in summer of '04 and tubed the Virgin River one afternoon. We rented lg yellow inner tube floats from a business in Springfield, I believe, across the street from the Desert Pearl. You entered the river near there and then they picked you up at an exit pt in a couple of hrs. The river was low in July and perfectly safe; I wish the river had been higher since my tube kept getting stuck, but I was the heaviest in my family group! They also had water socks and hiking sticks to rent for walking in the Narrows which I wish we had done but the danger level was Moderate, and I didn't want to risk it. Have fun!

judyz

Our children were older when we hiked up the Narrows but one thing we wished we would have done is pay to be dropped off upstream and hiked down the narrows.

It it Much easier to walk with the flow of water rather than against the flow.

Another highlight for our children was taking a mule ride down into Bryce Canyon, don't know if your 4 yo would be old enough. If not make sure you hike down into Bryce Canyon. It is a much different experience than seeing it just from the rim.

tovarich

I would not do the Narrows with a four year old.It's not exactly smooth walking.The best way to plan your hikes isto talk to the Park rangers when you're there. They'll give you all the advice .Stay safe.Paul

momof2

I second the Desert Pearl Inn suggestion. What a perfect spot and beautiful accomodation!

Dayle

Hi S,

You will have a wonderful trip, but The Narrows is not a hike for a 4 year old. You are walking in the water on round river rocks and sand. Tricky footing. Depth and current will depend on snowfall and snowmelt, also recent rainfall. It's a day-to-day thing. There are lots of other good hikes for kids.

Have fun!

ashta

I am doing a similar trip next summer (2 days Zion, 2 days Bryce, 2 days GC-NorthRim). My kids are a little bit older (11 & 8).

I am thinking of the following activities : GC : mule ride, Bryce : ATV rental, Zion : hike the Narrows.

Question : do I have to book mule rides and/or ATV rentals in advance (and if so how far in advance) ? My trip is week of July 4, so I imagine it is crowded season, wondering if I need to do advance planning or if I can do it on-the-spot once I get there ?

TheWeasel

Mule trips on the North Rim are booked through Canyon Trail Rides. Their website/page for the N. Rim is: http://www.olwm.com/canyonrides/pkgrandcanyon.html

There are no ATV rentals in Bryce Canyon. I'm sure there are rentals in the surrounding area somewhere.

As long as you already know the dates for your trip, you should call to make reservations or inquire as to availability. The mule rides on the S. Rim book up quite early, and while the N. Rim isn't nearly as crowded, I would suspect their rides are reserved months in advance as well. It may already be too late to get a reservation for one of the busiest weeks of the year.