Short Stay in Bryce & Zion
Jun 16th, 2005, 09:24 PM
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Short Stay in Bryce & Zion
Hello,
We will be in Salt Lake City in a few weeks and have a short side trip planned to Bryce & Zion, before we fly home from Vegas. We plan to leave SLC on the 6th at around noon. We have reservations that night in Bryce, the next two nights in Zion and the following night in Vegas. We fly out of Vegas on the 10th. How much can we see in that short amount of time? Can anyone suggest an itinerary of what to do to make the best of our time?
Has anyone taken a tour using Zion Adventure Tours? Is it worth it or just as easy to explore and navigate on your own? Are the narrows open yet?
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
We will be in Salt Lake City in a few weeks and have a short side trip planned to Bryce & Zion, before we fly home from Vegas. We plan to leave SLC on the 6th at around noon. We have reservations that night in Bryce, the next two nights in Zion and the following night in Vegas. We fly out of Vegas on the 10th. How much can we see in that short amount of time? Can anyone suggest an itinerary of what to do to make the best of our time?
Has anyone taken a tour using Zion Adventure Tours? Is it worth it or just as easy to explore and navigate on your own? Are the narrows open yet?
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Jun 17th, 2005, 10:28 AM
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Hi Trips,
You don't say what month you are going, but I'm guessing August.
When you arrive at Bryce, start right away seeing some of the lookout points. It stays light a long time and you can see several areas before dark.
Next morning be sure to get up for sunrise! See whatever you still need to see and maybe take an early morning hike on the Queen's/Navajo Loop.
Head on down to Zion, seeing the eastern side of the park on your way. You don't need to go with a guide. You won't have time. In the short time you do have, you can see all the basics in the canyon floor on your own.
When I was at Zion Memorial Day weekend, they said they didn't expect to allow hiking in the Narrows until July at the earliest. If you are going in August, it should be ok by then. However, August is during the summer monsoon and it's a day by day thing. It all depend if thunderstorms are expected. Check with the visitor's center before going.
Have fun!
You don't say what month you are going, but I'm guessing August.
When you arrive at Bryce, start right away seeing some of the lookout points. It stays light a long time and you can see several areas before dark.
Next morning be sure to get up for sunrise! See whatever you still need to see and maybe take an early morning hike on the Queen's/Navajo Loop.
Head on down to Zion, seeing the eastern side of the park on your way. You don't need to go with a guide. You won't have time. In the short time you do have, you can see all the basics in the canyon floor on your own.
When I was at Zion Memorial Day weekend, they said they didn't expect to allow hiking in the Narrows until July at the earliest. If you are going in August, it should be ok by then. However, August is during the summer monsoon and it's a day by day thing. It all depend if thunderstorms are expected. Check with the visitor's center before going.
Have fun!
Jun 17th, 2005, 12:57 PM
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Thanks Dayle & Jill2!
Actually we are leaving July 6. I saw on the website that the narrows was closed, but not sure how up to date the website is. I've printed off the Clear Creek Narrows Hike. Has anyone that has taken this hike care to comment? Does anyone else have any itinerary advice for our short trip?
Thanks everyone!
Actually we are leaving July 6. I saw on the website that the narrows was closed, but not sure how up to date the website is. I've printed off the Clear Creek Narrows Hike. Has anyone that has taken this hike care to comment? Does anyone else have any itinerary advice for our short trip?
Thanks everyone!
Jun 18th, 2005, 01:25 AM
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I think Gayle gave you great ideas for planning your time. We spent six days in the two areas last August and LOVED it.
One of our days in Zion we spent with Zion Adventure Company. Nick took our family of 4 canyoneering for a full day (we had never done it before). It was a fabulous experience and Nick was great. I would not necessarily recommend doing this if it would take away from your time touring Zion. But if you hike the Narrows, I would go to ZAC to rent shoes and a walking stick--also they give great safety tips.
Have fun!
One of our days in Zion we spent with Zion Adventure Company. Nick took our family of 4 canyoneering for a full day (we had never done it before). It was a fabulous experience and Nick was great. I would not necessarily recommend doing this if it would take away from your time touring Zion. But if you hike the Narrows, I would go to ZAC to rent shoes and a walking stick--also they give great safety tips.
Have fun!
Jun 21st, 2005, 03:50 PM
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The Navajo Loop Trail was really wiped out pretty badly you could see clearly from the top just how much of the trail was lost when we were there in May, I cannot see it opening any time in the near future.
Jun 21st, 2005, 08:16 PM
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Found this on the Bryce Canyon website.
"Please note that due to rock slides and severe erosion the Navajo Loop and the connector trail from Bryce Point to the Peekaboo Loop are closed." Would this also impact the Queens Garden trail? The website list the Queens Garden/Navajo Loop combination as a 2.9 ml. hike.
Of the remaining hikes can anyone give advice on which hikes we should try and take in our short time there?
Upper Inspiration Point (.3 miles)
Mossy Cave (.9 miles)
Bristlecone Loop (1.0 miles)
Queen's Garden/Navajo Loop Combination (2.9 miles)
Tower Bridge (3 miles)
Hat Shop (4 miles)
Swamp Canyon Loop (4.3 miles)
Fairyland Loop (8 miles0
Riggs Spring Loop (8.5 mile)
Thanks you again for all your help!
"Please note that due to rock slides and severe erosion the Navajo Loop and the connector trail from Bryce Point to the Peekaboo Loop are closed." Would this also impact the Queens Garden trail? The website list the Queens Garden/Navajo Loop combination as a 2.9 ml. hike.
Of the remaining hikes can anyone give advice on which hikes we should try and take in our short time there?
Upper Inspiration Point (.3 miles)
Mossy Cave (.9 miles)
Bristlecone Loop (1.0 miles)
Queen's Garden/Navajo Loop Combination (2.9 miles)
Tower Bridge (3 miles)
Hat Shop (4 miles)
Swamp Canyon Loop (4.3 miles)
Fairyland Loop (8 miles0
Riggs Spring Loop (8.5 mile)
Thanks you again for all your help!
Jun 22nd, 2005, 06:17 AM
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Hi 2 Travel,
You can do the Queen's Garden without including the closed Navajo Loop. You come back up through a trail called "Wall Street". It's a series of very steep switchbacks that will have you puffing, but everyone does it. Just go slow. This section is also subject to erosion (after all, Bryce canyon was formed by erosion!), but you can check the status when you get there.
The other hike that's great is the Fairyland Loop. Lots of elevation gain and loss on this hike, so it will seem longer than 8 miles.
Don't forget lots of water, sunscreen, and a hat.
Most of the other short distance hikes are just walkouts to view points.
Have fun!
You can do the Queen's Garden without including the closed Navajo Loop. You come back up through a trail called "Wall Street". It's a series of very steep switchbacks that will have you puffing, but everyone does it. Just go slow. This section is also subject to erosion (after all, Bryce canyon was formed by erosion!), but you can check the status when you get there.
The other hike that's great is the Fairyland Loop. Lots of elevation gain and loss on this hike, so it will seem longer than 8 miles.
Don't forget lots of water, sunscreen, and a hat.
Most of the other short distance hikes are just walkouts to view points.
Have fun!
Jun 22nd, 2005, 06:47 AM
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Hope you save some of your hiking energy for Zion! I am still kicking myself for not doing Angels Landing there. The waitress in the lodge scared my wife about it on our first night there....next time I will do it!
We did like Hidden Canyon and Canyon Overlook for hikes of a few hours or less. We did several of the shorter hikes as well. Nothing over 4 hours or so. Start early!
I second the sunrise at Bryce, superior to sunset IMO.
We did like Hidden Canyon and Canyon Overlook for hikes of a few hours or less. We did several of the shorter hikes as well. Nothing over 4 hours or so. Start early!
I second the sunrise at Bryce, superior to sunset IMO.
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