Mbitar11814

Good evening and thank you in advance for your time and opinion on my question!
We are going to Utah in September.our issue is that we only have 9 days and too many stops to make. I could use help cutting out what activities are not worth it. We are avid adventurists and want to have amazing experiences where we push ourselves to the limits. Plus we only want to spend time seeing amazing things.
Here is our list, what can be cut out?

Zion:
Angels landing or observation point
Narrows
Subway canyonerring or hike

Moab:
Mountain Bike the Intrepid Trail or Moab brands Trails (which one has better views?)
Dead Horse

Canyonlands:
Needles district
Chesley park loop
Newspaper rock and shay canyon
Little grand canyon

Bryce:
Naural bridge
Arches:
Need recomendations

St george:
Kabarra Falls Hike

Cote Gulch Canyon overnight trip

The wave

Capitol Reef Scenic Drive

Antelope Canyon

Butler wash Cave dwellings

We plan to camp on BLM and Forest service property throuout our trip. Please provide any suggestions for spots near the national parks.

As you can see my list us out of control and I just want this trip to be enjoyable, not stressful

lgott

Zion is my favorite national park, but it's gotten incredibly crowded in the last few years. If you're very fit, it's possible to do two of the hikes you mention in one day, but it's a challenge both physically and logistically. If you think you can do two of the hikes in one day, I'd suggest Observation Point and the Narrows. Angels Landing is more famous, but it's ridiculously crowded, and the views at Observation Point are actually better (you can look down on Angels Landing from Observation Point). A shuttle bus is required in order to get to the trailheads -- no private cars are allowed. Take the very first shuttle in the morning; otherwise, count on waiting in line for 30 minutes or even an hour. Since it may still be hot in September, I'd hike Observation Point in the morning, then the Narrows in the afternoon. It will be a tough day!

In Zion, skip the Subway. By far the best way to do this requires an advance permit (already sold out maybe?) for the top-down trail; it's also a technical canyonerring route. The (partial) bottom-up hike also requires a permit, and is supposedly not nearly as scenic. You really don't have time for this.

When you wrote "Kabarra Falls", I'm guessing that you meant Kanarra Creek Trail (also referred to as Kanarraville Falls). Skip it. While it's an interesting hike, it in no way compares to The Narrows.

Forget The Wave. Visiting The Wave requires a permit that you are very unlikely to get. Permits are only available via an Internet lottery (which has already occurred for September 2017), and an in-person lottery in Kanab the day before the hike. Demand is tremendous. For a given day, odds of getting a permit via the Internet are about 100 to 1 against. Odds for the in person lottery are probably 15 or 20 to one against, and you're wasting time in Kanab to even try to get a permit.

If you happen to be in the area, Antelope Canyon is worth a visit. However, it's gotten very crowded, which takes away from the experience. It's nice, but not fantastic. Tickets tend to sell out well in advance.

Capitol Reef is well worth a visit, but it takes time you don't have. The Scenic Drive is nice, but you really need at least one full day (or even more) for hiking in order to get the most out of the park.

I'm not familiar with Butler Wash or Cote Gulch. I'm also not familiar with camping in the area; hopefully someone else will comment.

J62

I agree with lgott about Zion. Subway is a long detour, while all the rest of the hikes are bundled close together in the canyon.

If you want to do Obs. Point and Narrows in the same day, it is quite doable. If you are fast hiker like I am, then you can get up & down obs point in 3hrs total. If not, you need to budget 4-5hrs.

My last hike of the narrows was a bottoms up, as far as one can go and it was a full full day hike in basically total solitude & I loved it. I was on the 1st bus of the day, and 1st one onto the river. The first people I saw were a couple hiking from the top down, and I came across them about 3hrs into the day.

Here's what I'd reco for Zion.

Evening of day 1. Hike up to scout's lookout, on the approach to Angel's landing. It's about 1hr hike up to that point. More if you are not fast. I don't have the nerve to go out to Angel's landing. your nerves may be better, but as lgott stated it can be very crowded.

Day 2. Narrows at first light (for the solitude), then Obs point.

StantonHyde

In Canyonlands, the Chesler Park Loop is a full day hike--and an absolute must. If I just had one day there, that is what I would do.

Natural Bridges is ok. Honestly I would skip it.

In Arches--Delicate Arch is a half day ish (less than) and a must.

Nix the Coyote Gulch idea and save for another trip.

Butler Wash cave dwellings are not that great. You can see good ones at the Mule Ruins right on the road outside of Blanding. Those are quick and easy to see. But I think that could be a bit out of your way. If you want to see all 5 parks, you need to just focus on that, nothing else.

In Capitol Reef, do the Hickman Bridge Hike. Doesn't take long, has good stuff to see and you get to a natural bridge.

If you click on my user name, you will see trip reports for all 5 parks plus surrounding areas. These are trips with kids. I do lots of backpacking and longer hiking without kids but don't do trip reports for those.

bachslunch

Re Arches NP:

Did not hike the Delicate Arch Trail, but all reports suggests it's a must. Fiery Firnace is supposedly excellent as well.

I can vouch for the Devil's Garden Trail as top priority. At the very least, hike it past Landscape Arch and up to Double-O Arch, and note that taking side spurs to Navajo Arch and Partition Arch are well worthwhile.

Also seriously consider The Windows and Double Arch trails, close by each other, short, and scenic.

RVvagabond

Zion: Observation point is a major hike from the bottom much more difficult than Angels. East entry via Ponderosa Ranch is easier. I've been to both and prefer Angel although OP has a more dramatic view especially during summer solstice.

Narrows - Assume you are considering hiking UP the river. Yes, do it with walking sticks and good water shoes. >>> About