cctodd2530

Any advice you all have on recommendations for a trip in Mid-March ?

PaulRabe

Grand Canyon
Zion
Bryce Canyon
Arches
Canyonlands
Capitol Reef

That's six glorious national parks, all about one day's drive (or less) between each one. You could spend a month in Utah and not visit all the beauty within its parks and monuments.

If you prefer California:
Joshua Tree
Death Valley

If you prefer Texas:
Big Bend
Guadalupe Mountains

nytraveler

I think you need to do some work on the mid-March aspects of this. Some parks may be fine then - but those at altitudes can still have quite cold weather - depending on what activities you are looking for.

utahtea

Mid March in the Utah parks could mean cold temperatures and even snowy conditions even in the warmer locations like Zion. If you get some good weather than it will be great!

Big Bend National Park in Texas and Death Valley National Park in California would both be "in season" parks to visit.

Utahtea

starrs

We did Grand Canyon South Rim and Arches. It snowed at the GC (a lot) but it made for beautiful photos. Weather was perfect at Arches but there was some icy spots on the trail to Delicate Arch. Loved both in winter.

starrs

Not sure of your routing - where you are flying into, etc. - but I also like the SW corner of Colorado. Love driving through Monument Valley into Durango and that would give you the opportunity to see Mesa Verde NP.

http://www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/hours.htm

If you make that loop, stop at Hubbell Trading Post too
http://www.nps.gov/hutr/planyourvisit/hours.htm

I also recommend Canyon de Chelly -
http://www.nps.gov/CACH/planyourvisit/index.htm
Take a tour with a Navajo guide

Everyone has their favorites but that's the loop I'd do if I were going back in March.

rizzo0904

Biscayne and dry Tortuga's in Florida.

bigtyke

You list Colorado as one state. Much of Rocky Myn. NP is o.k. then unless there has just been a big snow. The TrailRidge road would still be closed as might some other high elevation roads.

RVvagabond

Re STARRS Hubble link - had a problem:
Try this link instead:
http://www.nps.gov/hutr/index.htm
I agree with starrs - see this historic site AND tour their home. It is as it was back then including all furniture and paintings. When the family left, the took nothing with them. Hubble is buried behind the house. The only white man buried in Navajo land.

IF you plan to purchase >> authentic

sanderskn

Stick with desert parks in Arizona and Utah. Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon come to mind.

starrs

Vaga, that is lovely.

I'm glad someone else loves too. I think of it often. A friend has accepted an assignment nearby and that will be my first stop. On my second visit and ranger was positioned on the bridge in pouring rain, keeping folks from stopping - the water in the wash was almost at bridge level. First time I'd ever been in Arizona rain like that.

My sister spent hours shopping for rugs at Cameron's Trading Post and Jacob's Lake. By the time she bought something she knew of the weavers, their designs, etc. She bought me a little wall hanging as a surprise. But if money drops from the sky, I'm heading to Hubble to shop!

wave725

Agree with PaulRaub on the choices above. The southwest is your best bet in March and it's a great time to visit the desert. Unless you want to do a lot of hiking in Arches, you can easily drive through the park in an afternoon. Bryce is beautiful from the rim, but it's a great park to explore on the trails as well. Zion is probably my favorite of the three for hiking and driving scenery. Some good trail information for those parks can be found here.

http://discoverthewest.blogspot.com/

Since you tagged Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is also a great park to visit, but March can be wet and the higher elevation trails will more than likely still have snow.

http://www.hikinginthesmokys.com/weather.htm

spirobulldog

Big Bend

Guadalupe/Carlbad Caverns

Possibly Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef. The things at Zion and Bryce would probably not be doable in March(the main things)

Death Valley

Saguaro/Tucson

Mammoth Cave

Great Smoky Mountains

Shenandoah

We have been to many other parks in Spring. However, the parks I listed above are, in my mind, the best to see/do in Spring.

One other place that we love during this time is Buffalo National River in Arkansas. It is truly and undiscovered Gem

lauramsgarden

We went to Zion in mid March and I'd have to say it was my favorite national park to date. do be aware that there could be ice on the trails and be cautious. Also, don't forget Mesa Verde in southern colorado, not as crowded as the others and amazing cliff dwellings - you could also go to Monutment Valley and Canyon De Chelly National Monuments (we may be there ourselves around then so perhaps we would bump into you). So many gorgeous places to visit in the west

spirobulldog

The Narrows wouldn't be doable in March in Zion. In my opinion a real shame to miss that one. One of the TOP TEN day hikes in America in most everyones list. Fairly Likely Angels Landing might be to slick/icy. Another Top Ten Hikes in America on most lists.

3/4 of Mesa Verde wont be open in March.

Shanti

I've been to Utah National Parks in winter and will be going back there next month. The parks are even more beautiful with snow although you have to be prepared for the possibility that the weather won't cooperate. You also won't have any crowds to contend with. However, you also won't be able to do some hikes like spirobulldog posted. Which may be one reason why I prefer Arches over Zion.

For definitely good weather, Death Valley, Joshua Tree and Saguaro would work.

indyhiker

It is possible to hike the Narrows in mid-March if (and this is indeed a big if) the water level isn't too high; it depends on that particular year's spring melt. Obviously, you have to keep a close eye on the water level and weather, and you'll have to rent a wet suit and dress accordingly, but I don't think it's totally out of the question to hike. I wouldn't necessarily count on it, but I also wouldn't rule it out.

That said, because of the possibility of ice on the rest of the trails, I think agree that Moab would be a better bet that time of year.

Here's some info on the Narrows in early spring.

http://www.zionadventures.com/ZBlog/...-zion-narrows/

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...Park_Utah.html

http://www.zionadventures.com/ZBlog/?s=narrows

http://www.citrusmilo.com/zionguide/narrowsday.cfm

gail

This all sounds fun, but I personally would prefer the rain forest national park in Puerto Rico in March.

MiamiBeachMomma

Last late March we visited

Zion

Bryce

Arches

Canyonlands

Capital Reef

We didn't do the Narrows, but plenty of people were in there with rented gear from in town.

Mid day we were down to short sleeve tshirts in Arches and Zion.

Bryce had some snow, but we were able to hike down with no problem.

It was an incredible trip!!! Wish we had longer in every park!!! My kids LOVED Arches the most. We did the Fiery Furnance and we weren't cold at all. When the sun went down - well that's another story!