a0628h0427

We will be traveling to Las Vegas in early October. While we are in the area, we wanted to take in as many of the nearby national parks as we can. We will leave Vegas around noon on a Sunday and need to be back in Vegas on the following Thursday night to make our flights on Friday. I would prefer not to just drive into the parks, get out of the car at a lookout point, and move on. I would like to do some short day hikes while we are there. So the question is this: can this itinerary be done in 4 1/2 days, or are we packing too much in? If we have to give up one of the parks, which should it be? Each seem to have their positives and negatives, with the Grand Canyon having the largest negative in that the nearest lodging to the North Rim seems to be about 45 miles away in Jacob Lake. The other two have lodging nearby.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Cody

Connie

The north rim has lodging right on the rim unless they are booked up. If so, I would check back often for cancellations--very common.

This will be a quick trip but yes, you can do them in 4.5 days. My two favs are Grand Canyon (north rim is totally different and better than the south rim, IMO) and Bryce but everyone has their differing opinions.

Tomsd

LOL. And I/we prefer Zion and the South Rim - especially for first time visitors.

But hey - now matter how you do it - it will be fun, assuming you don't run into an early winter snow storm.

tomfuller

Many years ago I stayed a night at the Kaibab campground.
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/cg-nr.htm
There are worse thing than throwing up a tent when you can't get lodging where you want it.
Are you picking up your rental car right after landing at McCarran?
If you had to drop one of the parks to give more time to others, I would give up Bryce Canyon.
On Thursday on the way back on I-15, take the road through Valley of Fire State Park. You can come out the east side of the State Park and follow the north and west sides of Lake Meade to go visit Hoover Dam.
Thursday night you could stay at the Fiesta in Henderson.
It is an easy shot from Henderson to the airport to turn in the rental car.

doug_stallings

It's a lot of driving but quite doable. I even visited the Grand Canyon north rim as a day-trip from Zion and enjoyed the drive even though we only had a few hours at the canyon itself. The reason why I prefer the North Rim is because you have a very very long drive all the way back around the canyon to get back to Las Vegas. While I agree that the South Rim is the best for a first-time visitor to the Grand Canyon, it adds hundreds of miles and almost a day of travel to your trip. I'd prefer to spend that time at Bryce Canyon. Ideally, you'd split your time between Zion and Bryce, staying at each and visiting the Canyon as a day-trip from Bryce. That limits the driving.

spirobulldog

Doable,yes. Experiencing them, no.

I've spend 3-6 days in each spot several times.

It depends on what you want to do and how much hiking you want to do. I really really like to hike The Narrows and Angels Landing in Zion(these aren't for everyone though). These two usually make most Top Ten Dayhikes in the US lists. Peekaboo loop and Queens Garden/Navajo Loop Trails in Bryce are great ones too. Horseback riding there is pretty cool too. Sunrises and sunsets are nice(very good at Grand Canyon too).

Grand Canyon might have the biggest initial wow factor, but that's the one I would eliminate. Now, if you wanted to hike to Phantom Ranch then it would be more of a debate then.

You really can't go wrong with any of them. Lodging is going to be tough for October most likely.

MichelleY

Yes you can do it. Spend the first two nights at Zion. Then Tuesday night at Bryce. Try to stay in the park . then move to the N. Rim of the GC for Wed. Night. Again, try for in park digs. This will be during the week, after the peak season, so you may be able to get lodging by calling ahead or by constantly checking their website. We did a similar trip in early June about 4 years ago. I was able to get the Bryce reservation first so arranged around that. I was then able to get a cabin at the N rim by calling a few days ahead.

Here is a link to our report, a little old, but it may be helpful.

MichelleY

Here is the link

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...rip-report.cfm

Tomsd

spiro: Next time we go to Zion/Bryce etc areas - will look up your posts and hikes/pics - as your reviews are great.

And for first time visitors - I would agree the Grand Canyon has the most "Wow" factor. It was just sort of a throw in on our last trip as we have been there several times before - but as always - we "Wowed" it uno mas, especially when using the binos to watch some of the hearty souls going down the rapids.

Thanks again for your great reviews.

OO

I agree with spirobulldog. That's a lot of travel and not much "experiencing". We've done multiple days at both Zion and GC multiple times, and probably will go back more multiple days. Have done Bryce once, though it's every bit as beautiful in its own right.

We too love hiking and have covered much of Zion, all gorgeous, all different, yet still want to go back. We've made excursions into the GC on 3 separate occasions, never with enough time to go to the bottom and back, but it's on my bucket list. First trip our turn around point was the first way station....not nearly enough time allotted that trip. 2nd trip we went to Indian Gardens and back, and the 3rd and longest, to Plateau Point and back. And we still want more. These were all done with our grown kids, (as well as Zion and Bryce) and we made some terrific memories!

You really feel as if you've experienced these parks if you've done even a small amount of hiking. We've done both Bryce and Zion from the Las Vegas airport. Grand Canyon from Phoenix. In your shoes I'd do Bryce and Zion this trip, and save Grand Canyon South rim for another trip. Take time to smell the flowers.

Our last trip to Zion...we landed in Vegas and drove right out...did not pass go, did not collect $100, which exlpains me and my travel preferences some, and why we spent the amount of time we have in the various hiking destinations. It's not for everyone, but we love it, and it's a love we didn't happen upon until our late 50s!

OO

If you like my suggestion for Bryce and Zion this trip, next trip when you do GC, I'd also suggest doing Sedona, which is on the way to the GC if you fly into Phoenix. All beautiful, and all very different.

a0628h0427

Thanks to everyone for your tips and advice. We're leaning toward leaving off one of the parks -- probably Bryce. My girlfriend has never seen the Grand Canyon, and I've only been to the South Rim, so I kind of think it's a "must see" for her. And, from the way several of my friends have raved about Zion, I think we need to spend at least a couple of full days there. Has anyone had any experience with Cedar Breaks National Monument? Is it worth the drive?

spirobulldog

Cedar Breaks is similar to Bryce (hoodoos). Bryce is by far better.

spirobulldog

North Rim closes Oct 15 usually, btw.

MichelleY

So close. Don't leave Bryce off.

Tomsd

To moi - part of the beauty of posting your Q's here is that you get an enormous amount of seasoned feedback - and suggest you print this out and take it with you - as enroute - you might just decide you can do more - or less, whatever.

doug_stallings

While Zion is beautiful, it's probably going to be too cold in October to do the really amazing hike in the Narrows (though I'm sure people do it). I'd vote to leave Bryce on your list. I found it much more accessible for easy hiking than Zion and spectacularly beautiful. But it's definitely colder there than at Zion because of the higher altitude.

spirobulldog

I've hiked The Narrows Twice Both times in October. Very pretty fall colors. I rented a wetsuit and the shoes from Zion Adventure Co. I saw a lot of people that were in just shorts or bathing suits-that would be to cold for me, but we never got cold at all. It is almost entirely in shade, so you will not heat up along the way because of the sun really.

spirobulldog

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

A former guide for Zion Adventure Company specifically recommend The Narrows for the month of Oct.

spirobulldog

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/w...0IatW7FqybsWdq
Here is a link to a trip of ours in October.