Zion, Bryce, St. George
Aug 18th, 2002, 05:46 PM
#1
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Zion, Bryce, St. George
We will fly to Vegas next spring break, rent a car, and stay in St. George since one of us can arrange a time share there. Is it feasible to use St. George as a base to explore Zion and Bryce? How long would the drives be? What kind of weather can we expect in the spring?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Aug 18th, 2002, 07:25 PM
#2
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If you have a timeshare in St. George then it makes for a wonderful base to explore the area.
The main enterance to Zion is just outside of Springdale via I-15 and Hwy 9 and that is 40 miles. Bryce is another 90 miles from Zion via Hwy 9, Hwy 89 and Hwy 12.
I would recommend doing a day or two at Zion and then one day just for Bryce. You might go to Byrce via Zion for another look but then come back via Cedar Breaks and Cedar City the return trip is about 135 miles.
From St. George you can make a quick trip to the Kolob Canyon section of Zion which is 35 miles north on I-15.
Another place that is very close to St. George is Snow Canyon State Park. Utah has magnificant state parks. Snow Canyon is one of them. It is on 12 miles from St. George on Hwy 18 north out of town.
That should keep you busy for a week!
April can still be cool to cold. May should be warmer but you can still have some cooler weather. The spring is my favorite time to visit.
You will be able to travel 65 MPH on the Interstate and usually about 55 on the Highways. The pass to Cedar Breaks and through the Zion tunnel will be a little slower going.
Let me know if you need more info.
Utahtea
The main enterance to Zion is just outside of Springdale via I-15 and Hwy 9 and that is 40 miles. Bryce is another 90 miles from Zion via Hwy 9, Hwy 89 and Hwy 12.
I would recommend doing a day or two at Zion and then one day just for Bryce. You might go to Byrce via Zion for another look but then come back via Cedar Breaks and Cedar City the return trip is about 135 miles.
From St. George you can make a quick trip to the Kolob Canyon section of Zion which is 35 miles north on I-15.
Another place that is very close to St. George is Snow Canyon State Park. Utah has magnificant state parks. Snow Canyon is one of them. It is on 12 miles from St. George on Hwy 18 north out of town.
That should keep you busy for a week!
April can still be cool to cold. May should be warmer but you can still have some cooler weather. The spring is my favorite time to visit.
You will be able to travel 65 MPH on the Interstate and usually about 55 on the Highways. The pass to Cedar Breaks and through the Zion tunnel will be a little slower going.
Let me know if you need more info.
Utahtea
Aug 18th, 2002, 10:27 PM
#3
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You can reach St. George from Las Vegas in two hours (at 80 m.p.h.). You can't go that fast in Utah, however. The road to Zion is Interstate only partway, and from there to Bryce there is no interstate. I disagree with Utahtea concerning the weather. I visited my parents and then my mother in St. George many times in January. The weather was lovely but I would never have called it cold. They don't call that area of Utah Dixie for nothing. I didn't even take a jacket with me--maybe a long-sleeved flannel shirt for the cooler days, or for the evenings. In the spring I imagine the weather will stiull be beautiful, but fairly warm (70s in the daytime?). I'm talking about St. George. I don't know about the parks. Several years ago we visited Zion in June, and it was pretty hot, just like St. George at that time.
Aug 18th, 2002, 11:10 PM
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Hi Diane,
It's not always cold in Bryce and Zion in the spring, but you should be prepared for it. We were in the area last May and it was warm and sunny.
But we have had it snow a couple of inches on us on April 1, in Zion and no it wasn't an April Fools Joke.
We also had it snow on Memorial Day weekend at the end of May. It started to snow as we left Bryce and we couldn't make it to Cedar Breaks because the snow on the ground was getting to deep. There was snow in Zion when we arrived. Let me tell you I was glad I had my coat even if it was the end of May. We ended up leaving Zion a day early and went to Death Valley to warm up.
Both times we heard that it was unusual to have snow, but now that we've experienced it twice you won't catch me without my coat even in the spring.
St. George elevation is about 2700 ft., Zion's elevation is about 3800 ft. and Bryce's elevation is about 7600 ft.
You can check out the average highs and lows for Zion:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/climatology/monthly/USUT0276
Bryce:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/climatology/monthly/USUT0032
and St. George which does have a milder climate than the parks:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/climatology/monthly/USUT0222
Utahtea
It's not always cold in Bryce and Zion in the spring, but you should be prepared for it. We were in the area last May and it was warm and sunny.
But we have had it snow a couple of inches on us on April 1, in Zion and no it wasn't an April Fools Joke.
We also had it snow on Memorial Day weekend at the end of May. It started to snow as we left Bryce and we couldn't make it to Cedar Breaks because the snow on the ground was getting to deep. There was snow in Zion when we arrived. Let me tell you I was glad I had my coat even if it was the end of May. We ended up leaving Zion a day early and went to Death Valley to warm up.
Both times we heard that it was unusual to have snow, but now that we've experienced it twice you won't catch me without my coat even in the spring.
St. George elevation is about 2700 ft., Zion's elevation is about 3800 ft. and Bryce's elevation is about 7600 ft.
You can check out the average highs and lows for Zion:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/climatology/monthly/USUT0276
Bryce:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/climatology/monthly/USUT0032
and St. George which does have a milder climate than the parks:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/climatology/monthly/USUT0222
Utahtea
Aug 19th, 2002, 09:32 AM
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These suggestions sound great, thank you all. We will pack for the usual range and just layer on clothes as needed.
It does sound as though Bryce may be a very long way to go over and back to St. George in the same day. Do you think it a good idea to sleep in Bryce for a night instead of doing the long drive?
It does sound as though Bryce may be a very long way to go over and back to St. George in the same day. Do you think it a good idea to sleep in Bryce for a night instead of doing the long drive?
Aug 19th, 2002, 09:47 AM
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Hi Anna,
That's really hard to say if you should plan on a night in Bryce. Some people think Bryce is the Best National Park in Utah and then there are people like me who like Zion, Arches, Capitol Reef better than Bryce.
If you leave really early in the morning you probably could do a day trip to Bryce. It will be about 270 miles round trip. That will leave you a couple of hours to go to the overlooks and maybe do a short hike.
If it is possible to spend the night in Bryce then maybe you should do it. If you find you don't want to spend as much time there as you thought you can take a day drive through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Mounment on very Scenic Hwy 12 to Boulder, Utah. This is a fantastic drive and you will enjoy the views coming and going on the same road. From Bryce to Boulder is 140 miles round trip.
Utahtea
That's really hard to say if you should plan on a night in Bryce. Some people think Bryce is the Best National Park in Utah and then there are people like me who like Zion, Arches, Capitol Reef better than Bryce.
If you leave really early in the morning you probably could do a day trip to Bryce. It will be about 270 miles round trip. That will leave you a couple of hours to go to the overlooks and maybe do a short hike.
If it is possible to spend the night in Bryce then maybe you should do it. If you find you don't want to spend as much time there as you thought you can take a day drive through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Mounment on very Scenic Hwy 12 to Boulder, Utah. This is a fantastic drive and you will enjoy the views coming and going on the same road. From Bryce to Boulder is 140 miles round trip.
Utahtea
Aug 19th, 2002, 11:47 AM
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Hi Utahtea....The state of Utah should be giving you some monetary rewards for your consistent assistance to anything Zion-ish. You are really the best. I haven't been to Zion but I always see your postings and they're so darn helpful. Keep up the good work, girl!!
Aug 19th, 2002, 10:47 PM
#9
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After rereading my message above, I realize that I MUST have taken a coat when I visited my mother in January because I would have needed it when I left Maryland and later returned. I remember one colder-than-usual January when the pilot announced that the temperature at BWI (Baltimore) was 6 degrees! I was happy to see that my thoughtful husband had brought a heavier coat to the airport for my trip home. I really don't remember ever wearing a coat in St. George, but I AM getting older and more forgetful, so who knows.
Anna, if you are IMAX fans, you might enjoy one of the IMAX films in Springdale. We loved the one about the Indians, the slot canyons and the rock climbing. Also, Rockville is a tiny town just before Springdale. If you turn right over the bridge in the middle (?) of Rockville, then turn right after you cross the river and follow the rather bad road to its end, you will come upon the old, ramshackle houses (all vacant) where Paul Newman gave the girl the bicycle ride in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Anna, if you are IMAX fans, you might enjoy one of the IMAX films in Springdale. We loved the one about the Indians, the slot canyons and the rock climbing. Also, Rockville is a tiny town just before Springdale. If you turn right over the bridge in the middle (?) of Rockville, then turn right after you cross the river and follow the rather bad road to its end, you will come upon the old, ramshackle houses (all vacant) where Paul Newman gave the girl the bicycle ride in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Aug 19th, 2002, 11:14 PM
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Hi Diane,
The Ghost town you speak of outside of Rockville is called Grafton. It's a shame that so many of the houses have gone to ruins. There is only one street to turn on in Rockville and if you miss it just ask any local for directions to Grafton. Also take a look around the old grave yard on the left before you get to Grafton.
The first time we where there was in the early 80's and there were many more houses in good shape. In fact they had just finished making a made for TV movie there. We have many different years of pictures we took at this town.
Not only did the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid at this site, the real Butch and Sundance also use to hide out in one of the old houses but it has burned down a few years ago. I have pictures of the house. The old church is the best building standing and makes for a great picture with Zion in the background. Note: The green and white house in the background in this picture is barely standing now &this is not my picture.
http://www.so-utah.com/zion/zionpark/grafton.jpg
Melinda, thank you for your post. I just love to visit Utah. I guess it shows in my posts
Utahtea
The Ghost town you speak of outside of Rockville is called Grafton. It's a shame that so many of the houses have gone to ruins. There is only one street to turn on in Rockville and if you miss it just ask any local for directions to Grafton. Also take a look around the old grave yard on the left before you get to Grafton.
The first time we where there was in the early 80's and there were many more houses in good shape. In fact they had just finished making a made for TV movie there. We have many different years of pictures we took at this town.
Not only did the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid at this site, the real Butch and Sundance also use to hide out in one of the old houses but it has burned down a few years ago. I have pictures of the house. The old church is the best building standing and makes for a great picture with Zion in the background. Note: The green and white house in the background in this picture is barely standing now &this is not my picture.
http://www.so-utah.com/zion/zionpark/grafton.jpg
Melinda, thank you for your post. I just love to visit Utah. I guess it shows in my posts
Utahtea
Aug 20th, 2002, 01:13 PM
#11
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Thanks for the suggestions. I did look at your photo, Utahtea. Two of my friends LOVE to take interesting pictures so we will definitely go to Grafton -- not to mention that Sundance made me swoon so many years ago!
We'll check out the IMAX, too. thanks.
We'll check out the IMAX, too. thanks.
Aug 21st, 2002, 12:53 PM
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Hi Anna!
I live in Utah & have been to all the parks multiple times. Personally, driving from St. George to Bryce just for a day trip is not something I would want to do. Taking time to hike in Bryce makes it all worth while. At least stay overnight.
Butch Cassidy is one of my all time favorite movies. The scenes shot around Zion are some of the most beautiful. Just saw "Sundance" RR live on Saturday & yes, he still makes me swoon!
I live in Utah & have been to all the parks multiple times. Personally, driving from St. George to Bryce just for a day trip is not something I would want to do. Taking time to hike in Bryce makes it all worth while. At least stay overnight.
Butch Cassidy is one of my all time favorite movies. The scenes shot around Zion are some of the most beautiful. Just saw "Sundance" RR live on Saturday & yes, he still makes me swoon!
