Hi - We (my boyfriend & I) will be going to Utah (first time for both of us) and Vegas (his first time) in mid-November this year. We plan to spend 8-9 days there and will rent a car to see the beautiful national park and do some hikes. We'll be starting and ending in Vegas! We are in our mid-30's and active and are interested in doing some must-do hikes. We don't want to be stuck in a car for most of the time so I have pared down the itinerary and had to sacrifice some of the sites.

I came up with 3 possible itineraries and am having a tough time deciding what is best. I'd love to get some feedback from my fellow Fodorites. Please let me know which you would choose and any other comments are welcome! Thanks!!

Itinerary #1 - includes Grand Canyon
Day 1 - Land in Vegas, get car, drive to Zion
Day 2 - Zion (what hikes do you recommend?)
Day 3 - Zion
Day 4 - Bryce (I read that GS Escalante is a must see, do you agree?)
Day 5 - Bryce
Day 6 - Grand Canyon (stay near Grand Canyon)
Day 7 - Vegas (drive to Vegas in the afternoon)
Day 8 - Vegas
Day 9 - Home sweet home

Itinerary #2 - Monument Valley instead of Grand Canyon
Day 1 - Land in Vegas, get car, drive to Zion (stay Springdale)
Day 2 - Zion (stay Springdale)
Day 3 - Zion (to Bryce in afternoon, stay near Bryce)
Day 4 - Bryce, then Anasazi State Park, GS Escalante
Day 5 - Monument Valley
Day 6 - Grand Canyon
Day 7 - Vegas (drive to Vegas in the afternoon)
Day 8 - Vegas
Day 9 - Home sweet home

Itinerary #3 - includes Arches and Grand Canyon, not Monument Valley
Day 1 - Land in Vegas, get car, drive to Zion (stay Springdale)
Day 2 - Zion (stay Springdale)
Day 3 - Zion (then to Bryce in afternoon, stay Springdale)
Day 4 - Bryce (and GS Escalante, drive to Arches in afternoon?)
Day 5 - Arches (would like to see Dead Horse Point, Canyonlands)
Day 6 - Grand Canyon
Day 7 - Vegas (drive to Vegas in the afternoon)
Day 8 - Vegas
Day 9 - Home sweet home

Day 3 don't stay in Springdale, stay near Bryce for plan 1 and 3.

One day is not enough to see much of Arches, Dead horse and Canyonlands and drive to GC for plan 3.

In November days are very short and there is a possibility of ice or snow on the roads. There are animals that venture out on the roads between the parks and they are very hard to see in the dark, so I would not drive after sunset.

The roads to the north rim of GC will probably not be open and no facilities there will be open, so you will have to drive around to the south rim.

The only plan that I would attempt is #1. BTW you did include GC and MV in plan 2, so too rushed.

Thanks emalloy! I get nervous about the possibility of ice/snow and might want to take out GC. South Rim is a longer drive, right? Trying to avoid more driving. If I take out GC, would you suggest that we replace it with Arches or Monument Valley (or anything else)?

It will take almost the same amount of time to go to Monument Valley as to go to the south rim of GC, and of the two I prefer GC. Arches will be farther yet.

If you do go to the south rim you could stop in Page for Antelope Canyon and on the way back to Vegas, visit Hoover Dam.

Put me in the camp that actually prefers staying in the town of Springdale. I like the location of Cable mountain Lodge the best.

As for hikes, I like Observatoon point, Narrows, and Scouts Landing for real hikes, and the usual shorter walks. I don't have the nerves to do angels landing.

At Bryce I like QG/ Navajo trail combined with peekaboo trail for one nice long day hike.

Thank you both! Thanks for suggesting the GC South Rim as opposed to North Rim. I have decided to definitely include GC in the trip. I've revised my itinerary and hope you can take another look. Itinerary A includes Arches, Canyonlands, and Monument Valley. Itinerary B includes Antelope Canyon.

ITINERARY A
Land, get car, drive to Zion
Zion
Zion (then to Bryce in afternoon)
Bryce, then Anasazi State Park, GS Escalante (drive to Arches)
Arches, Dead Horse Point, Canyonlands
Monument Valley
Grand Canyon SOUTH RIM
Vegas

ITINERARY B
Land, get car, drive to Zion
Zion
Zion
Bryce, then Anasazi State Park, GS Escalante
Page/Antelope Canyon
Grand Canyon SOUTH RIM
Vegas
Vegas

I'm concerned with mid-November weather. If rumors of El Nino are true, then Zion/Bryce will have snow.

If true, then Zion's Angel's Landing may be closed to hiking. If not, it is a must-do hike. J62 suggest Observation Point. In my opinion, it has the best view and spectacular on 21 June. HOWEVER - It is a long hike. From bottom/valley - be a goat. From East Rim/Stave Springs is overnight. There is another entry from the east, which I use, but it is hard to find the Trailhead.

Highway 12 - by itself - is a photographer's dream from Hanksville to Boulder and to Torrey over Boulder Mt.
Boulder Mountain is high and may have snow restrictions pending El Nino. Note: Anasazi Museum at Boulder is about 1-2 hours max visit.

GS Escalante is superb for hikers. Driving Hole In The Rock Road requires high clearance vehicle passing memorable views. Last time I was there, I needed 4-WD the last few miles. It is historically interesting as this was Mormons route to southeast Utah. Google Hole In the Rock Mormon -- Hell's Backbone Road is another driving tour. Rudi Lambrechtse's book Hiking the Escalante is ageless.Used book on Amazon are very cheap. Penny for a used book

Vaga

I would not even think of including the Moab area for this trip. You should plan on spending at least several days in that area and you just don't have that kind of time.

It looks like you are driving from Zion to Bryce in the morning of day 4, then visiting Bryce, Anasazi and Grand Staircase all in one day. That is a lot, especially considering shorter days in November. Grand Staircase is huge, you will not be able to 'see' it as you will the national parks because it is so vast and it is not as visitor friendly as the parks.

I would drive from Zion to Bryce late afteroon or early evening - don't worry about seeing sunset at Bryce as it is a non-event. Get up early for sunrise, drive to the far end of the park and see the viewpoints and do a hike down into the hoodoos. Go visit Anasazi in the afternoon then overnight somewhere closeby. Pick out an area of Grand Staircase to explore and do that on day 5 before heading to Page.

If you get to Page early enough visit Antelope that day, otherwise do it first thing in the morning then head to Grand Canyon. Antelope Canyon is best in mid-day but you don't have the luxury of waiting until then if you want to see everything on your list. On your way into the Grand Canyon, stop at all the viewpoints and walk along the rim. Set aside a few hours in the morning to hike down South Kaibab (go to Cedar Ridge, then turn around and go back up) before leaving for Vegas.

http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/grand...ckpacking.html

I meant to include that link, check it out and pick out some hikes that interest you.

My DW and I went to Moab, Arches, Island in the Sky, Goblin Valley and Capitol Reef in early November several years ago. The weather was pleasant and dry but the weather can change very quickly. I favor your Itin. B for November.
Plan on going to Moab area on another trip earlier in the year.
Instead of 2 nights in Las Vegas, see Hoover Dam on the way from the South Rim to LV. Stay at the Grand Canyon Lodge after seeing the dam. http://hooverdamlodge.com/
It's not fancy but it is a bit cheaper than the nicer Vegas hotels.