12 day trip thru National Parks
May 1st, 2007, 12:57 PM
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12 day trip thru National Parks
I am trying to put together a driving tour of the southern Utah NPs for 12 to 13 days in late Sept. early Oct 07for my wife and I. I am thinking of flying in and out of LV and renting a car. I would like to spend time in the MOAB area and see the Arches & Canyonland and also see Capitol Reef area ;Bryce and Zion. Would like to get some ideas as to how to plan this trip either starting in the Moab area and ending up in Zion or vs/versa. We are in our 70s and enjoy viewing these natural wonders but are not "hikers" as my wife is in a wheelchair with Parkinsons ; "I'm a great pusher". This forem last year helped us plan a wonderful two week trip to GTNP and YELLOWSTONE. We are very flexible as to time and do not want entertainment ; just the beauty these NP have to offer.Places to stay and dining would be appreciated if you have some favorites ! We enjoy rustic cabins and old grand hotels and friendly B&Bs .Any help and ideas you can offer would be greatly appreciated by us.This is our 50th year of marriage celebration and spending in the NPs excites us. Thanks in advance for your comments and help. D.L.D.
May 1st, 2007, 05:36 PM
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Suggestion - drive from Bryce up to Capitol Reef for the most dramatic unfolding of astounding scenery, after Escalante, along route 12. Kodachrome Basin State Park is nearby, a nice detour.
The lodges in Zion and Bryce are worth trying to book. At the very least, have a meal at the Bryce Canyon Lodge.
The lodges in Zion and Bryce are worth trying to book. At the very least, have a meal at the Bryce Canyon Lodge.
May 1st, 2007, 06:07 PM
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Hi there,
You might consider flying into SLC and then out of Vegas. From SLC, you can drive to Moab .... stop for lunch in Price UT, a stop at the John Wesley POwell Museum, then on to Moab. Stay there for a couple of days. You can do Arches and Canyonlands from there. From Moab, you can go to Capitol Reef, or go to Monument Valley. Head west to the GC, then up to Bryce, then to Zion. Then on to Vegas home.
Have a great time ... it's a beautiful area
You might consider flying into SLC and then out of Vegas. From SLC, you can drive to Moab .... stop for lunch in Price UT, a stop at the John Wesley POwell Museum, then on to Moab. Stay there for a couple of days. You can do Arches and Canyonlands from there. From Moab, you can go to Capitol Reef, or go to Monument Valley. Head west to the GC, then up to Bryce, then to Zion. Then on to Vegas home.
Have a great time ... it's a beautiful area
May 1st, 2007, 07:03 PM
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You need Utahtea. She is great in this area...I think she's been everywhere in this region. Maybe you can sift through old threads by doing a search and if you can put in a keyword like her username (which is Utahtea) then you can read her advice to folks on trips very similar to yours. Maybe she'll reply to your thread. I respect her opinion very much, so for your sake I hope she makes an appearance!
May 2nd, 2007, 03:59 AM
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I'm afraid I can't help you much other than by saying that Zion is absolutely breathtaking. I just wanted to comment on how much your most made me smile because you have not let Parkinson's deter you and your wife from traveling. Good for you two, I hope you have a lovely time. 
May 2nd, 2007, 11:21 PM
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I wanted to reply yesterday, but it was to late last night by the time I saw this thread...now I get to put my 2 cents worth in before Dayle...
Day 1 Fly into Las Vegas
Day 2 Las Vegas to Page, AZ via 270 miles via I-15, Hwy 59, then Hwy 89 though Kanab onto Page, AZ. Enjoy the sunset at Wahweap Marina.
Day 3 Consider doing one of the one or two hour boat trips on Lake Powell, then drive to Monument Valley. You can see much of the scenic area from the Highway. I don't know if you would consider a jeep tour. If you do, I'd spend the night in Gouldings, but if not move on to Moab. Total miles to Moab 275
Day 4 Tour Arches National Park and stop at the scenic overlooks. I really can't think of a place where you can push a wheel chair on any paths in this park, most paths are pretty sandy. Spend night in Moab.
Day 5 Tour Canyonlands and Dead Horse State Park. Grand View overlook will be a good place to be able to do a little pushing. I haven't been to the Green River overlook since they paved the road to the overlook, but I don't know if you will be able to get from the parking lot to the overlook here. Go to the campground if you can't and you can get a few views from the last campsite. Dead Horse State park will offer some good views and a chance to get out and do a little pushing. Spend night in Moab.
Day 6 (optional) Drive out Hwy 128 to Fisher Towers. This is a very scenic drive along the Colorado River. Also drive the paved part of the Potash Road (Hwy 279) and look for Petroglyphs. Another great drive on the opposite side of the Colorado River of the Potash Road is Kane Creek Road, with more petroglyphs. Drive into Arches and park at a turnout to watch the sunset. Arches is only 4 miles from Moab, so this is a favorite thing my husband and I like to do in the evenings.
Day 7 Drive to Capitol Reef National Park and spend the night in Torrey 175 miles.
Day 8 If you like having a relaxing trip, then spend the day driving in Capitol Reef. You won't have much chance to push your wife around except maybe at the petroglyph exibit on Hwy 24. If you don't mind doing a little driving, drive out the few miles of the paved part of the Notom road just east of the park. You get some really great views of the back of Captiol Reef.
Day 9 Drive from Torrey to Bryce via scenic Hwy 12. It's been a while since I've been to Anasazi State Park Museum in Boulder, Utah and I can't remember if it would be wheel chair accessible. Maybe someone else will know. From Boulder, Utah I'd recommend driving out the paved part of the Burr Trail and back. It's a beautiful drive! Spend the night at Bryce. Only 116 miles, but a lot of scenery so take your time.
Day 10 Spend the day and night in Bryce
Day 11 Drive the 86 miles to Zion and spend the night at the Zion Lodge or in Springdale, Utah. Ride the free Zion Shuttle buses into the canyon.
Day 12 Enjoy Zion. The Riverside Walk is a 2 mile round trip hike that is suppose to be wheel chair accessible, but here are a few good climbs towards the end of the hike, but I'd go as far as you could. The Pa’rus Trail is an easy trail to do.
Day 13 Drive the 3 hour drive back to Las Vegas and catch a late flight.
Utahtea
Day 1 Fly into Las Vegas
Day 2 Las Vegas to Page, AZ via 270 miles via I-15, Hwy 59, then Hwy 89 though Kanab onto Page, AZ. Enjoy the sunset at Wahweap Marina.
Day 3 Consider doing one of the one or two hour boat trips on Lake Powell, then drive to Monument Valley. You can see much of the scenic area from the Highway. I don't know if you would consider a jeep tour. If you do, I'd spend the night in Gouldings, but if not move on to Moab. Total miles to Moab 275
Day 4 Tour Arches National Park and stop at the scenic overlooks. I really can't think of a place where you can push a wheel chair on any paths in this park, most paths are pretty sandy. Spend night in Moab.
Day 5 Tour Canyonlands and Dead Horse State Park. Grand View overlook will be a good place to be able to do a little pushing. I haven't been to the Green River overlook since they paved the road to the overlook, but I don't know if you will be able to get from the parking lot to the overlook here. Go to the campground if you can't and you can get a few views from the last campsite. Dead Horse State park will offer some good views and a chance to get out and do a little pushing. Spend night in Moab.
Day 6 (optional) Drive out Hwy 128 to Fisher Towers. This is a very scenic drive along the Colorado River. Also drive the paved part of the Potash Road (Hwy 279) and look for Petroglyphs. Another great drive on the opposite side of the Colorado River of the Potash Road is Kane Creek Road, with more petroglyphs. Drive into Arches and park at a turnout to watch the sunset. Arches is only 4 miles from Moab, so this is a favorite thing my husband and I like to do in the evenings.
Day 7 Drive to Capitol Reef National Park and spend the night in Torrey 175 miles.
Day 8 If you like having a relaxing trip, then spend the day driving in Capitol Reef. You won't have much chance to push your wife around except maybe at the petroglyph exibit on Hwy 24. If you don't mind doing a little driving, drive out the few miles of the paved part of the Notom road just east of the park. You get some really great views of the back of Captiol Reef.
Day 9 Drive from Torrey to Bryce via scenic Hwy 12. It's been a while since I've been to Anasazi State Park Museum in Boulder, Utah and I can't remember if it would be wheel chair accessible. Maybe someone else will know. From Boulder, Utah I'd recommend driving out the paved part of the Burr Trail and back. It's a beautiful drive! Spend the night at Bryce. Only 116 miles, but a lot of scenery so take your time.
Day 10 Spend the day and night in Bryce
Day 11 Drive the 86 miles to Zion and spend the night at the Zion Lodge or in Springdale, Utah. Ride the free Zion Shuttle buses into the canyon.
Day 12 Enjoy Zion. The Riverside Walk is a 2 mile round trip hike that is suppose to be wheel chair accessible, but here are a few good climbs towards the end of the hike, but I'd go as far as you could. The Pa’rus Trail is an easy trail to do.
Day 13 Drive the 3 hour drive back to Las Vegas and catch a late flight.
Utahtea
