sludick

For those of you who have read Basingstoke's trip report, we have something similar planned this fall. I'd like a bit of advice on how to pack, as we'll be covering some different terrain and elevations at a changeable time of year, weather-wise.

October 2- Fly into Salt Lake city, then up to Yellowstone for the week.
October 9 - Head down to Bryce Natl Park; 2 nights in Panguitch
October 11 - North Rim Grand Canyon (just before it closes)
October 12 - Kanab (interested in movie museum)
October 13 - Torrey (Capital Reef)
October 14-18 - Moab: Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse, etc.
October 19-20 - Salt Lake City

We've been to Yellowstone that time of year and know we may expect some snow. Once we are in the Utah Parks area, we are wondering if we might need short sleeves/capris/warmer weather clothes? Planning to layer, but don't want to bring unnecessary stuff. Since we live in Central Florida, we tend to pack heavier clothing for what we think is cold.

We will be doing some light to moderate hikes, two half-day mule trips, a day with a jeep at Canyonlands, a Colorado River boat ride.

DebitNM

I doubt you will be needing warm weather clothes. It may feel cold to a Floridian and a bit warm to us. Prhaps 1 short sleeve shirt and 1 capri, if you want to cover your bases.

sludick

Ok, maybe a lightweight long-sleeved shirt that is good to roll up, plus a souvenir t-shirt that we have accumulated on the trip....

BTW, we are staying at the Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab. Saw the Castle Valley Gourd Festival on Saturday while we are there. Sounds like our speed (small town, and we have family members who like to make gourd art).

RVvagabond

Kanab
Movie museum - it is free. And they have a dinner/show in the evening - call them for info.

Where to stay. This is THE famous movie star motel. Not 5-star, but very nice.

Stay in a historic room:125-Ronald Reagan (filmed TV Death Valley Days); 126-James Gardner; 127-Frank Sinatra; 128-Telly Savalas; 129-Dean Martin; 133-Sammy Davis, Jr.; 135-Don Knotts; 138-Barbara Stanwyck; 141-Gregory Peck; 143-Tim Conway; 144-Peter Lawford; 145-Walter Brennan; 175-James Arness and others. They show old westerns that were made here in their Old Barn Theater.
http://www.parrylodge.com/

Moab - Canyonland. Since you will be driving 4-WD, highly recommend 110 mile White Rim trail. If staying overnight, you need a camping permit. Limited number of designated camp sites. Drive clockwise, if possible as that is the popular direction. Thus, no conflicts on narrow roads.

http://www.utahoutside.com/2010/04/p...national-park/

Suggest this book: Canyonland National Park Favorite Jeep Roads and Hiking Trails.


Vaga
PS - Week at Yellowstone is excessive.

sharondi

Our trips to the southwest are almost always in early-mid September although we went in early October in 2013. We did some tent camping and found the nights to be much colder in Oct - temps in the 30's.

Even looking at current temps in southern Utah you'll find daytime temps above 100 degrees yet in the 60's & 70's at night - a pretty big difference! We bring shorts & light clothing for daytime and fleece, socks and long sleeve items to layer up for evening, especially if camping. If you are going in early Sept, it will be warm but you should have raingear for hiking.

sludick

Thanks for the advice. We will be going in early-mid October. We love Yellowstone and have never tired of spending a week at a time there. Will check into the White Rim trail as well.

Dayle

Sludick,

Like Sharondi and Peterboy, you will probably become big Utah fans! I wish you had one more day to devote to driving Hwy 12, but maybe you can save that for your next trip. Don't know if you have seen Zion, but no time this trip.

Any particular reason you are staying in Panguitch? It's kind of far from the park and you will really need to get up early if you want to see the sunrise.

Pack as Sharon describes. In October with the different elevations, you will need everything.

sludick

Hi Dayle! Well..Panguitch is a compromise. This second half of the trip is built around DH's desire to see the north rim of the Grand Canyon (originally it was just to be Arches/Canyonlands).

It's a pretty long drive from West Yellowstone, so that's a far as we will go. DH wants to see the north rim of the Grand Canyon, so had to scrape together time and routing for that. We've been to Bryce once and Zion a few times.

One thing we look for is to see some of an area's history - so in Panguitch, we are staying at the Red Brick Inn B&B, which was the area's first hospital. Bryce will be something for the next day, with a 1/2 horse/mule trip. Early the second morning, we head to GC.

Now here we had to compromise, in order to see/do some things. Our rule is normally no 1-night stays, with an exception for an airport stay. But in order to fit in 12, Kanab's museum, etc., we will stay 1 night in GC, 1 night Kanab, 1 night Torrey. Getting to GC early will give us some time.

I do wish we had more time for 12, and hopefully we will come back to revisit the areas we shortchanged. Once we get to Moab, we have 4 nights. In Salt Lake City, we also have 2 nights, to do some family history research and visit with a coworker's family.

Dayle

Sludick,

Hopefully you will still see some golden aspens. You might miss the normal peak color by a week for your Utah destinations.

Have fun!

HappyTrvlr

We had one of our more memorable 4th of Julys in Panguitch at their town rodeo. Quite a memory.

WhereAreWe

Absolutely bring a couple pairs of shorts and short sleeved shirts. They don't take up that much space in your bag and you'll be glad you have them if you hit a warmer than normal day or week. One pair of capris and a souvenir t-shirt will get real old real fast.