ssutela

Hello- In mid-April we are heading out to the the GC loop, Admittedly, not a lot of down-time planned, but since we are from the East Coast, trying to see as much as we can in a week. Questions - should we add Antelope Canyon to this trip or is that too much? And, should we do Route 66.

Weds afternoon-Land in Vegas (rent car, buy snacks & water, etc for trip) Stay overnight
Thurs - up early - visit Hoover Dam (a non-negotiable for my hubby), drive to South Rim, GC [Question - should we go route 66 or no?]
Fri - Spend day at South Rim, hiking exploring, stay overnight
Sat- up early and drive to Bryce [Question-do we stop on the way at Antelope?] Check out the area...Stay overnight at Bryce
Sun - finish checking out Bryce - Drive to Zion. Check out Zion, Stay overnight
Mon- Get up, finish checking out Zion, and drive to Las Vegas
Tue - Explore Las Vegas
Weds- Fly home

FYI - we are 2 families, each with 2 kids...2 teenagers, and 2 elementary school age boys. So any hikes will be "easy" ones.

Thanks-Stacey

J62

Sounds like a good plan to me.

Rt66 - no, don't drive Rt66. At most, plan on a stop in Seligman, AZ for lunch at Roadkill Cafe, or Delgadillo's Snow Cap.

At Zion, consider splitting up and letting stronger hikers trek to Scout's lookout hike if it fits your schedule.

All of you should consider going at least a little way upstream towards the Narrows. At a minimum I recommend 2-3 bends in the river. The water will be cold (as in very cold, toe numbing cold) so look into renting water hiking shoes & neoprene socks.

If the water level is too high the NPS will not let you hike up river - not sure at what point they turn you back, but the park rangers and the gear rental shops will be able to inform you.

As for Antelope, my 2c is you'll get plenty of red rock sandstone & canyons on this trip, so skip Antelope is ok.

Michael

Antelope Canyon is a must and within an easy drive from the Grand Canyon, and basically on the road from the South Rim to the Utah nationa parks. Do it.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7783/show?rb=1

emalloy

I agree, rt. 66 is not worth the extra time and I would skip Antelope Canyon unless someone really wants to see it and it is a sunny day. It is beautiful, but so are the parks. If you take 89A, from 89 before you get to Page, you will go through some beautiful red rocks.

I would probably want to spend another half day in either Bryce or Zion rather than doing a whole day "exploring Vegas".

Have a great time on this trip!

janisj

Unfortunately, I'd skip Antelope Canyon too. You have 8 people and things will just take longer and you already have a lot of car time. I'd cut Las Vegas to the bare minimum and add what you can to the parks.

tomfuller

Good advice from janisj.
Now let me give some advice about a restaurant in Page AZ.
Last year the food and chef were good at the Steakhouse.
Last night my friend and great photographer, Mac Tippins ate there. The chef is long gone and the bacon wrapped mignon was not quality and the bacon was rancid.
He was glad the he went in solo since his wife will be joining him in Page next week.
His most recent photo shoot was in Coalmine Canyon south of Tuba City.
For anyone who is visiting or lives in the South Carolina area, Mac has an exhibition at the SC Botanical Garden (Wren House) on the campus of Clemson University.

ElendilPickle

>>I would probably want to spend another half day in either Bryce or Zion rather than doing a whole day "exploring Vegas".

Michael

You have 8 people and things will just take longer and you already have a lot of car time.

Actually, since Antelope Canyon can only be done by tour, I would think that this is one time when the size of the group is immaterial.

janisj

>>Actually, since Antelope Canyon can only be done by tour, I would think that this is one time when the size of the group is immaterial.everything else will take longer hauling 8 people around. Meals, rest breaks, walks, hikes, souvenir shopping - a bit like herding cats. So things will take longer for 2 families/8 people longer the one or two people on a road trip.

db6040

Antelope Canyon should definitely be skipped on this trip. Unfortunately, I don't think you have time - it looks like the only way to see it would be to reduce time from Bryce/Zion which I would absolutely not do. It will be there for your next trip.

I would really try to get an extra day in Zion if at all possible. There is so much to do there and you will probably wish you had more time. For the morning in Bryce - and I know this will be a hard sell with teenagers - but do try to get up really early to see the canyon at sunrise. It is really the most beautiful when the sun is coming up. Staying in the park allows you to actually walk just a minute or two and get to the rim. We were so glad in October we stayed in the park but staying just outside at one of the Ruby's properties is not bad.

ssutela

Thanks so much!

For Zion - do we need walking sticks? what about 'dry' gear - in other words - will we be able to hike if we don't have gear for being in the water? (knowing we will be doing shorter <4 mile hikes probably)

Most of the group has not been to Vegas, and wanted a day to see some sights, relax by a pool or whatever before we fly home. One day of no driving I think was the hope!

J62

The only hike at Zion that is in water is the Narrows. For that hike, especially April when the water temp will be around 40 - 45F, water shoes & neoprene socks, plus wooden walking stick will be a good idea. You can rent those at outfitters in town, or if you are only going a very short distance up-river, eg 1/4 to 1/2 mile, old sneakers + a walking stick will be fine too.

Everything else at Zion is high and dry.

J62

FYI, you can virtually walk most of the trails at Zion on Google Maps, street view.

google.com/maps

steve1218

Check to make sure the pools in Vegas are open, if not, then use the time in the parks.

Antelope Canyon requires a guide to tour, if you happen to show up at the wrong time you could spend time waiting for one to begin. With limited time I would not do it (and didn't last summer on the way to Bryce).

Michael

if you happen to show up at the wrong time you could spend time waiting for one to begin.

Reserve ahead of time and show up one hour before the tour begins. From my perspective, it is easier to get a group to move all together when there are set deadlines that are explicitly stated. In this instance, the OP would act like a bus tour operator.

janisj

Michael -- that means getting the 8 people up and moving and to Antelope Canyon by a specific time . . . Just adds extra complications to an already very busy itinerary.

Don't get me wrong, Antelope Canyon is totally 'worth' it. But this OP already has a 10 day trip squeezed into 6 useable days.

Michael

We obviously see the opposite effect of having a reservation.

tomfuller

Yesterday I gave a bad review of the Glen Canyon Steakhouse in Page, AZ. Tonight my friend Mac went into Ken's Wild West which had an "entertainer" (a yodeling cowboy). Mac took one look at the menu which was exactly the same as the Glen Canyon Steakhouse (same owner). Mac walked out of the place and down the street and found a place called Bonkers. He got there about 5:30 and got the 4-6 PM special which was very good for $12.
After 6PM the price for the same meal goes to $30.
Earlier today Mac got a great picture of the Vermilion Cliffs with the full moon setting.

RVvagabond

tomfuller recommended...
Coalmine Canyon south of Tuba City.

He is correct. It is exceptionally scenic; however, it is on Navajo land and you need a permit to enter as it is off the main road.

Permit can be obtained on the Internet or their tribal office about one mile south on 89 from Cameron

Remember that a reservation is essentially a separate-independent nation from U.S. They have their own laws and judicial system.

Vaga.

StantonHyde

Skip Antelope Canyon--my kids did not like it nearly as much as Bryce or Zion. Stop in Kanab to eat at the Rocking V!!

Here are my trip reports for the various areas you noted (I live in Utah, so I take the kids on long weekend breaks)

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

Bryce Canyon
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-with-kids.cfm

Kanab, Page, Antelope Canyon
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...rip-report.cfm