Advice on Utah trip
 

In Sept we are headed to southern Utah for 8 days. We fly into Las Vegas, first night in Springdale, just driving thru Zion (we've both been there), stop at Bryce (been there too), Route 12 to Grand Staircase Escalante, 2nd night in Boulder, 3rd and 4th night in Moab to check out Arches and surrounding area, then 5th & 6th night in Valley of Gods, last two nights are open but need to end up in LVegas. We plan to take Route 261 and Moki Dugway up to Natural Bridges, then over to Lake Powell and ferry to Bullfrog. Then back to LVegas. Any advice on must sees, great hikes, or dining is greatly appreciated.

In Arches, my favorite is the trail to Delicate Arch. There are some other nice ones, too. Landscape Arch, Double Arch, Fiery Furnace, etc. Have fun and enjoy it for all of us.

If you are looking for something different, way out of the way but a sight few see is while driving UT 89E out of Kanab look for a small sign indicating Toroweap. It is about 50 miles of rough gravel road to a ranger station and a few miles beyond that the road ends at the edge of the Grand Canyon overlooking Lava Falls. There is a campground (pit toilet, no water) here and the sunrise through the narrow canyon walls is I hate the word but awesome. You mentioned you are going to drive through Zion. You now must take a tram. Outside Zion is Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. And north is Cedar Breaks National Monument. If while staying in Moab area you might want to visit Dead Horse Point State Park or the Island area of Canyonlands National Park. North of Moab along UT128 are Fisher Towers. This is a beautiful road which follows the river. In Moab you can pick up a brochure on the petroglyphs (rock art) visible on the roads in the area. The Cottonwood Canyon Road through Grand Staircase-Escalante with a side trip to Grosvenor Arch is excellent. It is a gravel road but passable by sedan when dry. Out of Escalante, Ut could also that the Hole-in-Rock Road, gravel road to where the settlers blasted a road through the rock to lower their wagons to the river. Many wonderful trails lead off this road including Devils Garden (hoodoos). If you do Valley of the Gods your not too far from Monument Valley and Hovenweap National Monument. Have fun.

Thanks for your replies. We rented a four wheel drive vehicle so we can attempt most anything. Anyone been to Goblins State Park or Natural Bridges?

We stopped in Natural Bridges on our way to Monument Valley last month. I thought it was wonderful and wished we had budgeted a bit more time for it. There are hikes down to each bridge (none of them very long or strenuous) however my daughter and husband would have staged a mutiny if we did all three so we just did the third one as you make the one-way loop around.

We had just hiked Zion for 2 days, Bryce for 2 days, and one day at Capitol Reef (also a short hike at Escalante Petrified Forest) and they were in no mood for a lot of hiking at this point. We thought the area was beautiful. It was not crowded and well worth the stop. There is an eight or so mile hike that takes you to all 3 bridges. We met up with a man who had just finished it at the third bridge.He was 70 years old and pretty tired by the time we saw him. He asked for a ride back to his car which was near the beginning of the hike beacause he could not do the last 3 miles. Fortunately for us (because we gave him the ride) he was not an axe-murderer but instead a minister from the midwest.

Anyway, I digress, I cannot recommend any dining in the area in Utah. The best meal we had was at the Capitol Reef Inn. Very fresh nd tasty veggie dishes. Spago in Vegas was great. Pink Ginger at the Flamingo was also very good.

Enjoy your trip. That Moki Dugway is a white-knuckle ride. Two days after we did that the brakes went on our rental car and everytime I think of what could have happened if they had gone while we were on that road (or even that whole trip on Route 12) I shudder...

Goblin Valley State Park is north of Hanksville (last gas before Interstate) on U-95. It is known for its hoodoos. Has a campground with showers.
.6 mile beyond the turnoff to the park on the opposite side of road look for sign for Hans Flat Ranger Station and/or Canyonlands National Park. Follow this gravel road 24.2 miles to a signed turnoff, ranger station right, Horseshoe Canyon to left. Slow down as road takes a lot of dips. Follow this 5.1 miles to another sign on right and a smaller road pointing to Horseshoe Canyon. This road ends in 1.8 miles at trailhead. There is a pit toilet but no water. Easily to follow trail decends to the valley floor. Watch for rock art (petroglphs and pictographs) in four marked area and some that aren't on both sides of canyon. May need binoculars to see some which is high on the walls. Following this trail for 3.7 miles from the trailhead will arrive at the Great Gallery which has 2000+ year old paintings, some lifesize, of the best preserved Barrier Rock Art you will find. You can take the trip anytime, but on some Saturdays there is a ranger led hike which allows you up on the wall just below the art work. Check www.nps.gov for times and dates. There is no water and there is a gentle 540' climb out.
Since you are planning on visiting so many parks might want to consider the Park Pass. $50 for calendar year gets you in to all national parks and monuments that charge admission. Zion is $20, Bryce is $20, Arches is $10, Canyonlands is $20 get it at your first park.