Arches-Bryce-Zion-THE Canyon
 

I'm leaving for a 2 week roadtrip this week. 2 of us will be driving from Chicago to Denver and picking up a 3rd friend. We will be camping in Arches for 2 nights, heading to Bryce for a night, then on to Zion for 2 nights, and then to the Grand Canyon for the final 2 nights. Can anyone recommend a good guidebook for this trip or other helpful resources?

Also, we may have a pet issue - might have to bring our dog. I know pets aren't allowed on hiking trails, but I do know you can leave them at the campground. She's a great pooch - very mellow and low maintenance. If we have to bring her, we were thinking of getting a large metal cage so that she could hang out at the campsite (in the shade) while we hike. Good idea or bad idea? And are there issues with pet theft? We would padlock the cage, of course, but it's something we are concerned about. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Liz,

You should NOT bring your dog on this trip. Temps in August are over 100 degrees and that's too hot for a dog even in the shade.

Definitely do not bring the poor dog along. It will be way too hot to leave her behind and you'll spend too much time having to alter your plans because of the dog. Finding shade is not always easy either.

We use to take our dog traveling all the time. She'd been up to Alaska and back and all over the west. We had an RV which made traveling and leaving her for short times much easier. The last time we were in the Moab area was when she was 9 years old and she could not handle the heat any longer. We had to change our plans and go to the Colorado Mountains instead. So if your dog is on the older side, I'd say please him/her a favor and leave him/her with friends or family at home.

Shade could be hard to come by at the Devil's Campground in Arches. There are some shady spots. There are kennels in Moab and you have to bring proof of shots.

If you plan on camping IN Arches National Park then you have to either make reservations a head of time or be there at 7 A.M. to TRY to get a spot. There is plenty of BLM camping on the Colorado River near Moab. Some have shade and others don't! There are a lot of private campgrounds in Moab and some have shade. I don't know what their policy is about leaving pets unattended...even in a pet container.

Bryce temps will be much cooler. Zion will also be hot. Bryce and Zion might be easier to get campging spots but you still have to be there before noon to assure getting camping spots in the park unless you make reservations.

I would make reservations at Mather Campground at the S. Rim of the Grand Canyon. You might be able to luck into a campsite. Most campsites are very shady.

The National Park website is great for planning trips.

http://data2.itc.nps.gov/parksearch/atoz.cfm

You can save some money on park entrances by purchasing the National Park Pass for $50 at the first park you enter.

On the way to Moab from Denver, exit Interstate 70 at Cisco, Utah and take scenic Hwy 128 into Moab.

The most scenic route between Moab and Bryce will be north on Hwy 191 to I-70. West on I-70 and then take 24 down to Hanksville, thru Capitol Reef and Torrey, Utah. BTW, if you have an extra night, then Capitol Reef National Park has an excellent shady campground. At Torrey take scenic Hwy 12 over the Boulder Mountains and Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument.

Other great websites on the area are:

http://www.so-utah.com/

http://www.desertusa.com/park.html

http://www.americansouthwest.net/

Utahtea

I can't think of a more miserable thing to do to the dog and yourselves. Riding for hours/days in a car only to be stuck in a cage all day? If you had an RV and could leave the air on while your gone that might work or leaving her in a kennel in Moab for the day might work out but I don't think the cage in the campground sounds good at all. Moab will be very hot and I'd be very uncomfortable if I were in the campsite next to yours

Just bite the bullet and find a nice kennel at home and leave her behind.

In our area we have people who will come to your house as many times a day as your willing to pay for and walk and play with the dog. Not cheap but it is the price you must pay to be a responsible dog owner.