hickman bridge is a great hike. i am also a big canyonlands fan down by montecello, south of moab. confluence trail is a fav. if you are going in and out of grand junction, you don't have to waste touring time as colorado national monument is right there and it really got some great hikes. so if you get back to grand junction with time to spare, you've got something to see and do. In grand junction look at your hotel room before you pick one. i recall the hotels all about the same price but some are not very well kept. others, ok.

I live in Utah and have hiked all of the national parks you mention and have backpacked through Capitol Reef twice. I was not as impressed as I have always been with canyonlands--plus Delicate Arch and Moab are just a must do. Highway 12 from Torrey to Escalante is beyond amazing. And there is an awesome restaurant in Boulder (and some good ones in Torrey) but I would rather go to Moab (Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point, rafting, good and a few great restaurants). Mesa Verde--is just BEYOND amazing. No hiking really, but you can easily spend 2 days there. But I am really into the ancestral puebloan "angle" on this region. Cortez has some nice restaurants and we stayed in a great Best Western there. Chaco Canyon is truly awe inspiring. No great places to stay nearby--we went to Farmington as part of our 4 corners loop. Canyon de Chelly was disappointing because you can't get close to any of the dwellings. Monument Valley is very interesting as is the Gouldings Trading Post. There are some amazing canyon hikes you can take on the Colorado Plateau near Bluff (between Moab and Monument Valley). A stay at the Recapture Lodge is always wonderfulo and the Cow Canyon Trading Post has a very good restaurant. I do one week-long backpacking trip a year in southern utah and usually try for a weekend trip as well. There are just so many things that are not Zion/Bryce etc. I really love the Colorado Plateau plus Natural Bridges National Monument.

I can help a bit as I live in the Cortez area. I lived in ABQ before moving here. The drive from Albuquerque to Cortez is 4 hours/ 250 miles. The drive from Cortez to Moab is less than 2 hours and about 100 miles or so. Both drives are easy.

Flying into and out of ABQ is often less expensive than flying into regional airports. If you live near a Southwest city, they can often have terrifice DING deals [download DING which will alert you to special fares]

Our favorite place to stay in Moab is Cali Cochita B&B. It is in a great location with absolutely wonderful hosts and lovely rooms with a delish breakfast.

Cortez is a 10 minute drive to the entrance of Mesa Verde.

If you want to fly closer than ABQ, check out flying into Durango.

There are several nice places to stay and eat in Cortez; I can offer suggestions if you'd like.

Hope this helps..
Debi

StantonHyde,
Wow!!! The only problem is most of us don't live in Utah nor can we return several times a year.

I'm planning my second trip to Utah, not duplicating anything from the first trip and I still won't hit most of what you mentioned.

Does that mean there'll be a third?

Hey Myer,

You could come out every year for over a month and still not even scratch the surface! The more time you spend here, the more you realize there is to do, see, explore, enjoy, learn.

Dayle,

I see what you mean but there are other places to see as well.

We just returned from an excellent trip to NYC & Philadelphia. Different but still excellent.

And there are others on the radar:
Back to Italy again (about half dozen times over the years)
Charleston & Savannah
Seattle, Victoria & Vancouver
Chicago
etc

Just returned from Moab and spent 2 nights at the Adventure Inn

http://www.adventureinnmoab.com/

highly recommend this motel which is locally owned and operated by a husband and wife

Room was very clean, new carpet, beds with colored sheets just like home and also colored towels

not on their website but they have free WIFI

Reasonably priced with 21 rooms. We did not pre-book but luckily enough we arrived at noon on day 1 and were able to get a room. Both nights we were there they ended up being sold out

Would recommend a room around the grassed/treed area and not on the backside of the office, just a lot more welcoming

would definitely stay there again

wintkat

We love Utah! Went to Moab last summer and stayed at the DreamKeeper Inn , in the Tree Room. Great place to stay! For some adventure we rented a jeep in Moab and drove out to Canyonlands. Stopped at Dead Horse Pt along the way. When we got to Canyonlands we took a 4 wheel drive road out into the backcountry and camped over night. It was by far the most amazing thing we have ever done. The stars at night in Canyonlands are unbelievable. Have fun!

Well, it has taken me over 10 years to do all of this stuff--and I still have to hike the Paria River. I can actually blame backpacking for me moving here--did a trip on the Colorado Plateau and I was HOOKED. But there is still so much I have not done. My "want to travel" list is long too. Always something fun to look forward to!