We are planning a 10 day trip in August to the Southern Utah parks( Bryce, Arches, Grand Canyon) and would like to know how much time to spend in each location.

It all depends on what you want to do. Personally I wouldn't miss doing a half day horse ride in Bryce. I've done it twice and it is really wonderful. Add the better part of a day for doing a couple of the hikes, and driving along the rim stopping at the lookouts and maybe venturing off from those points a bit. Sunrise and sunset are both spectacular. Two days? Yea, that pretty well does it. I'd allow 2 in Zion as well -- at least if you're into hiking. And although I've been to the Grand Canyon, I've never done more than look and do minimal walks along the rim. Others will say you need to spend a couple days there as well.

Hmm. You are leaving out some very attractive places, like Canyonlands and Capitol Reef. There are also national monuments like Natural Bridges and Cedar Breaks. Although Zion is not one of my favorites, it is certainly worth a visit.

In August, Zion is hot, as are Arches and Canyonlands, but early and late they are tolerable.

So look over the opportunities and think about where you want to go.

The length of time you need at Bryce is a function of how much hiking you want to do. In my younger days, 3 days there was sufficient to hit the high spots.

If you confine your activities to the rim, then a full day should be enough.

Arches could use up one full day, but I would not want to be doing too much betweeen the hours of 11 and 4 PM.
Certainly the walk to Delicate Arch is a marvellous trip. Several others are well worth the effort as well.

The northern section of Canyonlands is good for a half a day, with my favorite unusual place being Upheaval Dome because of its unique geology.

And you should include Capitol Reef. There is no place quite like it, anywhere in the US. And the route from Torrey to Bryce along Utah 12 is a spectacular drive. Much of the route traverses the white Navajo Sandstone which helps build the cliffs in Capitol Reef and in Zion.

Also Grosvenor Arch and Kodachrome Basin are worth the effort.

With the aid of a good map, you can get a chance to plot your route and figure out how much time you can allow at each of the several very wortwhile attractions that are available in the area.

Where are the Bryce Canyon fans?

It's so hard to tell which of these areas people will like most. Bryce is my least favorite park of Utah...yet I still like to visit. I think the first time visitor need to equally split their trip to get a good feel for each park.

I would add Lake Powell to your trip. Either a float trip on the Colorado River or a Boat trip on Lake Powell

I would spend 3 nites, 2 days Grand Canyon, the next mornig get up early to do a trip at Lake Powell and spend 1 nite at Lake Powell, 3 nights Bryce (2 full days) and 3 nights at Zion (2 full days).

Utahtea

Unless you are into serious hiking 2 days wouild be sufficient in Gr. Canyon, Zion, Bryce, and Moab (Arches, CAnyonland). You should also include Capitol Reef in your trip.

I also agree that Kodachrome Basin State Park is worth visiting. Might also include Coral Dunes State Park.

At Bryce, i especially liked the hike to Mossy Cave (you take this one from a trailhead off the road to Tropic)

We found Bryce Canyon to be more beautiful than the Grand Canyon - spent 2 nights there. Especially enjoyed watching both sunrise and sunset over Canyon. Strangely, there are look-outs called Sunrise and Sunset Points, but these are not best place to see either and, in fact, one (I don't remember which ) faces in the wrong direction to see the sun.

Husband and daughter did 1/2 day horse ride to Red Rock (?Canyon) - they enjoyed that. Did short hike down Navajo Trail. Saw lots of big wildlife early AM and at sunset. You might want to eat at the Hoodoo Restaurant in Tropic, UT - an unappealing-from-the-outside place that is a combined general store, candy shop, gift shop, gas station, restaurant. Had a great conversation with the women who runs the candy shop about what it is like to live in the area in the winter.

I agree with Utahtea - a day or 2 in Page AZ at Lake Powell is a nice break from the canyon tour. As beautiful as all the canyon scenery is, I was dying to see water and enjoy water activities. We did both the river float and a lake boat tour. PS- your National Parks pass comes in handy here as you can get into the lake area "free" with it.

Page is also a large enough town that it gave us the opportunity to replenish our supplies at the Wal-Mart and grocery store.