Trying to finalize plans for a June trip.

Goal is scenery, photography.

1) Arrive in LV around 3PM.
Pick up car and drive to Bryce NP (4-5 Hrs)

2) Bryce NP 2 days. Observation areas, easy hikes, walks, etc. Park Lodge and Rubys full - Bryce Canyon Resport has vacancy. 2 days, 3 nights.

3) Zion NP. Appears Park Lodge has vacancy. Otherwise Best Western Zion for good getaway next day. 1 day, 1 night.

4) Drive to Horseshoe Bend and on to GC, South Rim, East entrance. Desert View Drive with observation stops.

Out GC South Entrance/exit and on to Sedona via Oak Creek. Possibly a few stops en route in Oak Creek area.

Probably about 6-7 hours of driving this day but with several stops - Horseshoe Bend, GC, Oak Creek Vista, etc.

5) Sedona. 2 days. Scenery, easy hikes, etc.

7) Leave Sedona 7:30 - 8 and drive to Phoenix for 12:45 plane.

Considered a stop in Antelope Canyon but decided to pass.

Comments and ideas requested.

Thanks.

Obviously the title should have been Bryce.

Arghhh.

Unless you have already been to the Grand Canyon area and have all the photos you want, I think you are really shortchanging this area. If all you have time for is a drive through, you will miss the best light for photography and won't have time for any real look at it. If you want to save time, just skip the Grand Canyon this trip by going straight to Flagstaff on your way to Sedona and come back for a real photo session when you can spend 2 days or more there.

Your Zion to GC and out day sounds horrendous, no offense. If you can somehow change your itinerary, I would. Maybe only one night each in Zion and Bryce (my personal favorite) or skip Zion.

Otherwise all you'll do is drive the one day you should be enjoying the Grand Canyon.

I wonder why you're driving past Zion after LV. Why not stop there for the night then rather than backtracking later after Bryce.

Do Zion first then depart Bryce and down through Kanab for the trip to GC.

1 day wouldn't be enough time in Zion for me.

#4 seems like quite a rushed day...I can only assume you've already seen Grand Canyon...if not then stop there for the night. Maybe trade in a night in Sedona which is lovely but pales in comparison (scenery wise) to Zion, Bryce or Grand Canyon IMO.

Peter,

My reasoning for going to Zion after Bryce is to shorten the drive from the parks to GC.

It's at least an hour shorter the start near Mt Carmel Junction than from Bryce.

Also, I'll be ariving from LV in the evening so I figure an extra hour driving at that time isn't a big deal.

Maybe that's not a good enough reason.

Myer

I know I said on your other thread that you could do alot on that day (Bryce to Sedona) if you were up early, etc., but if photography is a main goal, you'll really only have good light near sunrise/sunset.

My suggestion would be to cut a day/night at Bryce, and add that day to Zion. In addition, consider staying 1 night in Zion, and then the next night in Kanab with a stop at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park on the way. If you can time your arrival for near sunset, you could get some really good photos of the dunes, and by staying in Kanab overnight you'd be that much closer to Sedona.

As I said in my other response, the more time you can allow for the Grand Canyon the better (especially given your plan to drive in the east entrance and exit the south). Don't plan on getting any great photos at GC - it's so huge that it doesn't translate well into photos unless you're a pro and spend a lot of time there to catch the right light. It's doubtful that an overnight would give you that great sunset/sunrise photo.

Sedona is much easier to photograph, so I don't think it's a horrible idea to spend 3-4 hours at GC and then head south. Just keep your GC photographic expectations low.

Save time by back tracking out of the GC the same way you went in, instead of heading out the East entrance and taking 89 East and South (very limited gas and services).

This way you will head south on 180 to 64 and then east on 40 to Flagstaff.

89A south to Sedona is one of the most picturesque drives through the canyons. There is a rest stop thats worth the rest..great views of the canyon below. OFten time there are local Native Americans selling the wares...you'll get a much better price than anywhere in Sedona. Before you actually hit Sedona town - you can take a right into a hiking area called "Call of the Canyon" - beautiful towering examples of the colorful cliffs. You almost have to drive completely through Sedona, and then south onto 179 before you can get a clear view of everything that its all about.

If you are into shopping while you are there, skip Main Street and head directly to Tlaquepaque (not sure if I am spelling it correctly but its pronounced tuh lack uh pack ee).

While photography is a hobby, it's only a hobby. I don't intend to spend all day waiting for just the right light.

A reasonable 80% is acceptable. I won't wait all day to get that perfect shot.

I'm tempted to add a day to break up the drive from Bryce/Zion to Sedona. Wavering as planes fill up.

Thanks. I'll decide today and go with it. It's only a trip and not the end of the world.