Has anyone done the bus tour of Bryce Canyon offered by the park where you reserve it ahead? I just read about it on line and am wondering what the difference is, as opposed to just using their shuttle buses.

Also, do you think driving in one day from Page, AZ to Monticello, UT is too much if the goal is to see Monument Valley, Gooseneck State Park, Moki Dugway, Muley Point, and Valley of the Gods? Thanks for any input!

I can't see why anybody would take a bus tour of Bryce unless they somehow came without a car.

Bryce is quite small.

Depending on what you want to do or are able to do I would make suggestions.

Do you want to do some hiking? Remember, Bryce is in elevation of about 8,000 feet. Go slowly, rest often and drink water.

The most popular hike is to start at Sunset Point and go down Navajo Loop. Then connect to Queen's Garden and hike back up to Sunrise Point. You would then take a nice half mile stroll along the rim back to Sunset Point and you car.

A spectacular sunrise at Bryce Point. I was there last September with my daughter and as most of the 25 or so people who were there for sunrise were leaving, a tour bus pulled into the parking lot. If you come that early and not for sunrise, why get up that early.

So now you will have been to 3 points. The only other viewpoint that somewhat different is Natural Bridge. A good time to go is any time from late morning on. That way sun sun won't be in your eyes and you get a great view of the Arch (it's named a bridge but that's incorrect as the sign says).

do you think driving in one day from Page, AZ to Monticello, UT is too much if the goal is to see Monument Valley, Gooseneck State Park, Moki Dugway, Muley Point, and Valley of the Gods? Thanks for any input!

You could do it but obviously somewhat rushed, especially if you drive the 17 mile dirt road thru Monument Valley (if you don't then you aren't really seeing Monument Valley, just the edge of it), and also drive the dirt road thru Valley of the Gods.

May have problems with the MV loop road in a low clearance rental car if the road hasn't been graded in a while though. If you can only do one drive then MV is much the more interesting one.

Gooseneck SP is just an overlook after a fairly short detour, so won't take long. Muley Point is just driving up the Dugway and looking around so doesn't take long. Both are worth seeing but don't take long.

Why are you overnighting in Monticello? I'd prefer to overnight in MV (or maybe Mexican Hat) and then do the rest of the Utah portion the next day myself.

I'm not sure what tour in Bryce you are referring to. I though maybe there was a ranger led shuttle tour that you could join, but couldn't see that on the park website. Do you have a link to the tour you are talking about?
The benefit I could see to a tour is that you would have someone explaining what you are looking at. Sometimes you will be better informed because of that. It depends on the tour.

Bryce is certainly easy enough to see on your own and still enjoy.

Page to Monticello in one day is easily done imo. The drive itself is about 4-5 hrs. You'll want 2-3 hrs for Monument Valley (take a valley tour if you can rather than drive yourself). Goosenecks maybe 1/2 hr. I don't know that I would do the Valley of the Gods drive on the same day as MV...kind of redundant. Moki Dugway is the road, so no time involved there. Then Muley Point might take 1 hr and if you are running short I would leave this out, not worth the drive really. If you can add in a stop at Edge of the Cedars SP in Blanding. It is a wonderful little park. Start early and you should be fine.

My husband and I are 58 and 64. We are flying into Salt Lake and doing a circle back up to SLC. Thot a bus ride would be nice considering all the driving, and my husband had elbow surgery recently, tho we will do some short hikes. We traveled to Utah 10 yrs. ago, so couldn't quite remember the expanse of Bryce.

So you are talking about a bus tour that leaves from SLC?
Those are nice if you want to leave the driving and all arrangements to someone else.
Though not sure how you would combine that with a trip into MV and Moab as well.
The shuttle bus in the park is not really a tour, just an alternative mode of transportation to alleviate parking issues at the viewpoints.

"Moki Dugway is the road, so no time involved there. Then Muley Point might take 1 hr and if you are running short I would leave this out, not worth the drive really."

Muley Point is at the top of the Moki Dugway (short detour to the left), so just a brief stop once you're on top of the Dugway, not another hour.

There is a very small turnout at the top of Moki Dugway where you should stop to get the classic view.
The road to Muley Point is just beyond that. It is a 5 mile dirt road one way. 10 miles on an uncertain road (conditions can and do change) you might not be able to go fast, then you want to spend some time looking. So I was generous with an hour, and admittedly it might be more like a half hour... or maybe not.

InSandy - My husband and I are driving an entire route starting/ending at Salt Lake (flying in). We were in the area 10 yrs. ago also. This time we are driving down to Torrey, heading to Bryce, on to Cedar City, Springdale, Page, and back up to Moab before returning to SLC. We are spending 12 nites. Here is the link about that bus tour:

http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisi...CP_JUMP_394115

The "reserved" bus tour I mention is under the heading "Rainbow Tour" if the link doesn't come up right at that topic. I sure appreciate everyone's helpful info!

Thanks for the link.
The main Bryce shuttle has a more frequent schedule and stays in the main amphitheater area (Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration and Bryce Points, along with the visitors center and Ruby's Inn) and does not service the 12 mile long scenic drive south of that.
The Rainbow tour looks like it is a limited opportunity to see the rest of the park (twice a day) and will take you to the end of the scenic drive (Rainbow Point). It says guided so there would be some interpretation along the way, which can be nice. Also it would stop at the viewpoints so you can see those, but it doesn't look like it would give you time to do a hike on Bristlecone Pine trail.
I'd say reserving it would depend on whether you know what your schedule would be (so you could get on in time) and whether you want to avoid driving and whether you care about taking the hike (it isn't long, and isn't vitally important, it is just a nice relaxing walk along the rim). I suppose you could take the early morning one down and then join up with the afternoon bus back? Since I haven't taken it I can't speak for whether the "guided" part would be worth it. Sometimes you can get just as much information on your own. The road is not difficult and if you don't want to be tied to their schedule would be very easy to do.

Oh, ps, Your trip sounds wonderful. Lots to see and do. Any other parts along the way you are wondering about?

InSandy - if you're still even accessing this thread, thanks for asking about other info! The leg of our journey I am wondering about is the area past Bryce Canyon/Red Canyon as we head for a stopover in Cedar City (before heading to Springdale). I've read mixed reviews on Cedar Breaks Monument - what is your opinion of stopping there since we've been to Bryce and I've heard the other park is similar? Which route should we take to Cedar City -- Rt. 143 or 14?

I'm not InSandy, but I think if your time is limited I'd skip Cedar Breaks and head right to Zion National Park. Cedar Breaks is just a mini Bryce. Unless you have to go to Cedar City for some other reason, I'd head west on Hwy 12, south on Hwy 89 and enter Zion on Hwy 9 at Mt. Carmel Jct and take it to Springdale, Utah. You will drive though the Checkerboard Mesa section of Zion before going though the Zion tunnel and down to Zion Valley & Springdale.

Utahtea

I agree with utahtea that you don't want to miss the east side of Zion and arriving from the east on hwy 9 will provide you with some great scenery. Though it looks like you will could see it on the way to Page so that would work too.

But in response to your question if you will still be staying in Cedar City I would take hwy 143 to Cedar Breaks then 148 through the park to 14. 143 is a nice forested area.

Cedar Breaks is not a must do in my book. If you are in the area and have extra time it is a nice drive. But I wouldn't go out of my way to see it. I would much prefer to spend that time in Zion. If you do take that drive though and stay in Cedar, be sure to stop just south of there on your way to Springdale and visit the Kolob Fingers/Canyon section of Zion. It is one of my favorite picnic spots.