We are taking the kids to Bryce Canyon in about 2 weeks. I am hoping that the parks will be open by then but I am not holding my breath!! Fortunately, we are staying at Rubys Inn, so that will be ok. I am trying to think of things to do within a 20-30 minute drive. This is what I have come up with. Any other ideas that one can do with an 8 year old and a 10 year old (easy-moderate) would be welcome.

Day One: Drive from Salt Lake to Bryce. Check in etc. Hike the Mossey Cave trail. While this is part of Bryce, the trailhead is outside the park. I am hoping that we can still do this hike.

Day Two: Morning: Hike the Willis Creek Slot Canyon. (might be a little bit more than 30 mins but it looks like a ton of fun!) Its out and back so we can stop whenever we want etc. Afternoon: Bike the Red Canyon Bike trail (or whatever flat trail is near Rubys Inn, but I think Red Canyon bike trail will work)

Day Three: I already have horseback riding reservations for a ride in Red Canyon so I am assuming that will be open. Then drive home.

I have been to Kodachrome Park, can't see the kids getting into that one. I dont' know how far the drive is to Escalante to see the Petrified Wood/Forest State Park there. It looks like there is a historic cabin in Tropic, maybe we could take a look at that. Plus swim in the pool at Rubys. Thoughts? Ideas?

The best I remember the Mossy Cave trail is very short trail. Won't take that long. It is outside the park, but I bet there is some kind of gate, but I could be totally wrong, I don't remember. I'm thinking this is where the waterfall is, which IMOP, is better than the Cave. The cave really isn't much at all. I think it's worth doing, but don't expect to be blown away.

Have you and kids been to Dead Horse Point, Goblin Valley, Fisher Towers, and there are a lot of other things to do in Moab? I was just thinking there might be more to do in that direction, should the parks still be closed. It sounds like your trip is just a 3 or 4 day long weekend type of deal, so what you have listed would be all right(not up there with Bryce, but still worth doing).

What about Canyoneering. I think there is an outfitter(maybe even 2 or 3) in Escalante. I know there is in Moab and in Zion.

I don't remember any gate at Mossy Creek trail so you should be Ok. However, it's not very long so won't take much time. We did that on our way to Calf Creek Falls. It's a bit past the turn off for Willis Creek but the drive is very pretty. The hike to the falls is great and the falls are amazing (http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/137817750 - there are also photos of Mossy Creek Trail in that gallery).

The drive to Escalante is easy from Bryce. It's longer than 30 minutes, but my whole excursion, with a few stops and a little hike, took a few hours RT.

There's a little state park at Escalante with a lake and a couple of short hikes.

But let's hope the govt. is back up and running by the time you go.

Thanks for info on the Mossey Cave trail. This hike will be perfect after being in the car all day and something to do before we hit the pool and settle in for the night. With kids, its not necessarily that the trail has to be long, there just has to be a lot to see. We spend time looking at bug/animal tracks, watching bugs and lizards, identifying plants, etc. Trying to figure out who lives in what holes....

Since its fall break in Utah and everybody else heads down south, we can't really change hotels etc. So I think we will be ok at Bryce and we have been to Moab and surroundings many times.

The "petrified wood/forest" park at Escalante is a possibility but only if the others don't pan out.

Has anybody done the Willis Creek Slot Canyon? From descriptions etc, it seemed fun and fairly easy. I am just not sure how far that drive is.

I just meant that the trail is 5 or 10 minutes. Look at some of Myer posts for info on Willis. I think his website is www.travelwalks.com for photos of Willis.


There may not be a gate, but I bet there is a Closed Area sign up. I do remember there being one or two short bridges, so they could easily put a chain up at those. I think the trail went one way to the fall and the other to the cave. I'm not totally sure, but I think the waterfall is outside the park and the cave is inside the park.

Calf Creek Falls will be closed to as it is National Recreation Area.

You might be in luck! The Utah Governor is working on opening the Utah National parks on Saturday (Oct. 12) for at least 10 days with state aid.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/5...-utah.html.csp

Utahtea

So glad you're posting again Utahtea! We've missed our SW USA expert!

Me too Utahtea! You've been missed!!!

Utah parks are opening! Not sure for how long but they are opening for the time being.

Some Utah parks are opening:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/11/us/utah-parks-reopen/

I was in Zion today. It was opened! http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56...-utah.html.csp

Utahtea

Thanks guys! I've missed the forums...I'm going to have to spend more time here!

Utahtea

Thanks starrs & cd! I've missed the forums...I'm going to have to spend more time here!

Utahtea

Looks like parks will stay open through the 20th. Its all for the Fall Break weekend that impacts all Utah schools and is a huge money earner for all businesses around the parks. Today's paper estimated that Grand County (Moab etc) was losing $300K a DAY from the park closures. The sad part is that businesses will not recover their losses. We are local so can easily change plans. When you are coming from overseas etc, you will have changed your plans by now and probably won't switch back.

I am just glad that we get to go!! I missed out on seeing 2 sights on my Oregon vacation last week due to the shutdown. boo hiss.

Springdale, Utah looked like a ghost town during the shutdown but it didn't take long at all for it to come back to life after the Governor opened the parks.

Utahtea