I only have one day/one night in Bryce. That day I am driving from Zion (getting up early in Zion) to Bryce and I plan on driving the road to the end and stopping at the viewpoints, doing the Navajo/Queen Loop (will that be open when I will be there in 4-5 weeks??), doing the Bristlecone Pine Loop, doing a short section of the rim trail,and doing the Mosey Cave Trail. Some of these I might do the second day. The second day I am driving from Bryce to Torrey. That day I am going to see the sunrise at Bryce, see Kodachrome State Park, Escalante State Park (hiking the one mile loop at Escalante), hiking the Upper Calf Creek Falls trail, and driving a short section of the Burr Trail through Long Canyon, plus seeing any viewpoints along the way. I might skip Kodachrome because it is out of the way (suggestions on that?). The Third day I have a full day at Torrey and a full day to explore Capitol Reef. I would like to drive the scenic drive, hike Grand Wash, hike Capitol Gorge, hike up to Hickman Bridge, and check out the orchards and the historic buildings. There might be things I'm missing there. Suggestions? The forth day I am driving to Cedar City and am debating rather to drive back Rte 12 or take the Rte.24 to Rte.62 to Rte.89 to Rte 143 route. I want to see Cedar Breaks National Monument that day, drive up to the summit of Brian Head Peak, and hike the Cascade Falls Trail. I would appreciate any suggestions. This only a portion of my trip, everywhere else I have planned it out really well.

Hi A,

Well you have some very busy days planned! I don't know if you will have time to do it all or not. I've been to all these areas many times, but have never tried to do all this.

It probably depends on how fast a hiker you are and how much you like to stop and take pictures, check out the wildflowers, etc.

Kodachrome Basin is not really very out of the way. BUT your day from Bryce to Torrey is so busy I think you will have to skip it.

Personally, I would skip Cedar Breaks, but I've never done the hike you mention and it should be good this year. They had so much snow that the falls should still be running.

By the way, it's Escalante/Grand Staircase Natl Monument.

Have fun!

I have to agree with Dayle, you may be planning too much to really get to enjoy any of it. I guess I would skip Capitol Reef.

I am not doing all of this in one day. I have the whole day at Capitol Reef and am driving through Cedar Breaks on my way to Cedar City, it is about a 3 hour drive to Cedar City from Torrey. Yes, I am a fast hiker. The trail at the petrified forest is only a 1 mile loop and the Calf Creek Falls hike is only 5 miles round trip. The drive from Bryce to Torrey is only 100 miles. I plan on arriving in Torrey around 5 or 6, then I have the whole next day in Capitol Reef. All the hikes I mention in Bryce are all short except Navajo/Queen's Garden Loop.

I would KEEP Capitol Reef in the itinerary!

The day we went to Kodachrome State park it was overcast and we weren't impressed. Maybe it would be better on a sunny day.

The 1 mile hike at Petrifed Forest has a pretty steep elevation gain at the beginning. I wasn't that impressed with the petrifed wood along the hike. The good stuff is at the parking lot!

I think you have time for everything else.

Utahtea

If there is something I might take out, it would be Kodachrome. How far is the drive through Long Canyon on the Burr Trail roundtrip? I know that section of the Burr Trail is paved, so that shouldn't take that long. Can the Calf Creek Falls hike be done in 2-3 hours, we are fast hikers plus taking a break at the end? Escalante is only a one mile loop. I guess I should find out how much time each thing takes and add it to 2.5 hours (the drive from Bryce to Torrey non-stop). As long as I get to Torrey around dinnertime (5-6), it is no big deal. If the Navajo loop is closed the first day, I might consider taking the 2 hour horseback ride on the Peakaboo Loop, since the horses are faster than hiking it. Does the Bryce Canyon Lodge have good food? I was going to eat at the Ruby's Inn (where I am staying), but even the guidebooks say how bad the food is. So, I made a dinner reservation for the Bryce Canyon Lodge.

The drive through Long Canyon is great and there's a neat little slot canyon right along the road that you can poke around in. Be sure to have dinner at Cafe Diablo while in Torrey.

Do I have plenty of time if I skip Kodachrome as it is a 20 mile or so roundtrip detour?

We were underwhelmed by Kodachrome State Park and were glad we didn't spend more time there.
You can get a good overview very quickly and if you don't like it, I would leave just as quickly.
With everything else surrounding you it's not worth the time, IMHO.

I read about Escalante State Park and found out the Petrified wood at the parking lot was moved there, so that is not where it actually was. The trail goes to where it came from. I am still not sure what to do. Will skipping Kodachrome give me a lot more time for the other things. Going to Kodachrome adds an extra 20 miles of driving, so it is kind of out of the way.

asdaven,

I said that the best petified wood was near the parking area, there is still a lot on the trail, but it's not the real pretty stuff.

Utahtea

Yes, but the best petrified was moved to the parking area, so people who can't walk the 1 mile trail can see it. Where the petrified wood naturaly was is on the trail. Did you take the Trail of Sleeping Rainbows also? It is a side trail from the main trail,but goes to more colorful petrified wood. This is from what I read.

How far is the drive through Long Canyon on the Burr Trail? Does it take a long time? Should I prioritize the Calf Creek Falls Hike and driving that section of the Burr Trail, and seeing the overlooks along Route 12 over everything else?

I think I would do Kodachrome only if you have the time and no rain is likely because it is a dirt road.

Route 12 should get priority - period.
Once in Torrey, you can drive to the visitor center at Capitol Reef. Then drive down the road to Grand Wash, hike it, take in Cassidy Arch if you have time, drive on down the road to another hike the name of which I cannot recall.

Then, if you have time, do Hickman Bridge. The scenic drive south from the visitor center goes through some of the old orchards, which still produce.
The picnic area is like a lawn because of the availability of water from stream and it is shaded by the fruit trees.

As for Cedar Breaks, yes, it is similar to Bryce, but it is also spectacular. The drive up there is pretty, and the back route, Utah 143, to Bryce via the town of Panguitch follows along old lava flows that cap that part of the landscape and make it resistant to erosion.

The view from Bryan Head, a lava high point, is spectacular.