Hello,

I know this might be a trivial subject, but we've had vacations ruined by bugs in the past......

We're traveling to Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon in early-June and would like to know if there are any concerns about bugs in those parks that time of year.

I realize there may be the normal cast of characters crawling around but I'm concerned about the flying,swarming type.

We've been in New England (Acadia, New Hampshire, etc) in early June during 'black fly season' and the bugs litterally surround and start biting you the second you get out of the car. Bug repellent is only marginally useful. It appears that at that time of year, they hatch and for 4-5 weeks they're ALL over the place.

I'm just curious if we should be prepared for something like that when we visit Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon.

Thanks for your help!!

As an upper Midwestern resident, I am accustomed to swarming, bitting bugs in summer.

The complete lack of bugs in the 3 parks that you mention was noticeable to us. We were there in late July. We commented on it on more than one occasion. I don't even remember any flys around the horse stable at Bryce.

Just a side benefit of visiting a beautiful region.

We camp, so when we cook outdoors, we attrack the bees but don't find them a problem at all when just traveling in the area.

Utahtea

Several years ago my family took a road trip across Nevada, Utah, and Colorado in June. I don't remember any problems with bugs at all.

How about snakes? I had a visit to Mexico ruined by too many slithery critters (3). It didn't bother the rest of my family, but I wasn't happy. Now with a trip to Zion/Bryce/GC planned, I'm getting worried. I know they're there. How likely that we'll see them?

We've been going to Zion and Bryce and other national parks of Utah since the mid 1970's and I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen snakes in Utah and we camp. That doesn't mean that they aren't around...so be careful.

One year it was really cool...we had a Tarantula walk right though our campsite in Zion!

Utahtea

Hmmmmmm

Bugs and snakes...long as you are at it, one may as well worry about mountain lions as well. Poisonous plants? All sorts of nastiness may befall you whilst enjoying the out of doors!

utahtea...do you mean it was cool as in sweater weather, or that was a cool thing to see? OL

I do agree on the latter by the way. We saw one while we were having our lunch on a rock while hiking in Sedona. Very cool. LOL

Tarantulas I can handle...it's just those scorpions! By the way, Marilyn, if you read this...I just saw where you wrote your friends can teach us to pick them up. I think that'd be a wonderful surprise for my husband some day. Payback time!

oops...make that a lol, not a LOL!

er.... OL? LOL

It was COOL thing to see!

Utahtea

Yup, thought so. They are cool.

I don't recall many bugs at Bryce. But there are snakes. Big ones that rattle.

Zion is hot enough to have all kinds of varmints, 0, 2, 4, and 6 legged ones.