We are flying from New Jersey to Portland Oregon this summer and then want to go on to either of the above parks for 1- 2 weeks. I know they are very very different but am interested in what people have to say about their preferences. I should say that this trip will be in August and I suspect that the weather will be more bearable in Glacier. We have been to Rocky Mtn NP and the Canadian Rockies but have never seen Utah or desert/ canyons. We enjoy hiking, boating, seeing beauty etc. I am told that flying either to Kalispell or to Las Vegas is easy from Oregon. ANy words of wisdom?

Both are incredible in such different ways that I don't think they can be compared. If you have been to a park that is similar to one of them, you might want to go to the other for the sake of diversity.

I agree with Mike. Although we loved our trip to Glacier, since you have already been to the Canadian Rockies--it is very similar on a much smaller scale. I think 1-2 weeks would be a long time to spend just at Glacier--you could always add Yellowstone/Tetons (about an 8 hour drive from Glacier)if you haven't been there yet.

We did a loop including Sedona, Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Capital Reef, Arches, Canyonlands and Monument Valley in about 12 days--and there are many other places in the area to see. Not sure about the weather in August--we went in October.

One time we went to Zion in August and it was 107 as I recall when we arrived. We were too hot to hike until late afternoon and very early in the morning. We spent most of the day in the air-conditioned cabin-- what a waste! Bryce tends to be a little cooler, but still HOT, and we are from Florida!

I'd vote for Glacier for that reason, but agree you could pick up more in that area -- maybe even just nearby Flathead Lake or as suggested swing to Yellowstone or Teton.

How long in Portland, and have you been there before? Yes, it is easy to fly to those other destinations, but not necessarily cheap, especially without adding greatly to the cost of the NJ to Oregon flights. There's so much to do in Oregon, Washington, and Northern California, or even BC. My choice would be to do those if you haven't already.

Zion and Bryce!
Glacier is incredible but the Canadian Rockies top even Glacier. Zion and Bryce are so different. Bryce is cooler that time of year b/c of elevation. Zion has a GREAT hike called the Narrows - great hike for a hot summer day b/c it is in winding narrow canyon and through the virgin river.

Patrick,

Staying in the cabin at Zion when it was hot was a waste when you could have been cooling off and relaxing in the Virgin River or tubing in the river and enjoying the fantastic views.

zaksgrandma,

If you want more of the same as Rocky Mts. and Canadian Rockies then go to Glacier. If you want a totally different scenery then go to Bryce and Zion. Bryce will be cooler because it's at a higher elevation. Zion will be hot in August but I'm a Grandma of 53 and we still hike when it's 100+ degrees outside. We also spend the hottest part of the day in the Virgin River staying cool.

Utahtea

How long do you recommend to "do" Zion? Is 3 1/2 days sufficient to do some hiking or will I feel disappointed that I missed so much? I am re-thinking the Aug. trip because of fear of heat. We could go for a few days during my school spring break mid-March and just see Zion. Bryce sounds like less of a problem during the summer so we could do that another tiem. What do you more experienced people think?

If you stay above 5,000 ft., you will discover that temperatures cool down in the evening. I would recommend the Southwest because it is so different from the Canadian Rockies. You might want to take your vacation as soon as school is out. We've had snow in Bryce in mid-June, so I do not think that you can count on good weather in mid-March. Cedar Breaks is another near-by park to visit which is higher than Bryce.

While Zion and Bryce parks are both open all year long, I think Mid-March might be on the cold side expecially for Bryce. I think they can still have a lot of snow in Bryce at this time of the year, and while you can see the views from the canyon rim, I don't know how much hiking you can do down into the canyon. Zion will be fine for hiking, but it could be pretty cold.

Utahtea

zaksgrandma,
If you have the chance to spend 3-4 days in Zion in mid-March, definitely do it! The weather will probably be very nice for hiking, especially trails like Angels Landing and the West Rim which are tough in the hot summer temps. It's only 80+ miles to Bryce from Zion so if the weather is good, you can even do a day trip or an overnight. It's worth the drive to see Bryce, and you may even get to see it with snow, which would be just amazing. It is well worth it. If you go in March for a short trip, you'll be back for a longer one in August. Guaranteed!