mlm59

I am starting to make plans for a trip the week just prior to Memorial Day in 2005. We plan to go the GC North Rim first and then on to Lake Powell.

I read on Xanterra's website that they take reservations up to 23 months in advance, but the calendar on their online booking site only goes to March 2005. I assume I have to call to get reservations beyond that date. Since they do take reservations so far in advance, is it probable that we will be unable to secure reservations for the days we plan to be there? If we cannot obtain reservations at the Canyon the closest place I have found to stay in the area is at Jacob Lake. Does anyone know anything about this place? We will be flying into LV, arriving about 9 AM their time. How long will it take to drive to the Canyon?

After leaving the Canyon we will be going on to Page. How long is the drive ? We want to take a half day trip on Lake Powell to see Rainbow Bridge and then take a float trip on the Colorado the next day. Does anyone have a company you recommend for the float trip? Are they usually 1/2 or a full day?

Once we leave Page we want to drive part of the way back to Vegas, but not sure where to stop. We have been to Bryce and to the part of Zion near Springdale. I thought about staying in Kanab, but wondered if there is much to see there. I think I read there is an old movie studio there and wondered if it is worth a visit. If we stay in Kanab I thought we would take highway 399 and stop at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes. Can anyone tell me if this is a worthwhile side trip? I am also considering staying in St. George. I think I remember seeing a sign on I-15 for another entrance to Zion. Is this a different part of the park, and if so, is it a lot different than the part of the park we have already visited?

Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

utahtea

WOW, lots of questions

I'll answer as many as I can.

1st the N. Rim of the Grand canyon will just be opening. I doubt you will have problems getting reservations. I would think you would have to wait until May or June of this year to get reservations for May 2005...that makes 24 months.

As far as I know there is only ONE company that does the tours to Rainbow Bridge on Lake Powell and the Colorado River Float trip. I think you can by the tickets from other places but only one company does the tours.

We've done the Rainbow Bridge tour twice and the Colorado Float trip once. Both are fantastic!!!! We always have booked here or right at the lake:

http://www.lakepowell.com/


The use to offer a half day and a full day tour to Rainbow Bridge, but since the water levels of the lake are so low and you have to hike about 3 miles round trip to see Rainbow Bridge it looks like they only have the all day tours. About 7 - 7 1/2 hours.

The float trip is about 6 hours.

The section of Zion you are refering to is the Kolob section. It is about 35 miles north of St. George, Utah right off of I-15. Also near St. George is Snow Canyon State Park which is scenic.

There is an old Gunsmoke film set on private land in Johnson canyon...worth about 5 minutes of time. You can only see it from the fence. I don't know if they've opened up other filming areas.

Utahtea

mlm59

Utahtea,

I knew I could count on you for help!

What kind of weather can we expect in this area in late May? I know GC doesn't open until mid-May. Will there probably still be snow on the ground?

How strenuous is the hike to Rainbow Bridge? My daughter really wants to go there, but I might have a hard time with a difficult hike. How warm is it likely to be in late May?

How long is the drive to Lake Powell from GC? I would like for us to be able to take the Rainbow Bridge trip on the day we drive over from the GC and then the float trip on the Colorado the next day.

Is the Kolob section of Zion a lot different from the part of Zion we have already visited? If we decide to go there how long should I plan for our visit? Thanks for the idea about Snow Canyon SP. I have seen it on the map but haven't read anything about it so I will investigate further.

I know I have a lot of questions. I like to get as much information as possible to maximize our trips. Due to daughter's limited vacation time we try to do the most we can in just a few days so planning is important and deciding on our "must see" stops is key. We just try to see more of the SW each year when we can visit.

Thanks again for you help and advice. You, and other posters, have made our trip planning much easier and have allowed us to make the most of our past vacations.

sharrin

You can make reservations for 2005 now. I just checked my calendar and there is only 12 months in a year. You should be able to make reservations for February 2006 now.

Cats_Do_Dance

If your family is interested in the rim view cabins and you're trying to book the minute Memorial Day 2005 reservations open, this is a great chance to grab one. A few years ago when my family went (in July), I called the day reservations for July of that year were opened. All of the rim view cabins were wide open. We waited a month later to actually book (why we did this, I do not know, but I'm sure it was my hubby's idea LOL) and in that short period of time while we managed to still get a rim view cabin, it was only because our departure date was the day before the NEXT arrivals were set to come. The entire North Rim was totally booked when we were there too. People were calling to see if there were any cancellations for any of the cabins, but during that entire time period the answer was no, no and no.

Have fun on your trip. I LOVED the North Rim.

utahtea

sharrin,

They want reservations in May, not Februray....I think they will have to wait a couple of months to make those reservations.

Utahtea

utahtea

BTW, I'd like to mention...Make sure you are not at Lake Powell over Memorial Day Weekend....unless you like ZOO's!

Utahtea

sharrin

Utahtea: I understand that they want reservations in May 2005. Since they take reservations 23 months in advance and May 2005 is only 15 months away, they should be able to make those reservations now. I was just commenting that I think that reservations could possibly be made for February 2006 at this time.

Rob

The North Rim is closed for the winter

Photodog

If you want to get off the water for a while when you are in Page would suggest a tour of Antelope Canyon or Horseshoe Bend. The former is a short hike into a canyon spectacular colors. You can arrange tours in Page or just drive out to the entrance (near the power generating station) and sign up there. Best light is 11am to 2pm. A few miles south of town on US89 is a pull off to Horseshoe Bend. A half to 3/4 mile walk will take you to overlooks where the Colorado River loops around a "island" of rock. Look at http://testi.free.fr/Photo/ or do a google search for either. Have used an excellent guide, Jackson Bridges in Page. He has a 4x4 and can take you to some wonderful offroad sites.

rp18104

We were in the same area the last week of May in 2002. The weather at Lake Powell was VERY windy and a bit cool (65 or so). The daytime weather at the north Rim was perhaps 65-70 during the day down to about 45 or so at night. Great for hiking.

No rain at either location.

mlm59

We have not yet decided on the number of days to spend in Page. As mentioned earlier, we want to take the tour on Lake Powell to Rainbow Bridge one day and a float trip on the Colorado the next day. Might add another day to visit the places Photodog has suggested. I assume both of these could be done in the same day. You mentioned a guide named Jackson Bridges. How do I contact him? Would you suggest hiring him for a guided tour of areas other than those you recommended, or would he take us to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend?

If we decide to spend another night in Page would it be feasible to drive from there to LV? The flight we will take doesn't leave until around 7 PM. If not, where is the best place between Page and LV to add another day to our trip that would be near places we would enjoy visiting? We have been to Zion from the entrance near Springdale.

utahtea

sharrin,

My appologies...I don't know what I was thinking...You are right....it's only 15 months.

Utahtea

sharrin

Utahtea,

That's OK. You give such great information that I thought mlm59 might decide to wait until May and not get the type accomodation they want.

utahtea

mlm59,

I haven't been to the N. Rim in May. We did go to Lake Powell in May 2001 and had warm weather. Mostly sunny days with a little thunderstorm that rolled right by. We took the tour to Rainbow Bridge that year and the lake levels were high enough that you could see Rainbow Bridge from the tour boat. With the continued low lake levels they can't get the tour boats that close. I do know it's about a 3 mile round trip hike. I have no idea how hard the hike is. Take plenty of water to drink!

The float trips leave at 7:30 or 1:30 after May 15th. Before May 15th they leave at 11:00

The Rainbow Bridge tours leave at 8:00 and 10:00.

If you are going to spend 3 nights in Page, then I would do the Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend the day you arrive. Upper Antelope Slots takes about 1 1/2 hours.

The hike to Horseshoe Bend is very short but great views!

http://www.toddshikingguide.com/Hike...isc/Misc13.htm

Both of these can easily be done the day you arrive.

It's been a while since I've been to the Kolob section of Zion. It didn't leave that big of an impression on me. I think a couple of hours would do it. I think I would rather spend the time at Lake Powell.

Utahtea

utahtea

Ooop, forgot. It's 275 miles from Page to Las Vegas and will take about 5 hours.

Utahtea

mlm59

Utahtea,

Thanks again for all of your great advice. Can you tell me how long it will take to drive from GC to Page?

utahtea

mlm59,

You better plan on 3 1/2 to 4 hours. When you leave the N. Rim it's kind of slow driving, especially if you get stuck behind a motorhome.

Utahtea