Having second thoughts regarding time allocation in NPs
 

For the southern Utah part of our NP tour next month, my original plans were as follows:

Day 1 - arrive in Moab and check into hotel about noon. Afternoon in Arches.
Day 2 - Split day between Canyonlands and Arches. Strongly leaning toward a jet boat, raft, or humvee tour in Canyonland that will take a half day.
Day 3. Another day in either Canyonlands or Arches - perhaps split.
Day 4. Drive to Capitol Reef - day in Capitol Reef.
Day 5. Morning in Capitol Reef then back to SLC for flight home on day 6.

Alternate plan:
Skip Capitol Reef altogether and spend an extra day and a half in Arches and Canyonland. This will give me a chance to visit the Needles section of Canyonlands as well as to do a river and humvee combo plus hike.

Your thoughts?

I would strongly suggest seeing Goblin Valley State Park and then about 5 miles from it is Little Wildhorse Canyon--probably the best non-technical slot canyon in UT. THese 2 places are just as good as the National Parks.

I think I would probably skip Cap Reef. Although, it is certainly a nice place with very few people.

You can probably do most of the big stuff in Arches in a day. I like to hike to Delicate Arch at sunrise over sunset. Most people will tell you right the opposite. Most people haven't done both, I have.

FWIW, I've been to Utah 6 or 7 times over the past 8 years. We love it. You can't really go wrong with any of the places. Only thing I'm concerned about is the time of year your going. Be certain to have a lot of water. Hike the slot canyons during the heat of the day as they have shade. Most of Arches has very little to no Shade.

My very favorite thing we've done in UT is www.deserthighlights.com Totally amazing experience

I can't comment on Capital Reef vs. Canyonlands. I would say you would be better off to spend full days in Arches and Canyonlands rather than split and do a couple half days in each. Full days means a bit less driving to and from and with 4-5 days you don't need to waste that extra time by splitting up the days and going from one park to the other multiple times.

Dead Horse Point State Park is a wonderful place not far from Arches, whereas Canyonlands is much farther on (but in the same direction). Were I you, I would check out what activities are available at DHPSP.

Also, the Colorado River on the southern border of Arches is spectacularly scenic. Highway 128 follows the river for a several miles out of Moab. I would also investigate if there are activities on the Colorado River outside Moab.

HTtY

I usually recommend three full days, but you'll have 1/2 day short of that for the minimum in the Moab area

One full day for Arches is usually enough to see and do all the major sites. It is a smaller park and the road will take you to the places you want to see with little long hiking involved for the most part. You could certainly break it up into a couple half days if you wanted to, though if that works well for you.

The most frequent half day rafting trip is the Fisher Tower section. It is a fun trip. However if you do a half day in the afternoon you'll need to be at the meeting place about 11 as they include lunch in the mix so then you've blown most of the day. So I'd recommend the morning tour then you'll be sure to have most of the afternoon left.

Another great tour is a sunset hummer tour. It will take you out on the slick rock trails and is a fun way to see the day end.

Canyonlands Island in the sky is easily paired with Dead Horse Point and can be seen in a longish half day since there isn't too much hiking to do.

The Needles section of Canyonlands on the other hand is really a trip all by itself. The hikes are full day for those in good shape to get anywhere. Maybe a paid jeep tour would be nice but would require a full day.

So your question is really which would be better- the Needles or Capitol Reef...... And there is no wrong answer. They are both great in very different ways. I think Capitol Reef is more accessible and more easily seen and as has been mentioned could include a trip to Goblin Valley and Little Wild Horse. In a short trip you can't see it all, so the main thing is to take your pick and then enjoy it completely.

I'd do full days rather than split days as it's quite far better the parks!
We went into town (Moab) for a late lunch and back to Arches.

Capitol Reef is great but Arches is my favourite and I would add a day there at least!

Another vote for trying to not split days. Too much driving.

As mentioned Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point are right beside each other.

While in Arches I would sign up for the Fiery Furnace ranger led hike.

I am one of those sunset fans for Delicate Arch.

If you've been posting other parts of your trip I haven't been following. So if this is one of those one in a lifetime trips from a distant home, I might try to arrange Bryce and Zion in there.

The entrances to Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands NP are right next to each other, but it is a long 40-mile drive from the entrance of CNP to Junction Butte and another 40-mile drive back. There is nothing in CNP more beautiful than DHPSP, and that is why, in consideration of your time restraints, I suggested DHPSP as a very desirable alternative to CNP.

HTtY

Although the Needles area is my favorite part of Canyonlands NP, I would not recommend that you drive all that way south to see it over Capitol Reef, which is headed in the right direction towards Salt Lake City. Capitol Reef is a beautiful park with few people and some great hiking and scenic drives. The very long drive into Needles is great if you have a few days to spend there but not if you are traveling out of your way to get there.

You have plenty of time to drive to Canyonlands Islands in the Sky for some exploring and also taking a peak at Dead Horse, which is scenic but not a "must do" in my opinion as there isn't much to do there.

While in Moab, find some time to drive out Route 128 along the Colorado River toward Fisher Towers - an incredibly scenic drive.

Reading all this with interest, as this will be our fall vacation. Be sure to tell us how your trip goes. Have fun, basingstoke2!

Thank you all for the helpful input:

This is the revised scheduled for the southern part of our trip:

Day 1. Leave SLC AM arrive in Moab about 11-12 AM. Check in and have lunch.

Drive to Dead Horse Point SP stay an hour or two and then to Island in the Sky in Canyonlands NP. Stay through dusk and sunset for photos, getting the advantage of afternoon light. I would appreciate opinion if the photo opportunities would be better if DHPSP and CNP were reversed.

Day 2. Take a river trip for 3-4 hours (mostl likely 3 hour jet boat rather than 4 hour raft). Picnic lunch then drive to Needles area and stay through the late afternoon light. Back to Moab.

Day 3. Arches all day staying through sunset.

Day 4.Slow drive to Capitol Reef NP seeing sights along the way (Goblins SP?), Picnic along the way, check in and then remainder of afternoon in Capitol Reef.

Day 5, Capitol Reef and then drive to SLC arriving for late dinner.

How does this look to you.