scraphappy

Sharondi - great pictures. I'm a photography nut and thought your pictures were wonderful. I'll share them with my friends today as we continue trip planning. Your pictures are getting me very excited about not only the trip but the photography opportunities that I will have!

Ellen, thanks for that link to Long Canyon Road. We will have to look at Shafer Trail and Long Canyon and see if we can fit in both. One of my favorite travel experiences was taking the Pink Jeep tour in Sedona, I loved the feeling of really getting back into the red rock country. So both the Shafer Trail and Long Canyon Road sound like they will be up my alley.

Thanks again everyone and Dayle, don't worry, the sunscreen will be packed in bulk!

You have all really helped me feel ok about leaving out Durango. (I knew I needed the cold hard facts of driving times from Utahtea!) We will get to Colorado one day. The next trip will be Grand Tetons and Yellowstone!

OK I'm ready for my next thread - you guys are going to be sick of me!

utahtea

ellen & scraphappy,

We went up the Potash road, did a side trip on the White Rim trail to Musselman arch, drove up the Shafer Trail, toured around Canyonlands, did the hike to Mesa Arch & the hike at Grandview and came back on Long Canyon in one day.

Utahtea

scraphappy

Utahtea,

That sounds like a wonderful day and a great way to see the parks. I'm cutting and pasting all of your responses into a file and will take them with us. I will be sure to return the favor with a trip report! I can hardly wait for August to get here. I'm still worried about the heat. Will we be able to be out in the Moab heat all day? I don't mind the heat but my kids do. We have a pool in our backyard here in Maryland and they live in it when it is hot!

utahtea

Yes, it will be hot in the Moab area during the day. We like to do our hiking either very early in the morning or late afternoon.

During the heat of the day, we drive around in the air condition vehicle and maybe get out to see a vista or do a short hike.

Get a little portable cooler and keep plenty of WATER to drink with you at all times.

I also LOVE my misty-mate! It can really cool you off in the dry heat. http://www.mistymate.com/mmp16.html I've seen them a lot cheaper at Walmart and Costco.

Sometimes a dip in the pool in the late afternoon was just the ticket before a hike after dinner.

BTW, the jeeps Wanglers we rented had air conditioning.

Utahtea

utahtea

Also, I don't know if this has been mentioned to you or not, but you should get a National Park Pass for $50. It will save you a lot of money when visiting all these national parks.

https://buy.nationalparks.org/

Utahtea

mapper

Here are some more suggestions -

If you hike the Zion Narrows in spring or early summer the water is cold. Take or barrow surfing booties or fly fishing boots for your feet. It’s a lot better than hiking with cold wet boots and socks!

Check the weather on Hwy 12 before driving it. It’s high up and could have snow or get a fast moving storm. Not a good place to be in a snow storm. Also, check out Calf Creek if you have time. Lower Calf Creek falls has the most photogenic water falls I’ve seen. Nice hour trial along creek to falls.
http://www.americansouthwest.net/uta...alf_creek.html

When in Rome... Don’t forget to do some mountain biking in Moab. Lots of trails, tours, and rentals around town. It’s the mountain biker capitol of the U.S.

When you go to Mesa Verde, purchase tickets to the Cliff Palace or Balcony House tours early when you get there. They sell out fast early in the day! They are the major attractions at the park. Also, that day you are going to be driving a lot. I would leave REAL early from Moab.

When you go to Page try and visit Marble Canyon(Lees Ferry) which is just below Page. If anybody fly fishes, it’s a great day trip up the Colorado River. Also, it's really great for photographers. And a lot of people staying in Page go to the Antelope Slot Canyon as a photo side trip. Ask the hotel front desk people about tour and permit information. It’s a big tourist attraction run on indian land.
www.leesferry.com/virtual.htm
http://www.americansouthwest.net/slo...yon/index.html

I can’t figure out why you are going to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon? If you are going to Lake Powell, keep it local and save your time. I would go to the North Rim instead, which has more to see with forests and wildlife. I generally go to the south rim in winter and the north in the summer. I think the North Rim opens May 15.
If you have a 4X4 or good SUV you could also drive out to Toroweap for a real adventure. It is also on the north side south of Colorado City.

http://www.americansouthwest.net/ari...on/tuweep.html
www.surgent.net/highpoints/toroweap.html

Also, here are my new web maps of Zion and Arches -

www.cccarto.com/wmaps/Zion/
www.cccarto.com/wmaps/Arches/


Have a good time.