Help with logistics going from LV to Utah National Parks
 

HI !

Three couples traveling together and need help with travel and time logistics for a trip starting and ending in Las Vegas (mid-October 2010). I'm almost clear of what we want to see, and this is my tentative route plan: From LV to Zion National Park (lodging in Springdale for two nights. Need Hotel recommendations); then to Boulder or Torrey (lodging advice needed) to see Capitol Reef and Goblin Valley on the way to Moab. How many day necessary for Arches? From Moab to Lake Powell (two nights). Will visit Antelope Canyon. Then to Grand Canyon (been there twice) on my way to Las Vegas. Think will need another stop before getting to LV. Need recommendations. Now my specific questions: Is there any advantage of doing this clockwise or counter clockwise?; what to see travelling from place to place? We don't want to visit similar places. For example, knowing that will find hundreds of Arches in Arches National Park, I'm not inclined to stop for another Arch on the route. The National Park Pass, is it tor all the people travelling with you in the car or per person? Time alloted for this trip will be 12 to 13 days, including three nights in Las Vegas. More questions will come as I get your recommendations.

Thanks in advance for your help

Gilberto

Can't help you with many of your questions but can tell you that the National Parks Pass is good for the pass holder and up to an additional three adults in one car.
You can do Arches in a day pretty easily, but not all arches are the same. Some require walking to them and others are visible in a drive by. Have been to many National Parks and Arches is one of my top five! One of the most amazing parts of Arches is the drive to get there. You will understand after you get there. Hope that helps a little. Good luck and have a great time.

I see you have Zion included but not Bryce Canyon. They 90 miles apart and very, very different. Bryce is one of a kind.

I would sleep over in Bryce, get up for the sunrise at Bryce Point, have some breakfast and then do a hike down into the hoodoos such as Navajo Loop - Queens Garden.

You don't have a slot canyon in the mix so on the way from Bryce to Boulder I would consider the little visited Willis Creek (I've been there and taking my daughter in Sept). Easy little hike.

Willis Creek is 10 miles south of Cannonville that's on the way from Bryce to Boulder.

A little east of Escalante is Hole-in-the-Rock road. Ten miles down this road is Devil's Garden Escalante (not to be confused with Devil's Garden in Arches). It's similar to Goblin Valley but I refer to it as a grown up version. Given how close you are I would add the hour or so.

A little east of Devil's Garden and right off Rt 12 that goes directly to Boulder is Lower Calf Creek Falls. About 2.5 miles each way but nothing difficult or strenuous gets you to a spectacular waterfall.

I'm just not a big fan of Capitol Reef. Others will disagree. There are a few good hikes but with all the other amazing sights it doesn't compare.

Goblin Valley is a bit of a drive off the main road but again it's worth it. A fun place with a bunch of rock formations to climb over.

I spent 4 days in Arches but we went to and did a lot of things:
hiked to Delicate Arch
took the Fiery Furnace ranger-led hike
went to a lot of the different arches (they're not all the same) in different parts of the park
spent part of a day in Canyonlands NP and Dead Horse Point
a morning of rafting on the Colorado
went down Rt 128 and hiked around Fisher Towers where we saw rock climbers over 900 feet above us
drove down Rt 279 where we saw a train running from the old potash plant and then hiked Corona Arch
drove over the La Salle Mountains and stopped to throw snowballs in late May

For Zion we had a wonderful hotel Best western Zion park inn.In Torrey Austin's chuck wagon motel.When going to Moab take the road following the Colorado river to Maob.Great.Also visit Canyonlands park.Apache motel (where John Wayne stayed when filming in the neighbourhood).On your way to page visit Monument valley.Stay at Kayenta Holiday inn.From Page I would include Bryce canyon.Fantastic.And then take route 14 to interstate 15 straight to LV. Since you already visited Grand can..Paul

Thanks for the info and recommendations. Will try to fix new options in my itinerary. Still, I have a question: Is it better do the trip clockwise or counterclockwise?

I don't think there is a correct answer to your question. But I would choose counter-clockwise, going from Las Vegas to Zion - mainly because I would be so anxious to get there. Zion is only 2 1/2 hours from Las Vegas.
Please do include Bryce Canyon. It is so unique and you will not regret it.
If you want to spend the night in Springdale, the nicest place to stay is Desert Pearl Inn. We liked it a lot but much prefer to stay in the canyon at Zion Lodge. By staying inside the park, you have close access to the trailheads and can easily enjoy early morning hikes or (my favorite) hiking at dusk.
Many people see Arches in a day or less, but I think they miss out on a lot. As Myer suggested, the Fiery Furnace is a spectacular hike and is required to be a guided hike with a ranger. You have to sign up ahead of time at the Visitor Center for this. So you might want to spend 2 days in Arches.
You should include some part of Canyonlands also, since it is right next to Arches. We particularly enjoyed a combination boat/jeep tour of Canyonlands with Tagalong Tours. The jetboat actually went 38 miles into Canyonlands Nat'l Park on the Colorado River, stopped for a short walk to see Petroglyphs and petrified palm trees, and then stopped for a picnic lunch. The jeeps met us at the picnic spot and the rest of the tour was absolutely jaw-dropping. It was a full-day adventure. We really really liked staying at Red Cliffs Lodge which is outside of the town of Moab. If you check their website, you'll see why we liked it so much.
We've only done Moab area in a different trip from our trips to the Escalante/Boulder area and the Zion/Bryce/North Rim Grand Canyon area. It seems like a lot of ground to cover, but my cousins have done it all in one trip and loved it.

Thanks elnap29. The boat/jeep tour of Canyonlands seems like very fun option. We're travelling with a couple on their 70's. Can the do it too?

About 50 miles up I-15 from LV is Valley of Fire--it's really worth the stop. Pix at http://tinyurl.com/yzjvmxm

Oh, yes. Anyone can do the boat/jeep tour. The walk-outs are fairly short but spectacular, and anyone has the choice to remain in the boat or jeep if they prefer. Be careful when selecting a tour company/tour. Some companies only go on parts of the Colorado which is next to the road you could drive on your own. Tagalong had a permit to actually go inside the national park.

And yes to Valley of Fire! It is a very unique spot also. We were there late in the day, and with all the shadows the formations seemed quite dramatic.

Here is the link for the tour:
http://www.tagalong.com/index.php?page=JJ0

Thanks again elnap29. Checked the website and really looks like fun. Great recommendation. Will check photos of the Valley of Fire. Regarding the permits, we are six travelling together and will get the Yearly National Pass, which I understand is just for four persons travelling together. What about the other two passengers?

I think on the Tagalong website it mentions paying $5 without the pass. Check the website again.

> Regarding the permits, we are six travelling together
> and will get the Yearly National Pass,
> which I understand is just for four persons travelling together.
> What about the other two passengers?

As
www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm
makes clear, the "America the Beautiful" Pass covers the driver of the car and up to three other adults. If the couple over 70 are US citizens or permanent residents, they can get in free with the Senior Pass. Just show both passes when you get to the gate, and I'm pretty sure the ranger will allow all six people to get in.

Just to correct PaulRabe.

Unless they've changed it recently, the Senior Pass is good for anybosy 62 and older that's a US citizen or permanent resident.

Ten dollars for the lifetime!!!

So, we need two passes? The yearly national pass for $80 dollars and the $10 pass for the seniors?

The $80 pass is "owned" by one or two persons, permits entry for the owner and up to three other adults in the same vehicle, and is good for one year from date of purchase. The $10 pass is good for the life of the US citizen (or permanent resident), and gives similar privileges. Since you have more than four adults who wish to enter the parks at one time, it would seem the dual purchase is indeed necessary.