I think I am making a timing error. We are going to spend three nights in Moab so see Arches and Canyonlands. then we are pushing on th Bryce. I have planned to spend one night in Boulder to have time to see a little of Capitol Reed and Escalante, then two nights at Bryce. Is this way too much time? I now realize how close Bryce is to Boulder. We want time to hike and such and not just drive through everything.
thanks.

Hi Going Places,

NO this is definitely not too much time. Just barely enough. If you really enjoy hiking, I would take a day from Bryce and add it to Moab.

If you do one good medium hike down in Bryce, you can get a good handle on Bryce.

However, in Arches (and outside the actual park), Capital Reef (and entire Escalante/Boulder area), or Zion, the scenery and geology on each hike varies greatly!

I agree that it's NOT to much time. If you want a more mid-way point, then spend the night in Torrey, Utah, otherwise you plan looks good.

Even though Boulder and Bryce are close...there is SO much to see and do between those two places. Just outside Boulder you can drive the paved part of the Burr trail...very scenic. There is Anasazi Indian Village State Park, Calf Creek, Escalante Petrified Forest and Kodachrome State park! Besides the most scenic area of Hwy 12 IMHO is between Boulder and the small town of Escalante. http://www.utah.com/byways/highway_12.htm

Utahtea

Oh, I forgot...if it's HOT you can go for a swim at the Wide Hollow Reservoir that's also at the Escalante State Park (part of the Escalante Petrified Forest.) There are bathrooms to change in.

It is so amazing how you can always count on the people on this forum to have such good answers! thank you very much for your suggestions!

We had a great vacation last year in Escalante/Boulder area. I agree that driving the Burr Trail is high on the list. Also, Boulder has a truly outstanding restaurant called Hell's Backbone Kitchen - a very unique, organic, buddha-meets-Mormon kinda place. We stayed in Escalante at Escalante's Grand Staircase Bed and Breakfast Inn - a lovely place- and took an amazing guided hike into some slot canyons with Drew and Julia Cozby of Escalante Outdoors Adventures. We highly recommend exploring this area, but the drive-through is also worthwhile. There's a brand new visitor center in Escalante also. Definitely is worth taking some time here. There is much to see and do!