First, let me say thanks again to everyone for all their invaluable help in planning this trip.

This is our plan for our trip in Oct! Leaving October 12-20
(Some people may say "how can you plan a trip so far in advance" and I say "how can you not...we had to change our vacation dates to 2 weeks later so that we could stay in the cabins at the Bryce and Zion lodges. They were already booked 7 months in advance!)

Anyway!
Here it is:
Fly into Las Vegas from Los Angeles in the a.m., rent a car and drive to Hoover dam and then to St. George for the first night, by way of Valley of Fire.
The next two nights in Zion and then on to Bryce for 2 nights then Torrey for 2 nights.
Our last night we will spend in Cedar City and then on to L.V. for our trip back home.

Does this sound reasonable...?
Anything that I'm missing or totally off base on?

Make room to see Cedar Breaks while in Cedar City.

I agree with seeing Cedar Breaks and it is convenient to the trip between Torrey and Cedar City. Depending on how much time you have, take U-24 west from Torrey to U-62 then south to US-89 (faster) or U-12 south from Torrey through Boulder and Escalante to US-89 (more scenic but farther). With the first route, turn south on US89 to Panguitch. Where US-89 makes a 90 degree left turn to the east, go straight ahead and follow U-143 (past my favorite fishing lake-Panguitch Lake) to Cedar Breaks, then on into Cedar City. If you take U-12, turn north when you reach US-89 and when US-89 makes a 90 degree turn to the right in the center of Panguitch, you turn left. You can do either route easily in a day. Cedar Breaks is wonderful and the trip across Cedar Mountain is among the most scenic in the west.

Great suggestion...we'll do it.
Thank you!

When you drive from Bryce to Torrey, I suggest Utah route 12. It is an extremely scenic route. Much of the way you traverse the surface of the Navajo Stone, which is one of the cliff building formations at Capitol Reef and at Zion.

There is also a small state park that you pass at a settlement called Boulder. It is worth a look. The visit will not take long, but the exhibits are expertly presented.

While at Capitol Reef, take a stroll along the Grand Wash. Those sheer cliffs are very attractive.

I think you will like Cedar Breaks if the area is still open that late in October.

In the area around Cedar Breaks, I found it most interesting that lava spewed out and covered the ground. That was the most recent rock formation of that area.

At any rate Zion, Bryce and Capitol Reef will make a very good trip.
There is a lot to see out there, but to try and add features would dilute your current plans.

jasperti,

Your itinerary sounds really good. I also agree with Cedar Breaks & you definitly have to do Hwy 12 between Bryce and Torrey at least once. You might find you want to do it going back too.

From Cedar City to Las Vegas you will pass right by the Kolob section of Zion National Park and that is worth a short stop. You might also want to detour to Valley of Fire before reaching Las Vegas.

Utahtea

bob_brown,

Is the Grand Wash you mentioned the 1.75 mile trail from the Grand Wash spur road? How is the road and how strenuous is the hike? Is it sufficient to do just part of the trail ? thanks.

Hi banares,

The Grand Wash road is a grated dirt and narrow in some spots but cars and some motorhomes don't have any problems driving it. At the end is the Grand Wash Trail Head. Do Not go down this road if a thunderstorm is coming! RV's have been washed away in flashfloods.

The hike is an easy 2 1/4 mile hike (one way). You are walking in a mostly level narrow wash bottom with sheer canyon walls on both sides. The trail leads back to Hwy 24. You can do all or just part and turn around. If you don't want to drive down the Grand Wash road there is a few spots to park on Hwy 24 and take the hike in that way.

Capitol Gorge is a simlar hike to Pioneer Register and the tanks is only a 1 mile hike (one way).

If you are in Capitol Reef in the summer it's best to do these hikes as early in the morning as possible so you have some shade.

Utahtea

Ut gave the answer. I can add some to it. If you stick to the floor of the wash itself, the ground is virtually level. On the other hand, there is a trail to Cassidy Arch, named for the Butch Cassidy of Sundance Kid fame.
He is is said to have hid out up there.
(I always considered the story doubtful because there is no water up there, so he could not stay for long without coming out for supplies.)

The road from the Visitor Center is flat and usually maintained, although the stories about floods are true. The earth is baked hard dry and water runs off rather than soaking in. As a result, run off is very rapid and the water accumulates quickly in the drainage channels.
More so than any other park, I think a quick review of the various rock formations in Capitol Reef adds greatly to the enjoyment. Rather than just seeing some nice cliffs, you have some understanding why they are there.
The Wingate and Navajo Sandstones are the primary cliff builders while the Moenkopi and Chinle formations crumble too quickly to build cliffs. The latter two are the ones that contribute the colors to the landscape.

bob_brown and utahtea,

thanks for the very useful information.