How's the Drive???? South Rim, Grand Canyon to Bryce & Zion...
 

Will be driving from the South Rim to Bryce & Zion National Parks in Mid-March for the first time. Can anyone tell me if Rt 89A is<BR>a wise [more scenic/interesting] choice at that time of year, or should I stick with Rt89 through Page? I was not planning to rent a 4wd car... mistake? Any help appreciated.

Are you planning on sticking to the paved highways or going cross country?<BR>The road is paved. What kind of problems were you expecting?<BR>In that high country it can snow in March, that is for sure.<BR>As for the route, I don't think it makes much difference as to scenery. I have driven both routes and the route via Marble Canyon is shorter and scenic.<BR>But, I have never done it in March!<BR>The GC will be cold in Mid March, as will Bryce. The canyon rim at Bryce is around 8,000 to 8,500 feet up; the high point on the road is close to 9,000 feet.<BR><BR>If you go by Page you will see the Glen Canyon Dam, that abomination that drowned Glen Canyon at the behest of the gambling moguls in Las Vegas.<BR><BR>Take your woolies.<BR>

Is there much difference in the time it takes between the two routes? Is Glen Canyon worth a stop? How much time should I allow?

Allow about 6 hours, GC south rim to Bryce Canon. More, of course, if you stop for a prolonged period. The two routes are similar, to me, in what you see, with a few differences of course.<BR>But it is mostly red sandstone and similar features. If you go by Page you can see the Glenn Canyon Dam.<BR>You might even take a boat cruise on Lake Powell, although I don't know if the boats are in season in mid March.<BR>I was there in the late spring when the weather was much warmer.<BR>If you take the route by Fredonia, there is a National Monument called Pipe Spring west of Fredonia on the road to Zion. It is an early Mormon settlement in that area and served as an important outpost and supply base for several years.<BR>

My husband and I spent our 10th anniversary on that same route,at the end of May. Driving shouldn't be a problem.These aren't super highways or anything, but I imagine that they know how to get rid of snow when it arrives. We went to the Dam and took the raft ride down the river. Very good. We also stayed at the marina on Lake Powell.... excellent, beautiful spot. Rented a powerboat and cruised the lake for the day, not cheap but if it isn't too cold, worth the money. You can go out to natural arch bridge and around in a relazing day. Go for the biggest boat that you can afford, It is a very big lake, and the wake from your boat has no where to go and it can get very choppy out there. We were going to get the smaller boat and were quite glad we got the larger one. Zion is spectacular. We stayed at the park lodging inside the park and it was great, room with a balcony overlooking the peaks, deer on the lawn at night, great place, many hiking trails, I did the flat ones, 8 months pregnant, and my husband did the scary ones. Only did a driveby of Bryce. As I said we went in May, there were still parts of the north rim that were closed due to snow, but the north rim was so much nicer than the south rim, no crowds, no commericialism. We went to the north rim first, stayed in a little cabin right on the rim in the woods. Sat at the edge in adorondac chairs watching sunrise and sets enjoying the splendor. Beautiful lodge and dining there, great price. South rim was full of tour busses, too many people and not the same experience at all. People we met told us to avoid the south rim and go to Zion and Bryce.We did both and should have stayed at the north rim or Zion or Lake Powell the nights we went to the south rim. Check with weather to see if those places are even open at the time of year. Zions road was spectaular driving in and out of. But I imagine that they would get a little hairy in the winter (as in March)Have a blast, wrote way more than intended. I am reliving and a little envious.

ttt

I think 89A is more scenic but whichever route you take go to Navaho Bridge (which is on 89A and just a short detour if you take 89). This is the only bridge across the Grand Canyon. There is a pedestrian bridge as well as a car bridge. Not five minutes from the bridge is Lee's ferry where the raft trips start. I thought it was interesting to go there where there is no canyon and not even a mile later (at the bridge) you're high up looking down at the river. Also, there's some weird rock formations right at the turn off to Lee's ferry. <BR><BR>On 89 there will be some scenic lookouts on the left side of the road as you go up a hill -- from these lookouts you see the Grand Canyon but I think alot of people wouldn't realize that unless you came up from 89A.