Itinerary for : Vegas - Zion - Bryce - Antelope - Grand Canyon
Mar 31st, 2014, 09:26 PM
#42
Join Date: May 2013
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This is the book I use for driving from Zion to Arches
It is the only book that gives mile-by-mile guidance to plan your vacation
I found the Zion video in the Kindle version of that book - not in printed version
http://www.southutahparks.com/
It is the only book that gives mile-by-mile guidance to plan your vacation
I found the Zion video in the Kindle version of that book - not in printed version
http://www.southutahparks.com/
Apr 1st, 2014, 08:48 PM
#43
Join Date: Sep 2005
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We did a similar trip in 2009, but took one week and still felt rushed. It was a lot of driving, which was tiring. We wanted to stop at so many other spots, but just didn't have time. I'm glad we did what we did though, we managed to squeeze in a lot in that week. Many would argue it was not the way to see the parks, but we only had so much vacation time... If I were you, I would just go to Zion and do the Narrows river walk/hike, but you would have to probably rent dry suits as well since the water will be cold. It was truly incredible. Your kids will remember it forever! Or just go to Bryce and do a hike down amongst the hoodoos. Your kids are young, they will enjoy stopping and smelling the flowers...
Here was our itinerary, my notes were not that great, sorry...
Wednesday, June 10 to Wednesday, June 17 2009
Wed. June 10 Arrive Phoenix, AZ 5:42 PM, rent National Rental Car
Stay: Fairfield Inn & Suites Phoenix, 2520 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004 Free/15,000 points.
Bought sun screen, bug repellent, cheap cooler, case of H2O for the car, snacks…
Thurs. June 11 Approx. 4 to 5 hour drive to Grand Canyon South Rim Village
Stop by Montezuma's Castle, Camp Verde, AZ, close to i-17 a neat place to visit but we did not have time to visit the park, we just bought the “America the Beautiful” NPS Annual Pass - Cost $80.
Stay: Yavapai Lodge Hotel, $114.21/night (No A.C., just ceiling fan.)
Xanterra reservations: 888-297-2757 7a-6p/day
Did a short hike near the Yavapei that evening and had dinner near the hotel.
Fri. June 12 Drive to Page, AZ (~3 hrs. plus extra time for stops…)
We stopped at several vista points along the way and got out and tromped around, Including the Watchtower and went to the top.
Visited Horseshoe Bend lookout = best when sun is high; (sign on the left/west side of road. About 1/2 mile south of Rt 98. Allow some time as it's a hot, 3/4 mile (~15-20 min. each way). easy walk on a sandy trail that has no shade, is open and pretty flat.. Be careful with the kids as there's no fence, screen or rail at the end, just straight down. Horeshoe Bend parking and sights are free. Was fun climbing on the rocks.
Raft float excursion: Colorado River Discovery, Page, AZ Glen Canyon Dam Tour
Half day: arrive12.30p, float 1p-6.30p, $320 http://www.coloradoriverdiscovery.com/
This was okay, seemed a bit slow. Had a few annoying people on our raft.
Stay: Courtyard Page at Lake Powell 600 Clubhouse Drive, P.O. Box 4150, Page, AZ 86040, Phone: 928-645-5000, Non-refundable $130.77/night
Sat. June 13 SE of Page, AZ a must see is Antelope Canyon (Upper is best when sun is high = makes it deeper/darker; Lower good all day), guide required. Drive east on Rt. 98 toward large powerplant smokestacks visible from Page to the parking lot and buy ticket, no problem, no limits on the number of people doing it. Upper section is best mid-day, say 11 AM - 1 PM. Lower section (other side of the road) is good all day. There are a few different tour operators that leave from Page, ask at hotel. Definitely take a tripod for the Antelope Canyon tour. We drove ourselves and absolutely LOVED this canyon. Make sure you have cash, no credit cards.
Drive to Bryce from Lake Powell: Approx. 3 hrs/150 miles., Take Hwy 89 from Hwy 12, Right (east) on Highway 12 to Hwy 63. Right (south) on Hwy 63 to Bryce Lodge. This was a long, long drive…
Take Rt.89 and turn right (north) towards Bryce/Zion, a couple of minutes after crossing the bridge over the river/lake beside the dam you'll see a sign on the left side (west) that indicates "scenic route". There's a little turnoff with a parking area and you walk down some rock steps to a built viewpoint. referred to as "The Best Dam View". It faces directly toward the Glen Canyon Dam that created Lake Powell and is a super view. The Dam viewpoint parking and sights are free. This is not something to drive out of your for, if passing, get out and have a look.
Stay: Bryce Canyon Lodge Motel, 2 Qn beds $183.48 (roll away r’svrd $12+11.25% tax extra, but can cancel at check-in) Xanterra reservations: 888-297-2757, 7a-6p
Dinner: Bryce Lodge Dining room, 7.15p reservation. Ph.435.834.8760
Distances from Kanab
• Grand Canyon North Rim (80 MI / 128.74 KM )
• Bryce Canyon National Park (79 MI / 127.13 KM )
• Zion National Park (40 MI / 64.37 KM )
• Coral Pink Sand Dunes (18 MI / 28.97 KM )
• Grand Staircase National Monument (87 MI / 140.01 KM )
• Pipe Springs National Monument (21 MI / 33.8 KM )
• Frontier Movie Town (0.3 MI / 0.48 KM ) Actual movie sets, museum, gift shop. Can watch a gun fight at sundown, star in your own movie or enjoy dinner theater.
• Moqui Cave (5.5 MI / 8.85 KM )
Sun. June 14 Up early to catch sunrise at Bryce Point but it was a non-event. Overcast and cloudy. The family was not pleased to have woken up at 4.30a to sit in the cold and not see the sunrise. After going back to bed for a couple of hours and breakfast we hiked down into the main part of Bryce on the Navajo loop trail. Is steeper going down than Queen's Garden coming back up, (starts at Sunset Point and you can go down either side) and either the opposite side back up or Queen's Garden up. If you take Navajo Loop up you'll end up at the same viewpoint. If you take Queen's Garden trail you'll end up at Sunrise Pt.
They're a half mile apart so if you drove to one you'll have to walk back to the car along the rim. That's also a nice scenic walk. By this point we had seen Bryce, Sunrise & Sunset points. The only other viewpoint that's different is Natural Bridge, don't bother going to all of the viewpoints.
Bryce is at 8,500 feet and Zion is about 4,000 feet lower. At Bryce you'll be hiking in elevation so don't be surprised if you feel it. Drink lots of water and stop to rest if you have to. It can creep up on you. Make sure you use suntan lotion.
(Don’t stop at Kodachrome state park...maybe 15 min. to view from 3 lookouts, no trails into the canyon...if you have seen Bryce, than this park will disappoint .. very small.)
Drive to Zion (~1.5hrs. from Bryce, Bryce to Springdale = 87 miles, ~ 1hr 51min, includes a slow, highly scenic stretch of driving thru the east section of Zion NP)
You will pass the Canyon Overlook hike parking area on the way from Bryce to Zion. We stopped and did that hike since we were right there. Had a spectacular view of the canyon.
Sights along the highway near the east entrance to Zion: Mesa rock (?). It looks like a patchwork. And a few others.
Easier hikes in the main canyon (Weeping Rock, Three Pools) or possibly Canyon Overlook on the east side. Hike up to Observation Point and back. Upper Inspiration Point after dinner for sunset photos.
Stay: Quality Inn At Zion Park 479 Zion Park Blvd. , Springdale, UT, US, 84767
Ph: (435) 772-3237 Front Desk Hours 8:00 am - 8:00 pm.
Estimated Total/2 nites: $270.61 including taxes of: 12.8%
Directions: I-15, take exits 16 or 27. Follow SR9 and follow signs to Springdale-Zion National Park. Springdale is a short 10 minute drive to the park.
Mon. June 15 We took the bus from the hotel into the park and walked the paved path to the river and spent the day hiking the Narrows. It was FANTASTIC walking in the Virgin River. We started about 8a so had all day. It was an easy hike and we walked about 3 hours before turning around and walking back. It was so fun! It's a "must do" if you are going to Zion. We rented shoes and staffs at Zion Adventure Company in Springdale which was across the street from our hotel.
Afterwards we were exhausted, but rented inner tubes, ~$14/hr, from the place we rented booties and staffs and tubed the Virgin River with views of Zion. We put in right by hotel and it was so relaxing to float after walking all day. A van picked us up at the end.
Stay: Quality Inn At Zion Park 479 Zion Park Blvd. , Springdale, UT, US, 84767
Tues. June 16 Drive to Vegas (153miles, ~3 hrs. from Zion).
After Zion get off i-15 at either exit 93 or 75 and ride on a two lane road that goes along Lake Mead and misses Vegas itself, which can have lots of traffic. Exit 75 takes you through Valley of Fire State Park which has some neat petroglyphs and some CCC cabins (Civilian Conservation Corps, folks during the depression who were given work to do in parks etc. They worked building roads, bridges, developing public lands, etc and there are a couple of stone cabins they built and I think lived in while they developed some of the roads in Valley of Fire.) and is pretty but not as spectacular as some of the previous places. We found this interesting….
We wanted to go to Hoover Dam (~1 hr. from Vegas) but there was a long line of traffic and we were low on gas so had to bale…
Stay: Bally’s, 3645 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, NV 89109 (877) 603-4390
After all the beautiful scenery ending in Vegas was a terrible idea. It was so noisy and brash and fake. It would have been better to start in Vegas and not spend any time there after doing the parks.
Wed. June 17 Depart Las Vegas and fly home.
Here was our itinerary, my notes were not that great, sorry...
Wednesday, June 10 to Wednesday, June 17 2009
Wed. June 10 Arrive Phoenix, AZ 5:42 PM, rent National Rental Car
Stay: Fairfield Inn & Suites Phoenix, 2520 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004 Free/15,000 points.
Bought sun screen, bug repellent, cheap cooler, case of H2O for the car, snacks…
Thurs. June 11 Approx. 4 to 5 hour drive to Grand Canyon South Rim Village
Stop by Montezuma's Castle, Camp Verde, AZ, close to i-17 a neat place to visit but we did not have time to visit the park, we just bought the “America the Beautiful” NPS Annual Pass - Cost $80.
Stay: Yavapai Lodge Hotel, $114.21/night (No A.C., just ceiling fan.)
Xanterra reservations: 888-297-2757 7a-6p/day
Did a short hike near the Yavapei that evening and had dinner near the hotel.
Fri. June 12 Drive to Page, AZ (~3 hrs. plus extra time for stops…)
We stopped at several vista points along the way and got out and tromped around, Including the Watchtower and went to the top.
Visited Horseshoe Bend lookout = best when sun is high; (sign on the left/west side of road. About 1/2 mile south of Rt 98. Allow some time as it's a hot, 3/4 mile (~15-20 min. each way). easy walk on a sandy trail that has no shade, is open and pretty flat.. Be careful with the kids as there's no fence, screen or rail at the end, just straight down. Horeshoe Bend parking and sights are free. Was fun climbing on the rocks.
Raft float excursion: Colorado River Discovery, Page, AZ Glen Canyon Dam Tour
Half day: arrive12.30p, float 1p-6.30p, $320 http://www.coloradoriverdiscovery.com/
This was okay, seemed a bit slow. Had a few annoying people on our raft.
Stay: Courtyard Page at Lake Powell 600 Clubhouse Drive, P.O. Box 4150, Page, AZ 86040, Phone: 928-645-5000, Non-refundable $130.77/night
Sat. June 13 SE of Page, AZ a must see is Antelope Canyon (Upper is best when sun is high = makes it deeper/darker; Lower good all day), guide required. Drive east on Rt. 98 toward large powerplant smokestacks visible from Page to the parking lot and buy ticket, no problem, no limits on the number of people doing it. Upper section is best mid-day, say 11 AM - 1 PM. Lower section (other side of the road) is good all day. There are a few different tour operators that leave from Page, ask at hotel. Definitely take a tripod for the Antelope Canyon tour. We drove ourselves and absolutely LOVED this canyon. Make sure you have cash, no credit cards.
Drive to Bryce from Lake Powell: Approx. 3 hrs/150 miles., Take Hwy 89 from Hwy 12, Right (east) on Highway 12 to Hwy 63. Right (south) on Hwy 63 to Bryce Lodge. This was a long, long drive…
Take Rt.89 and turn right (north) towards Bryce/Zion, a couple of minutes after crossing the bridge over the river/lake beside the dam you'll see a sign on the left side (west) that indicates "scenic route". There's a little turnoff with a parking area and you walk down some rock steps to a built viewpoint. referred to as "The Best Dam View". It faces directly toward the Glen Canyon Dam that created Lake Powell and is a super view. The Dam viewpoint parking and sights are free. This is not something to drive out of your for, if passing, get out and have a look.
Stay: Bryce Canyon Lodge Motel, 2 Qn beds $183.48 (roll away r’svrd $12+11.25% tax extra, but can cancel at check-in) Xanterra reservations: 888-297-2757, 7a-6p
Dinner: Bryce Lodge Dining room, 7.15p reservation. Ph.435.834.8760
Distances from Kanab
• Grand Canyon North Rim (80 MI / 128.74 KM )
• Bryce Canyon National Park (79 MI / 127.13 KM )
• Zion National Park (40 MI / 64.37 KM )
• Coral Pink Sand Dunes (18 MI / 28.97 KM )
• Grand Staircase National Monument (87 MI / 140.01 KM )
• Pipe Springs National Monument (21 MI / 33.8 KM )
• Frontier Movie Town (0.3 MI / 0.48 KM ) Actual movie sets, museum, gift shop. Can watch a gun fight at sundown, star in your own movie or enjoy dinner theater.
• Moqui Cave (5.5 MI / 8.85 KM )
Sun. June 14 Up early to catch sunrise at Bryce Point but it was a non-event. Overcast and cloudy. The family was not pleased to have woken up at 4.30a to sit in the cold and not see the sunrise. After going back to bed for a couple of hours and breakfast we hiked down into the main part of Bryce on the Navajo loop trail. Is steeper going down than Queen's Garden coming back up, (starts at Sunset Point and you can go down either side) and either the opposite side back up or Queen's Garden up. If you take Navajo Loop up you'll end up at the same viewpoint. If you take Queen's Garden trail you'll end up at Sunrise Pt.
They're a half mile apart so if you drove to one you'll have to walk back to the car along the rim. That's also a nice scenic walk. By this point we had seen Bryce, Sunrise & Sunset points. The only other viewpoint that's different is Natural Bridge, don't bother going to all of the viewpoints.
Bryce is at 8,500 feet and Zion is about 4,000 feet lower. At Bryce you'll be hiking in elevation so don't be surprised if you feel it. Drink lots of water and stop to rest if you have to. It can creep up on you. Make sure you use suntan lotion.
(Don’t stop at Kodachrome state park...maybe 15 min. to view from 3 lookouts, no trails into the canyon...if you have seen Bryce, than this park will disappoint .. very small.)
Drive to Zion (~1.5hrs. from Bryce, Bryce to Springdale = 87 miles, ~ 1hr 51min, includes a slow, highly scenic stretch of driving thru the east section of Zion NP)
You will pass the Canyon Overlook hike parking area on the way from Bryce to Zion. We stopped and did that hike since we were right there. Had a spectacular view of the canyon.
Sights along the highway near the east entrance to Zion: Mesa rock (?). It looks like a patchwork. And a few others.
Easier hikes in the main canyon (Weeping Rock, Three Pools) or possibly Canyon Overlook on the east side. Hike up to Observation Point and back. Upper Inspiration Point after dinner for sunset photos.
Stay: Quality Inn At Zion Park 479 Zion Park Blvd. , Springdale, UT, US, 84767
Ph: (435) 772-3237 Front Desk Hours 8:00 am - 8:00 pm.
Estimated Total/2 nites: $270.61 including taxes of: 12.8%
Directions: I-15, take exits 16 or 27. Follow SR9 and follow signs to Springdale-Zion National Park. Springdale is a short 10 minute drive to the park.
Mon. June 15 We took the bus from the hotel into the park and walked the paved path to the river and spent the day hiking the Narrows. It was FANTASTIC walking in the Virgin River. We started about 8a so had all day. It was an easy hike and we walked about 3 hours before turning around and walking back. It was so fun! It's a "must do" if you are going to Zion. We rented shoes and staffs at Zion Adventure Company in Springdale which was across the street from our hotel.
Afterwards we were exhausted, but rented inner tubes, ~$14/hr, from the place we rented booties and staffs and tubed the Virgin River with views of Zion. We put in right by hotel and it was so relaxing to float after walking all day. A van picked us up at the end.
Stay: Quality Inn At Zion Park 479 Zion Park Blvd. , Springdale, UT, US, 84767
Tues. June 16 Drive to Vegas (153miles, ~3 hrs. from Zion).
After Zion get off i-15 at either exit 93 or 75 and ride on a two lane road that goes along Lake Mead and misses Vegas itself, which can have lots of traffic. Exit 75 takes you through Valley of Fire State Park which has some neat petroglyphs and some CCC cabins (Civilian Conservation Corps, folks during the depression who were given work to do in parks etc. They worked building roads, bridges, developing public lands, etc and there are a couple of stone cabins they built and I think lived in while they developed some of the roads in Valley of Fire.) and is pretty but not as spectacular as some of the previous places. We found this interesting….
We wanted to go to Hoover Dam (~1 hr. from Vegas) but there was a long line of traffic and we were low on gas so had to bale…
Stay: Bally’s, 3645 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, NV 89109 (877) 603-4390
After all the beautiful scenery ending in Vegas was a terrible idea. It was so noisy and brash and fake. It would have been better to start in Vegas and not spend any time there after doing the parks.
Wed. June 17 Depart Las Vegas and fly home.
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