April

After reading many posts on my destinations, I have an initial itinerary for my 2003 trip. Have heard a lot about Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon, but not quite sure where I could fit those in.

Day 1 Fly To LV
Day 2 LV
Day 3 Drive to Zion
Day 4 Zion
Day 5 Drive to Bryce - stay either Bryce or Page
Day 6 Lake Powell - See Rainbow Bridge
Day 7 Drive to North Rim
Day 8 Drive to South Rim
Day 9 South Rim - 1 day mule ride
Day 10 See Hoover Dam - Back to LV

One thing we have to consider is that we will probably not be making another visit to this area in the future. Also, I know that some of you will say skip Vegas, but we want to see it (sorry).

Thanks for any advice you can give!

Neil

April:

We just made a similar trip in June, although we travelled for 16 days. I would suggest the following--limit Vegas to one night. I know you want to see LV, but one evening and morning is enough to give you the flavor. (We arrived in Vegas at noon and left for Zion at 10:30 the following morning, by which time we were more than ready to leave). I also suggest eliminating the North Rim--there is little reason to do both rims and it adds 200+ miles of driving. I strongly urge you to find a way to get to Monument Valley--it was one of the highlights of our trip. Finally, if you are going to Page you will pass right by Antelope Canyon which only takes a little time to visit.
I would suggest something like this:
Day 1 Fly to LV
Day 2 Drive to Zion
Day 3 Zion
Day 4 Bryce
Day 5 Bryce
Day 6 Drive to Page via Antelope Canyon
Day 7 Tour Lake Powell, drive to Monument Valley
Day 8 Drive to South Rim
Day 9 South Rim
Day 10 Back to LV via Hoover Dam
Day 7

x

Day 7 drive to Monument Valley. Then go to South Rim before heading for LV. Skip the North Rim

steve

I think 1 day at Bryce is enough, but I would not dirve all the way from Zion to Page in one day and expect to see much of Bryce.

I would consider forgetting the North Rim

rph

Have you given any thought to just trying to do less? The beauty of these parks is being able to hike and also see them in changing light. I would just concentrate on Zion,Bryce and the Grand Canyon- otherwise you will spend all your time driving,checking in and out of hotels etc and really miss the "feeling" of the places. Since you haven't been to the GC I guess you really do have to go with the South Rim and skip the North (too much driving)-but we love the North Rim too and it is much less crowded
As for LV-we thought we had to see it too-but agree with above-an overnight and morning should do it. If you stay longer you will probably regret wasting the time there when you get to the Natl Parks.

zipp

I agree total. Do not try to do both rims and Las Vegas is quite a spectacle at night, but not much to look at during the day unless you enjoy smoke filled casinos and losing your travel fund.

utahtea

I have to agree with the crowd. Skip the day in Las Vegas. Spend the night in Bryce, skip the N. Rim and go to Monument Valley instead after Lake Powell.

Utahtea

April

Thanks for the advice everyone! I think I am seeing more places that I am missing (since I am going to be in the area). How does Capital Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, and Canyon de Chelly compare with Zion, Bryce and Monument Valley? Are they each different or similar? Any other not to miss places? I could go for 14-15 days if that would enable me to see different things.

Thanks again!

Polly

Of the last sites you listed, I have only been to Canyon de Chelley. Did that on a return trip to Grand Canyon and I must say...Canyon de Chelley knocked my socks off. It is an incredibly beautiful serene semi-vegetated white-beach-sand-type canyon with breathtaking rocky spires penetrating the sky (though the spires are not nearly as breathtaking as those at Bryce). Monument Valley is just as spectacular in its own way. I must disagree though with those who recommend eliminating the North Rim. Had I time for only one, I would not choose the South Rim. North Rim is a bit further from the main route, but the route out takes you by Marble Canyon/Leeds Ferry which is incredibly scenic in its own right and through a valley rimmed with the Vermillion Cliffs. When we were at Marble Canyon (probably won't happen again), members of the Peregine Falcon Association were releasing California Condors.

We have done most of the things you have on your list and if I had the time I would not eliminate any of them. I do wonder though, if I would have appreciated EACH site as much had I seen all of them on the same trip. You know, sometimes things that are not quite repetitive begin to seem that way after a while. Think about doing some things on this trip...and while you are in the area, you can begin planning your NEXT trip!

travellyn

I also prefer the North Rim to the South. I went twice to the North before I visited the South, and I still don't think I missed anything on those first 2 trips, except congestion. I love the lodge on the North Rim. By the way, I saw the canyon from South Rim at a relatively uncrowded time, probably at its best, with snow outlining all the rock strata. I don't see the point of visiting both rims.

Moab would be a great place to use as a base for a few days if you want to visit Arches and Canyonlands. If you go to Moab, drop by Dead Horse Point State Park for a half day, and make sure you stay someplace with a hot tub.

Neil

April:
By extending your trip to 14-15 days you open up a world of possibilities. One thought would be a longer loop, something like LV/Zion/Bryce/Capitol Reef/Moaspend a few days for Arches, Canyonlands, and rafting)/Monument Valley/Lake Powell/Grand Canyon (North or South Rim, but not both)/LV. We visited the North Rim on our trip and loved it; I agree that the drive along the Vermillion Cliffs is beautiful. Canyon de Chelly is also a possibility, but it adds several hundred miles of additional driving.

utahtea

Each of the national parks in Utah has something unique and special to offer. I love each and every one of them and have been to them all MANY, MANY times over the last 27 years.

If you like beautiful scenery then I would suggest spending 15 days in the Utah-AZ area.

Here is the route I would suggest:

1. Zion
2. Bryce
3. Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument & Scenic Hwy 12
4. Capitol Reef
5. Arches
6. Canyonlands
7. Monument Valley
8. Canyon de Chelly...(make sure you take a jeep tour in the valley. Great petroglyphs & pueblo ruins)Take Hwy 264 across AZ to Tuba city. Scenic short cut.
9. S. Rim Grand Canyon
10. Lake Powell
11. N. Rim Grand Canyon if you still have the time or you can
return to Las Vegas via Zion again.

check out this web site for pictures and more information on sites to see:

http://www.so-utah.com/

Utahtea

rph

I agree with the above posting by Polly-if you do too many things you reach the point that you can't appreciate the differences (like staying in a museum too long). The drive by the Vermillion Cliffs is gorgeous-we have done it twice in the late afternoon when the light was perfect. All of the areas in Utah that you are considering are fantastic-and if you do them you may actually enjoy the North Rim more than the South because it has more green and that makes it softer and more of a contrast to the Utah parks.