HI,
This is my first time trip to Las Vegas and all the parks.We will reach Las Vegas by May 18th night and have 8 nights. I want to visit Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Parks. I might stay one or 2 nights in Vegas and need help with itinery from there on. Please help. Need suggestions to stay in those places and how to get them best. We dont mind living in small cabins or camps also. Also let me know details what to do best while in those parks as well, like easy hiking, or calm water trip, mule rides etc ready for all that, just want to have a trip of my life!!!
Thanks-Preeya

PLEASE HELP!!
Preeya

Gee preeya have some patience please...

Stay in Vegas the first night and get an early start to drive to Hoover Dam. spend a few hours that day driving to Zion. Book a room in the park for the next 2 nights and do some hiking, sightseeing, etc.

Leave early the next day and drive to Bryce for 2 nights and stay in the park there as well. Make reservations for the horse ride to the bottom of the canyon and make sure to get up early to see the canyon at sunrise.

Go the GC North Rim and stay in the park there as well. Same thing on getting up early although sunset at GC is great...better than Bryce sunset.

Return to Vegas and party like there is no tomorrow.

I'd spend two night in Las Vegas. One at the beginning of the trip and one at the end.

Spend one night in LV and then drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon via Hwy's 93, I-40 & Hwy 64. The N. Rim will just be opening, but IMHO, you get better views from the S. Rim. Spend two nights and have one full day to explore the park by shuttle buses and walking along the rim.

When you exit the park stop at the scenic overlooks on the way to Desert View. Take Hwy 89 north past Page, Lake Powell, Kanab and all the way to Hwy 12. Take Hwy 12 to Bryce. Spend two nights. This gives you one full day to explore the park and the morning of the second day.

Double back on Hwy 12 to Hwy 89 and go south to Mt. Carmel Jct. and take Hwy 9 into Zion National Park. Spend two nights for one full day to explore the park and part of the next morning before heading back to Las Vegas. Spend your second night in Las Vegas.

You better start calling now for reservations. You might luck into some in the parks.

The only calm water trip is on the Colorado River from Page. It's a half day trip. Very scenic and a lot of fun. I would skip one night at Bryce and spend one night at Page if you decide to do this.

I've never taken the horseback rides, but if you want to ride IN BRYCE you have to book thought the national parks.

My favorite hike/walk is the Riverside Walk in Zion. Very easy 2 mile round trip.

Utahtea

Thanks a lot placeu2 and utahtea for your input. I have some direction now!

As of now, I will plan to stay at LV first day and night and start next day to Hoover dam (or should I do this on way back?) and then to Grand Canyon south rim, stay there for 2 nights, 1 night at Page, then 2 nights at Bryce and 2 nights at Zion and back to LV and spend the day and fly out at night!!

This plan still needs to be finalized as per bookings. Do u think if I call the parks now, they might have last minute reservations? Also need suggestions for things to do in these parks and where to find its info.

Has anyone lived at the Phantom Ranch in Grand Canyon, is it too difficult a hike and how much time does it take, doing this can i do anything else in Grand CAnyon in 2 nights 2 days(maybe)?

Thanks-Preeya

Phantom Ranch is a hike of about 9 miles down from the south rim; 9 miles of trail but about a mile down in elevation. Then, back up the way you came. You won't be able to get a reservation to spend the night there at this late a date, they book up a year ahead. Don't attempt to go down there and back in one day. The trails below the rim at the GC are a wonderful experience, but remember that you must hike back OUT and UP. Allow twice the time for going up that you spent going down, and budget your energy so that you can manage it. The rim trail is lovely, it's the only flat one.

In your original post, you mention easy hiking. Going down the GC is not easy hiking...depending on how far you go. In Zion you might try: Canyon Overlook, Emerald Pools, Weeping Rock and the Riverwalk (that Utahtea mentioned).

Bryce and GC have the most elevation and are most challenging to hike for people not acclimated to altitude...which you will NOT be in your time frame if you are from a near sea level location.

Do you have any reservations now? If not, book something NOW.

You may still get in park reservations but I would make back ups just incase. Keep calling the parks as they often get cancellations. If pressed for time, 1 night at Bryce is enough to see the highlights.

We have settled on one plan bcoz we are in a group, so here it is:
May 20 & 21st night in Grand Canyon
May 22nd, 23rd night in Las Vegas and then group disperses.
May 24, 25, 26, 27 night and 28th morning is open for plans for only my husband and I.
So please suggest, after I drive from Las Vegas, if 2 nights at Zion and 2 nights at Bryce is enough or too much? Can I also do any other parks like Canyonlands or Arches, will it be possible or explore Zion and Bryce well??
Thanks-Preeya

Please help!!
Placeu2, i might be impatient
Preeya

Two nights at Zion and Bryce gives you one full day at each park. This is a good amount of time. If you want to do more hiking, then longer would be better.

Unless you have a lot more time, I would forget Arches and Canyonland. Besides the 275 miles and 5 hours of driving time there from Bryce and 460 miles and 7 hours drive back to Las Vegas, each park needs a full day so you would want to spend at the very least, 3 nights in Moab.

If you some how do get bored at Bryce, you could always take the 150 miles scenic drive on Hwy 12 to Boulder, Utah and back to Bryce.

To bad you can't talk the group into spending the first two nights in Las Vegas so you wouldn't have to drive back to Las Vegas from the Grand Canyon. The drive from the Grand Canyon out to Desert View on hwy 64 and up hwy 89 to Page, Kanab and Bryce is much more scenic than retracing I-40 and Hwy 93.

Utahtea

Seems to me that 2 nights at Bryce and 2 at Zion are good. i would pass on the other parks as utahtea suggested. Personally I could do 3 nights at Zion and get an early start to Bryce. Book the 2 hour horse ride in the park on arrival day and then wander before and/or after that. Get up early and appreciate the sunrise at Bryce and take a leisurely ride back to Vegas. Zion has so many more hiking opportunities that I would try and take advantage of those.

At any rate, it is a great trip. Take your impatience and get up early every day! ;-)

preeya,

I did notice that you waited a whole 59 minutes the second time before reminding people that you needed help. This is a significant improvement over the first time you repeated your call for a response in only 42 minutes.

Geeez girl(?) take a Valium or something

Thanks a lot Utahtea, placeu2 and gigib!! NOw I need to wait for the whole grop to finalize, then I will go ahead and book my other trip to Zion and Bryce.
I'm so excited, hope I get up everyday for a great sunrise and long hikes!
Also, please suggest me a good lodge at Zion, maybe I might not get at Zion Lodge? IS that the best? Also, how is Flannigan's (shows sold out) Desert Pearl Inn (sold) and Under-the-eaves(available) Also any other suggestions for Zion?
Hopefully I should get Bryce Canyon Lodge, or else what do you think are my best options?
Thanks again!
Preeya
P.S- I really enjoy the light mood everyone has here

Thanks a lot Utahtea, placeu2 and gigib!! NOw I need to wait for the whole grop to finalize, then I will go ahead and book my other trip to Zion and Bryce.
I'm so excited, hope I get up everyday for a great sunrise and long hikes!
Also, please suggest me a good lodge at Zion, maybe I might not get at Zion Lodge? IS that the best? Also, how is Flannigan's (shows sold out) Desert Pearl Inn (sold) and Under-the-eaves(available) Also any other suggestions for Zion?
Hopefully I should get Bryce Canyon Lodge, or else what do you think are my best options?
Thanks again!
Preeya
P.S- I really enjoy the light mood everyone has here

hey preeya.my family just returned from our vacation. We flew into Phoenix and went to Sedona, Grand Canyon South Rim, Lake Powell and Zion. Then we ended with 2 nites in Vegas @ the Monte Carlo. I have to tell you that Zion blew us away, it was absolutely amazing. Words cannot describe. There was a really nice looking resort, I believe it was Majestic View Lodge just out of Zion. It looked brand new. We ate at the restaurant there and the food was really good and very reasonable. Have fun!

Except Majestic View Lodge is outside of Springdale and you'd have to drive to town and to the park. It is so nice to stay in Springdale where there are plenty of choices for lodging and use the shuttle to Zion and walk to restaurants, etc.

ttt

HI
Are reservations for rooms still a good idea the first two weeks of october.Has the season lightned up then to wing it.
Thanks

If you're asking about reservations in Springdale for Zion, we were there this past Oct and you wouldn't have any problem getting a room without a reservation.