2travel2

We have reservations in Page AZ at the Lake Powell Marina for the fourth of July. I've read where you can make reservations to watch the fireworks from the water on a boat. Has anyone done this and is it worth the $15. per person?

Another question and possibly Utahtea you have this answer. We have pretty much decided on the float trip on the Colorado River. If we wanted to see Rainbow Bridge what are our options? I'm not sure if we want to take 2 boat trips. Everyting I've read so far suggests the best way to view the bridge is by boat. How far away is Rainbow Bridge by land and how would we get there? Is it hard to access by land?

utahtea

You're options for Rainbow Bridge are the boat tour on Lake Powell, a scenic air flight, a 14 mile horseback ride or a 13 mile hike in 100+ degree weather if you do it in July. I'd take the boat ride! Keep in mind that the lake levels are very low and to see Rainbow Bridge even on the boat tour you have to make a 3 mile hike.

Here is more information:

http://www.utahwild.com/parks_monume...dge_hike.shtml

http://www.nps.gov/rabr/pphtml/planyourvisit.html

http://www.canyon-country.com/lakepowell/scenic.htm

I've only done the boat tour.

Utahtea

2travel2

Thanks Utahtea! Maybe we will save the Rainbow Bridge for our "next" trip. With the float trip and Antelope Slot Canyon tour, I don't think we will have time to fit the Rainbow Bridge tour in too.

I really appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge of the area on this board. I've just about planned our entire itinerary with the advice you have given me and others. I have the overall itinerary & reservations set. I'm to the point where I know where we will be and when, but not yet set on what all we will do while we are there? Any input is greatly appreciated.

Itineray as follows:
7/2 NY to Las Vegas; reservations Flamingo Hilton
7/3 Drive to South Rim early morning stopping by Hoover Dam. (Is it much different from the Glen Canyon Dam?) What is the best time to arrive at the GC? Will it be real crowded mid to late afternoon? Hard to park?
Leave 7/4 late in the afternoon allowing more time in the GC
7/4 - 7/6 Page AZ arrive 6-7; reservations Lake Powell Marina; watch Fireworks
7/5 - Early morning Float trip, afternoon slot canyon tour.
7/6 Off to Bryce for overnight in the Canyon. Reservations in the park. Tour canyon
7/7 Off to Zion, leave Bryce in afternoon allowing more time in Bryce.
7/8-7/9 Reservations at Desert Pearl; Zion adventure tours, Canyoneering or hike the narrows
7/9 Leave Zion for Las Veags, reservations at the Westin. Great Deal on Priceline $80 a night for a weekend!
7/10 Back to NY

So with that said, anyone have suggestions for must do's. I continue to do research for what to add to our itinerary. Thanks again for everyones invaluable help with planning this trip.

ccrosner

2travel2--

I think your trip looks great--almost follows the one we did last August exactly! You might want to check out my trip reports by searching on my name.

We, too, stayed at the Flamingo (nice pool) and left by 8:30 a.m. for Hoover Dam and GC South Rim. Probably got to Hoover Dam around 9:15 and stayed until 10:45 (it was hot). We didn't tour Glen Canyon Dam but would think that Hoover is more of a tour. I'll admit, I'm glad we stopped but was a bit disappointed in the film/slide show. I've seen more detailed presentations of the construction of the Dam on the History Channel. But it's definitely worth seeing.

We stopped for a McDonald's lunch in Williams, AZ and made it to the GC rim around 2:30 p.m.(think you gain an hour during the drive...Utahtea?). Parking wasn't a problem but we were there in late August not 4th of July. Where are you staying? We were in Kachina Lodge--loved it.

The rest of your trip looks terrific. My kids wish we were returning this summer! So do I.

utahtea

You might as well face it, the 4th of July Weekend will be a ZOO at the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell. Where are you staying at the Grand Canyon? If you are staying in the park, you can see if you can park there and then just take the free shuttle buses around the park village. Otherwise, people do come and go and keep looking for a spot to park.

We have done the Glen Canyon tour many years ago, but never the Hoover Dam. It was interesting.

My favorite things to do in these parks is to hike. In Bryce I like the Navajo - Queen's Garden loop, and in Zion I like the Riverside Walk and doing part of the Narrows. (BTW, the whole Narrows hike I believe is 16 miles) Emerald Pools and Weeping Rock trails. We never have done the Angels Landing, but I hear it's THE one to do.

Looks like you have done your homework for this trip. Drink plenty of water!!! Have a good time!

Utahtea

2travel2

We have reservations at the Bright Angel Rim cabins in GC. Do they have parking near them for those who have reservations? We will most likely park and then take the shuttle.

I know it will be crowded that weekend of the fourth. When I started making reservations, that weekend was the only one that had the cabins available that fit into our schedule and also included availablity at Bryce. I really hesitated going any farther into the summer due to the heat.

Thanks for the hike advice. I've added it to the pages of notes I keep copying and pasting from this site.

What I guess I want to know regarding the Hoover Dam vs. the Glen Canyon Dam, is whether or not we should bother stopping at the HD if we will be viewing the GCD on the float trip. It sounds as though the HD tour is worth a stop. I'm just a little concerned about arriving at the GC too late in the afternoon on a holiday weekend.

Once again, I can't thank you enough for the insight you've shared.

jv827

2travel2 - I did the Vegas-GC-Bryce-Zion-Vegas loop last July and was surprised at how UN-zoo-like it was inside the Grand Canyon. Yes, it was slow entering the park, but once inside, I kept trying to figure out where all the people were. Maybe because I was expecting huge masses of people, the actual number didn't seem as bad (then again, I've also been to Disneyland on July 4th, and nothing could beat the crowds there!) But even my family from NY kept commenting on how much quieter it seemed than expected. Parking by Maswik Lodge was no problem whatsoever (but did notice more circling about by Bright Angel and the other rim lodges as it grew later in the afternoon.) I found it to be much more crowded when I was there over Memorial Day. Could be the opposite this year, but here's hoping you have a similar not so zoo-like experience on your trip!

KathrynT

The Glen Canyon dam has a good tour, is not too crowded, and you can definitely get a good idea of what a dam is all about. I haven't been to the Hoover dam in many years, and my memories of it are dim, but I would tend to skip it unless you have a strong desire to see it. Others may disagree -- you can always decide at the last minute depending on how much time you have.

Your trip sounds wonderful. We did much the same trip last year and loved it. Enjoy!