We are going to Vegas in early August. Last yr. we went for the first time and did a 3 day side trip going completely around G. Canyon, via Hoover Dam, to the south rim, then up the East side to Bryce and Zion N. P. in southern Utah and Valley of Fire on the way back. This was just about the ultimate side trip and will be hard to beat in my opinion. But in looking at side trips this yr., I am trying to make them day trips so we won't have to move out of our room at the Sahara in Vegas. Due to this I have ruled out Sedona, AZ. I would love to go back to AZ. but perhaps another time. Others I am ruling out: Death Valley & Rhyolite ghost town & Beatty (too hot), Laughlin (more gambling but on smaller basis) Grt. Basin N. P. & Wheeler Peak (distance & I can't get clear as to how good a view you can have of Wheeler Peak from highway without hiking. My wife cannot walk any distance to speak of.). I am pretty definite due to close proximity of Red Rock Canyon, Bonnie Springs/Old Nevada (I know this melodramatic gun fight, etc. might be a little cheesy but it looks like it could be fun.), and Mt. Charleston (I am thinking of taking a picnic lunch and just enjoying the scenery. I am thinking of 1 1/2 days just during daylight hrs. for these 3. The other trip is Cathedral Gorge St. Park, Rainbow Canyon, and Pioche (Boot Hill Cemetery) for one day up and back. I am very interested in the worthwhileness of the scenery there as well as the trip up there. I would like to hear comments on those who have been to the places I am thinking of including as well as those I am ruling out. I am afraid I have been very wordy and for that I apologize.

I would recommend Redrock and Bonnie Springs definately - they are not far apart approx. 35 mins from the strip. Also Mt. Charleston is very nice, I agree a picnic lunch would be nice- there's not too much to do there but take in the sights as you said. If you go a little bit off the beaten track you may come upon some of the beautiful wild horses. Haven't visited the other spots yet. Have fun!

Thanks for your input on Red Rock, Bonnie Springs and Mt. Charleston. I would really still like to hear from someone out there who has been to Cathedral Gorge S.P., Rainbow Canyon, or Pioche. Thanks.

Unfortunately, we don't have an answer to your question, as we are looking forward to our first trip to that area. However, we were wondering how you organized your itinerary for last year's side trip. We were considering something similar, but weren't sure about driving distances, accomodations, etc.. Any thoughts would be appreciated. THANKS

Hi Keith,

I've never even heard of Rainbow Canyon but it sounds neat. We've been to Cathedral Gorge and it's a very small park and the landscape looks like the moon. I wouldn't say it's worth the 440 miles round trip from Las Vegas.

I would recommend Red Rock Canyon National Concervation Park not far from Las Vegas for one day.

If you want a really good state park try Snow Canyon State Park in Utah just north of St. George. This would only be a 260 mile round trip and much better than Cathedral Gorge in my opinion. There are some short hikes there.

Another fun trip would be to drive down to Kingman and pick up the Old Route 66 and go to Oatman, Arizona where they have gunfights in the middle of the highway that stop traffic and burros roam the town streets. This is a tourist trap but it's in some pretty scenery. You could even hit Laughlin and you way back to Las Vegas. It's a pretty drive.

If you missed the Kolob section of Zion National park you might try that as a day trip. Round trip would be 300 miles and you could add Snow Canyon too for just a few more miles.

Utahtea

When we would travel to St. George to visit my parents, we could go only in the summer when the kids were out of school. I was never very thrilled with Snow Canyon because it was so hot, though it was beautiful and the kids loved to climb around on the huge boulders. I liked climbing around too, even though it only made me hotter.

Where I really loved to go was Pine Valley, further north of Snow Canyon on the same local road (straight north rather than the interstate which goes slightly northwest). There we could find a pretty picnic spot in a COOL mountain side, along a cold mountain stream. From Las Vegas St. George is about a two-hour drive, Snow Canyon another 15 minutes or so, and Pine Valley another 40-45 minutes, as I recall.

In the same amount of time (approx. three hours) you can go back to Zion, or go to the Kolob section which you reach by continuing on the interstate (I15) a bit further north. Sorry, but I don't know anything about most of the other places you inquired about.