This past June I visted Bryce Canyon, Zion, GC NPs as well as Sedona.

I do not rush thru sights. I stop, enjoy and photograph them.

Invariably I see everything on my list.

While I am not a heavy duty hiker, I did spend most of my time on the last trip walking the 'easy' hikes.
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I am now planning another trip to Utah for the end of May (2008) on either side of Memorial Day (not included).

At this time the trip is for 5 days but that could a change by a day in either direction.

So far I have allocated the following amounts of time:

Arches NP 2 1/2 days
Canyonlands NP/Dead Horse Point SP 1 day
Rafting 1/2 day
Route 279 and Corona Arch hike 1/2 day
Route 128 and Fisher Tower hike 1/2 day

I'm flying into and out of Salt Lake City.

I expect to leave for Salt Lake City early evening of the 5th day and stay over either in Provo or drive directly to SLC. Return flights are available noon and 1PM so I have time to drive from Provo.

My major concern is possibly allocating too much time for Arches NP.

Comments and suggestions requested.

Some things to think about:

The main overlook at Dead Horse is pretty similar to Horseshoe Bend in AZ. Since you were recently there, you may bump that up or down on your priority list depending on how you felt about Horseshoe Bend.

I think 2.5 days for hiking Arches is too much. Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch are probably the 2 most popular arches for photography. They are both a bit of a hike (Landscape is just under a mile of fairly easy hiking, and you already know about Delicate). However, most everything else is very close to the road. The exception would be the Devil's Garden loop and Fiery Furnace, and I suspect you won't do Devil's Garden.

So basically, you have 1 day where you hike to Landscape for sunrise shots and Delicate for sunset with all day in between, and another half day for Fiery Furnace and whatever else you want to spend time at. That's 1.5 days for Arches which should be sufficient for hiking. However, it's really up to you in terms of how many sunrises/sunsets you'd like to use for photographing in Arches - you could spend most of a day doing something else (such as one of the scenic drives) and come back to Arches specifically for sunset at the Windows, for example.

Same thing for Canyonlands - there are plenty of locations there for photography, but only so many sunrises/sunsets, so you'll have to pick out some locations you want to shoot and hike the other stuff in mid-day.

Myer, we are also considering this area next year combined with SW Colorado.
Here is a website I am using that provides a lot of useful info about the Utah parks and various hikes.

http://www.entradautah.com/wiki/Main_Page

I thought Horseshoe Bend near Page, AZ was amazing. Dead Horse Pass photos obviously reminded me of it.

I've been concerned that I'm planning for slightly too much time for the area.

I can either add some local "easy" additions (ideas?) or i could do something a little more dreastic such as adding a day to the trip and leaving moab fairly early on the 5th day for another area (ideas?).

I wouldn't want too long a drive and also must set up the return to Salt lake City for the return flight.

I could drive to Torrey and visit Capitol Reef but the 3 hour drive would have to fit either at the start of the 6th day or late in the day of the 5th. I'm not sure that's a good idea.

If I see I'm not using the time well i could lengthen the rafting from 1/2 day.

Ideas?

Canyonlands is huge - you won't run out of things to see there. My suggestion re: Arches only gives you an extra day, maybe a day and a half at most. The standard recommendation for Canyonlands is to only do one section a day. So you could visit Island in the Sky the same day as Dead Horse Point, and then save the Needles section for the other day.

Scattered around in the general vicinity of Moab are a few locations that have dinosaur tracks and/or petroglyphs. Some names to look up are Newspaper Rock, Sego Canyon and Potash Petroglyphs (on 279).

An alternate idea (mostly for photography) would be a stop at Goblin Valley State Park. It would be somewhat out of the way but also somewhat on your way to SLC. You could also take a look at some of the scenic drives in Manti-La Sal National Forest for views of the mountains.

I love Arches and could easily spend the 2 1/2 days in the park. What we usually do go do a hike in the morning, then do some driving...like Hwy 128 or 279, then go back into Arches for either another hike or just to watch the sunset. Arches is only 4 miles from Moab...and the drive in the park is one of my favorites.

That said, if you find that need to find something else to do, then I'd second the idea of going down to the Needles District of Canyonlands for the day.

Utahtea

I came across an interesting web site:

www.slackpacker.com

I printed out a 30 page "arches" guide; Guide to Arches at Arches National Park.

I've only read the beginning and I don't think I'm as obsessed with arches as they are but this is very interesting.
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Also, i think Route 191 South and the Needles section could be my backup or add-on location.

Don't miss the Needles drive, Myer. The scenery changes around every corner. Newspaper Rock is so interesting and you might spot climbers high up on the red rock cliffs next to the road like I did.

On the left is a big ranch owned by (yea) a woman when I was there - cowgirl? You can look up at Dead Horse Point in the distance. The whole drive is very scenic.

Rte. 128 is spectacular up and back.

If you end up driving to the Needles area of Canyonlands, make sure to add back Wilson's Arch that you mentioned earlier.

Also, for the record, I was out there several years ago, and I'm pretty sure it was in May, and between about 10 am and 4 PM it was sooo hot, all you could really do is sit in the shade and try not to move around too much. So, while you allocate so much time to certain areas, keep in mind that you may be limited to mornings and late afternoons. Check out Moab Brewery for great eats [and beers!]

rm_mn,

You remind me of the time many years ago when I was on a business trip with two other colleagues.

Just before the taxi arrived to take us to the airport for our return trip I jokingly reminded the others to go to the washroom.

One of them commented that I must have small children.

Sorry. I just thought that since I argued that you shouldn't go that far out of the way to see it that I should rescind that argument since you may now be going right by it.

We were in Moab just before Memorial day this year and it was in the 90's, so the advice about hiking in the morning and late afternoon is well-taken. Here's another vote for not missing the Needles district--visually fascinating and lots of slip rock to walk around fairly easily. Have not been to Horseshoe Bend, but the Dead Horse State park overlook was almost the high point of our trip. Nice walks around there also.

RuthMC,

Thanks.

Yes it gets pretty hot. I was in Bryce, Zion & Sedona at the start of June this year and also, I live in South Florida. I know about heat.

You are correct in that you have to be careful.

When I saw photos of Dead Horse Point they very much reminded me of Horseshoe Bend. I think Horseshoe Bend is a bit rounder and the view angle is different.

I'll decide on the Needles when there. At this time it's on a "have time on my hands" basis.

I've been reading about Arches and while Firey Furnace, Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch seem to get all the publicity, there are other areas such as Park Avenue, Windows and several arches and areas that look interesting as well.

The Windows and Double Arch are very close to the parking lot but worth the extra effort to get closer.

Park Avenue is one of my favorite hikes. One year we did the 5 mile round trip hike to Dark Angel. Dark Angel isn't an arch but the hike on the fins out there was exciting!

We did the 4x4 drive to Tower Arch but next time I want to do the hike there. This is in the Klondike Bluff area.

Utahtea

The Tower Arch hike is great and you don't run into anyone out there. Lot of fun and highly scenic. Some shots from the 2004 trip:

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/utah04&page=9

We're going in September and I read that The Nature Conservancy has a preserve in that area. That might be interesting. Has anyone ever been?