dw732

Hi guys! I too am planning a southern Utah loop trip this August and am still uncertain as to how to split time between Zion and Bryce. Right now I have 2 days for Zion and 3 days for Bryce. But from reading some of the forums, i'm wondering if the consensus would be more time in Zion, less in Bryce? I'll be with my wife and 2 kids 10,11. We are typically active in hiking, ranger walks/talks, doing all the drives etc. Can anyone give me your opinions on this? This is the last detail in my itinerary. Thanks.

Anya

I would spend more time in Zion. There are more diverse hikes in Zion, such as Angel's landing, River walk, Emerald pools. I felt in Bryce I was more satisfied with just the overlooks and didn't feel the the need to do as much hiking. I think taking a horse ride in Bryce will give you a good coverage of the park.

karens

I agree - more time in Zion. I think 3 days in Bryce is a lot - there's not much do after you look at the overlooks and take a hike. Springdale (near Zion) has more shops, restaurants, etc. In Bryce it's just Ruby's.

tovarich

If you check out the overlooks in Bryce and do the combinatiion hike Navajo trail-Queen's garden trail you'll have seen the most important parts.Paul

OO

Another vote for more time in Zion, where there are far more hikes to chose from than Bryce.

We arrived in Bryce one evening and spent all the next day hiking, left the following morning and felt we'd "done it". We had two full days in Zion and have since been back on another trip for 3 more...and still feel we haven't done or seen all we would like to.

Dayle

Hi D,

Zion has several short easy hikes, and lots of much longer, strenuous hikes. So it really depends whether your family is up for the tough hikes. There is also tubing on the river, some difficult mtn biking.

Bryce is good for a couple days. Don't miss the opportunity to hike among the hoodoos. Just looking from the viewpoints is not enough!

You could do 3 days at Bryce IF you wanted to also visit Kodachrome Basin, or Hell's Backbone, and drive Hwy 12 at least part way.

have fun!

DavidBailey

Hello.
I've been to both places a couple of times. Zion is superb if the weather's clear, pretty grey if it isn't. Bryce was a place that I'd toured by taking in the various lookout points (travelling by car/bus). Last year we went down into the canyon and spent a day trekking through it. What a fantastic experience that was. Just one day but it was hard work and I got lots of great photos.
So if the weather's good then more time at Zion, but do take a hike into Bryce. Have you thought about going to Moab? It's a fair way off but it's a fantastic place and you could spend days in there. Fabulous! I have been twice and must go again.

claire_bluesky

If you had to choose one, Moab or Zion, which and why?

rm_mn

If I had to choose only one, I'd choose Moab. While Zion is definitely scenic and has a nice set of hiking trails, it is only one canyon and there are a ton of people who, because of its proximity to Las Vegas, want to visit it. Moab has Arches and Canyonlands nearby as well as Dead Horse Point state park, plus horseback riding, river rafting, jeep tours, and biking. I think it also has fewer people to spread over all the activities.

dw732

Thanks folks. Great advice. Looks like more time in Zion would be the vote! My one concern was that we're going in August and I know ZNP will be hot, hot! Like I said, the kids will hike, but no long 5 milers or anything(Dayle's comment)! We'll definitely do some of the Narrows. So we're prob going to be 2.5-3 days in ZNP, eve+full day +morn in Bryce(with full day North Rim in between). After Bryce then Hwy12 drive, Torrey/CRNP afternoon + full day; and then yep DavidBailey- on to Moab for 2 full days CnyLd/ANP followed by full day drive back to LV. Would like to get thru Monmnt Vly but too far out of the way for this trip I think. By the way, anybody do a day raft in Moab? You can't really do one that makes it into Canyonlands w/o multiple day right?

Dayle

Hi D,

You'll be cramming alot in, but you'll be glad. Probably want to return!

There are many companies out of Moab that do a variety of rafting trips. You will technically go into Canyonlands even on just half day float trip. You will be at river level and the Island in the Sky District and Dead Horse Point far above!

Check out these: Western River Expeditions, Tag-a-long, Navtec. Those are just the ones that come to mind.

However, with just 2 days, I don't know if you will have time. You could easily spend 2 days just seeing the highlights of Arches. Depends on your interests.

Zion will be over 100 degrees, Bryce in the mid-80's.

Have fun!

elnap29

Before you book a river trip, check to see exactly where they go. We found several just went in the river next to the same road we could drive. So we booked with Tag-a-Long, their full-day trip which takes you by boat 37 miles into Canyonlands Park, gives you a picnic lunch on shore, then does an amazing jeep tour up to the rim and out of the park. It was fantastic.