National Park Road trip for Aussies

Old Oct 2nd, 2012, 12:00 PM
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Myer,
You don't find Bridal Falls and Yosemite Falls absolutely stunning? I really liked Narada and Vernal Falls too. I know I was close enough on all of these to get wet. Could not use my camera with all the mist. I really find it shocking. I didn't consider them a sting or ribbon fall at all.

http://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/t...aterfalls.html
Here is this guys opinion. I've been to most of his US Top Ten(have not been to #7 or #10). I can think of 10 or 15 more waterfalls that I think would be really high on a lot of lists.

I always am up for a waterfall hike. Columbia River Gorge is excellent. Oddly enough, not far from me is Buffalo National River in Arkansas. There are many really awesome waterfalls(only in the spring usually) that are like a mini version of the Columbia River Gorge area.
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Old Oct 2nd, 2012, 02:32 PM
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spiro,
I didn't go to Nevada Falls. I did mention Vernal Falls and only because of a viewing area on a large rock I found by accident a little before the falls.

The problem with Yosemite and Bridalveil Falls is that they are very, very tall. When up close you get soaked and from a distance they look like string falls.

I prefer Lower Calf Creek Falls in Escalente, the Lower Falls in Yellowstone (from Redrock Point), several other Yellowstone waterfalls and St Mary & Virginia Falls in Glacier.

You mentioned you got so wet you couldn't use your camera. That's not good for a photographer. Your choice was to get drenched or be too far away.

That's not to say there isn't a lot of stunning scenery in Yosemite. Wait until you get to Many Glacier and do the Grinnell Glacier, Iceberg Lake and Highline hikes. I hope you see as much wildlife as we did in such a short period of time.
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Old Oct 2nd, 2012, 02:33 PM
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During May, etc - the waterfalls in Yosemite are usually spectacular.

And I am glad I saved a U of Oregon hooded windbreaker/waterproof shell - as it served me well when walking to/looking at Lower Yo falls, which sent out a thick cloud of mist/spray.

Like hiking up to Vernal and Nevada Falls - and there are many photo ops of all the waterfalls.

Friends of mine also hiked up to the top of upper Yo falls - and loved it. Actually - years ago - they camped up there, but not sure if you can do that now.
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Old Oct 2nd, 2012, 02:36 PM
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Also - you can walk down the path from the Visitor's center - and there is a break in the trees/by the river - that gives a marvelous view of both lower and upper Yosemite falls - and you don't get the spray there - so it's great for photo ops.

And if it has water - don't forget to take some pics of Mirror Lake. We loved to ride bikes around it.
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Old Oct 2nd, 2012, 04:07 PM
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Well, if you want waterfalls you wont get them in Yosemite in September. Just got back. The only one with water was Bridal Veil falls and it was just a whisper that the wind would often blow back up on top.

Zion's waterfalls are ephemeral, and usually better in the spring (Emerald Pools upper and lower) or during a rainstorm when the water comes over the cliffs in so many places it seems rather magical. There are also the water falls from springs like Menu Falls and Weeping rock which tend to be small and unimpressive if you are looking for something like Yosemite falls. There are several falls in the backcountry, the one most easily reached is Mystery Falls not too far up the Narrows.

Bryce has only the one man made falls seen from Moss Cave trail

Arches has none. There may be some that pour over the cliffs along hwy 128 during a rainstorm.

Capitol Reef has several small falls along Sulphur Creek that are really fun to climb down.
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Old Oct 3rd, 2012, 02:45 AM
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InSandy,
Where did you hear about Menu Falls?

Apparently it got its name because it was on the menu of the lodge restaurant for some time and very few knew where it is.

A Zion bus driver told me about it and let me off there. It's not even at a stop so I walked the rest of the way down.

It even has a viewing stand and has a couple of visitors a week.
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Old Oct 3rd, 2012, 03:11 AM
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It is in several travel books and on a couple of websites.
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Old Oct 3rd, 2012, 02:19 PM
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We usually stay in self catering in Europe but realise this may not suit this trip.

Camping would be self catering, if you are up to it; and camp sites are cheaper than any motel. Cheap camping equipment is available in large stores such as K-Mart, Sports Authority and Big-5 Sporting Goods. You probably can outfit yourself (tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, cooking equipment) for less than $300. Donate the equipment to Goodwill at the end of your trip.
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Old Oct 3rd, 2012, 06:47 PM
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Interesting suggestion Michael, not sure if these bones are up to it but has made me have a think ....

Great info regarding waterfalls guys, thanks very much.

Looks like June may be the time to go then and maybe we will have to reconsider Glacier.
I had been thinking of flying in to Las Vegas and setting off by car from there as we don't really want to visit LA this time and LV probably easier to drive out of.
What order would we do GC, Bryce and Zion under those circumstances? (Thanks for the mention of the Arches also, hadn't heard of that NP.)

I am thinking do that area and then drive on up to Yellowstone and GT and then westwards before driving down coast back to LA?

Hopefully over the weekend I can look at distances a bit more closely try and think about what time to allocate where.

Thanks again everyone.
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Old Oct 3rd, 2012, 10:31 PM
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Myer,, can't tell you when I first heard about menu falls... I've been going there a long time, (maybe I even saw it on the menu haha. though I doubt it since I rarely ate at the restaurant, if ever)

ozgirl, if you fly into LV and want to head north then you should probably go to Grand Canyon first, then Zion then Bryce then north maybe to Arches/and Canyonlands. You could still include Glacier, especially if it was a mild winter with limited snow fall. We visited in May one year and loved seeing it even though we could not get to many of the trails nor take the highway through the park. It is an amazing park, definitely one of my all time favorites. Just depends on how much time you have and how many other places you find that you want to add in... it can get addictive.
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Old Oct 4th, 2012, 11:52 AM
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ozgirl,
Sounding a lot better now. Hate for you to skip Glacier, but if you wait to come later, then you would probably want to skip Utah and Grand Canyon as it would be blazing hot.

If you could come in May and do Utah and Grand Canyon, then head to California about 1st week of June, then head to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.

Maybe 10 days in each place, with a little less than that in Yellowstone and the Tetons. You could get lucky and find Glacier open, but is probably 50/50 chance either way.
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Old Oct 4th, 2012, 03:02 PM
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Hi guys, can I ask for some clarification on booking lodging (started looking at Yellowstone for example) and many Fodorites speak of checking daily for openings based on cancellations and having various rooms booked everywhere waiting for best options. I can only see the option to fill out an actual "booking" form which clearly states it is not to check availability and requires my credit card details etc. Can one only check availability via phone??
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Old Oct 4th, 2012, 03:50 PM
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many Fodorites speak of checking daily for openings based on cancellations and having various rooms booked everywhere waiting for best options.

An advantage to camping is that one can usually get a camp site (Fridays & Saturdays are more problematic) even in the National Parks without a reservation.
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Old Oct 4th, 2012, 06:08 PM
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what month are you looking at and which park? If it's asking for your credit card, then you can probably book it. MAKE DARN SURE that you are on the actual website of the park concessionaire. There are a few middleman websites, and I wouldn't trust those at all.
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Old Oct 4th, 2012, 07:14 PM
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Ok, I think I've found the right site now! Which of our proposed destinations will be hardest to get - should I prioritise Yellowstone and then plan others around that?
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Old Oct 4th, 2012, 09:09 PM
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When we used to go for the first weekend in March to Yosemite, we made reservations 1 year in advance. Summer must be just as bad.
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Old Oct 5th, 2012, 03:13 AM
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Yosemite and Yellowstone will be the two places to get reservations first and do it ASAP
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Old Oct 5th, 2012, 03:14 AM
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And make sure you get at least one night at Old Faithful Inn.
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Old Oct 5th, 2012, 04:26 AM
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Could you please give your latest itinerary?

Think you might be best off - by say flying into Vegas - and from there do the GC (5 hour drive),and then Utah (however you decide - and we did a trip back in June http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mvgcsedona.cfm ) .

Since you are closer to Yosemite while in Utah - suggest you get up to Yosemite from there - and then perhaps either flying from Salt Lake to San Francisco - or just driving straight through as we used to do - years ago. You could even take the train if you like.
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Old Oct 5th, 2012, 04:53 AM
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Tomsd, funny you should ask that right now... I have just been "playing" with accommodation and have managed to book 3 nights Yellowstone (OF) from June 27th and the only night in June which was available at Yosemite Lodge which was the 20th.
So, that's the bare bones of my itinerary!
It seems that the norm is to grab what is there and then modify as you go, sounds like a game really
Could maybe make that work with GT in between and Utah before the 20th???
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