Nat'l Parks in Utah--how to do everything
 

Hello all. We are in the very early stages of planning our vacation for June. Yes i know it will be hot but the kids have school...<BR><BR>Although we would love to see everything, time and money limit what we can do. We are planning on flying into Vegas (to placate my husband who hs always wanted to go there), staying for 2 nights and then driving to Zion and then Bryce. After that we would like to go to Moab and visit Arches and Canyonlands but would like to stop at Capitol Reef for a day/night to look around and break up the long drive to Moab.<BR><BR>After a couple of days in Moab I am thinking of the following: Drive down to Monument Valley area (Kayenta?--Gouldings seems booked)and then perhaps Lake Powell before heading back to LV for the flight back.<BR><BR>I have done searches (keyword: Utahtea) and have a grasp of the driving times in the Utah portion but did not find much for the MV to Lake Powell then LV. Anyone have that info?<BR><BR>What I need to know, is whether or not this is too much. Is it too choppy with all these stops? We love to hike. Did Sedona and the Grand Canyon last June and it got this group of New Englanders hooked. Any advice on how to make this all happen would be appreciated.<BR><BR>We know about taking plenty of water and staying in the shade at midday etc. What i really need to know is if it is feasible to do all of this.

Hi Eva,<BR><BR>Sounds like you have a good plan in the works. The earlier in June you can go the milder the weather will be. Here is how I would break up the two weeks.<BR><BR>Las Vegas 2 nights<BR> <BR>Zion 2 nights (160 miles)<BR><BR>Bryce 1 - 2 nights (85 miles)<BR><BR>Leave early in the morning and drive Scenic Hwy 12 to Torrey, Utah (85 miles)<BR>Torrey, Utah has a lot of nice new motels and is near Capitol Reef 1 night<BR><BR>Moab, Utah 4 nights (160 miles) Arches, Canyonlands, Potash Road, Dead Horse State Park, scenic drive down Hwy 128 or day River Rafting trip on Colorado River. Our boys loved this!<BR><BR>Kayenta, AZ (near Monument Valley) 1 night (175 miles)<BR><BR>Lake Powell 1 night (take Hwy 160 and then cut cross on Hwy 98 to Page and this route is only 100 miles) This shortcut saves you 55 miles but driving to Lake Powell on Hwy 89 is very scenic. <BR><BR>From Page to Las Vegas you have two routes. One is to go back through Zion and that’s 280 miles or from Kanab, UT, you can go south on Alt 89 and down to Fredonia and over to Hurricane. This is a scenic route too but it’s not that much shorter at 275 miles. Once you reach a little community called Apple Valley you will get a glimpse of Zion in the distance. <BR><BR>That's 12-13 nights so that should eat up your 2 weeks. This is very do able. If you find you have extra time you can always spend it in Zion on your way back.<BR><BR>If you have any other questions I would be glad to help. My e-mail address works. Here is a link I love: <BR>http://www.so-utah.com/<BR><BR>Utahtea<BR>

Don't know how old your kids are. Utahtea has given me very reliable-sounding info regarding our summer trip to Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce - so I would certainly take her advice into consideration. Still, no matter how much you all like hiking, etc. you might want to build in some sort of break mid-way from sights and hiking - especially with kids and depending on what else your kids like. (Moab might serve this purpose) Sometimes our kids just want to know they get a day of down-time staying in same hotel for a few days.<BR><BR>Have a good trip. We are also flying into Las Vegas to placate my husband but he has not figured out yet that we will actually be there for only 12 hours. Can't figure out the great attraction of LV for him as he hates to gamble - might just be because it is one of the few major cities he has never been to.

Thanks Utahtea. i guess I needed some reassurance that this was doable. While i had the northern portion thought out (consulting maps, this site etc. I couldn't get a handle on the route back. As much as I would love to do it, I took out a side trip to the North Rim!<BR><BR>Funny you should mention the down time for the kids, last year as we sat in the dining room of the El Tovar they asked &quot;When are we just going to take a relaxing trip--you know like to an island where we sit by the pool all day and don't have to hike, look at scenery, or go to museums?&quot; Still LOL!

Well like Gail said, Moab would be a great place to hang out at the pool during the hot days. <BR><BR>Another fun thing in Zion would be to rent intertubes in Springdale and go floating down the Virgin River. It's a lot of fun and my boys looked forward to this every time we went to Zion. Even just playing in the river is fun on a hot day. <BR><BR>Utahtea

Utahtea (he/she?) gives EXCELLENT advice. No more need be said.

It's not too early to make reservations if you want to stay in the parks - in fact it might be oo late!<BR><BR>We stayed outside of Bryce in nearby Tropic Utah at the Bryce Country Cabins. We enjoyed it and I thought it was much nicer than the too touristy Ruby's just outside of Bryce.<BR><BR>For a nice short hike, go to Mossy Cave on the eastern side.<BR><BR>I wouldn't worry about having to stay in the shade at mid-day. It isn't that hot.

Thanks for the replies folks. And yes Steve I was imagining it was a bit late to book lodgings in the parks. On the Xanterra website many of the days in June are already booked for both Zion and Bryce. I agree, that Ruby's looks like a bit much. I will be looking around in those towns, thanks for the heads up.<BR><BR>Has anyone stayed at the Desert Pearl Inn outside of Zion. It is right on the river and looks like it has a nice pool and gardens. A bit fancy but i want a few of the lodgings to be a bit better than a motel/Best Western.<BR><BR>Any other recommendations folks?<BR><BR>

We stayed a night at Ruby's Inn last month, while visiting Bryce. I recognize that a night in December is not the same as one in June. However, I noticed that the motel folks seem to work rather closely with the park people. There are shuttles in the warmer months, and there seems to be a high degree of cooperation between the two organizations. <BR><BR>Ruby's is only a couple of miles from the park, and we found the room to be nice, comfortable and reasonable. The map shows Tropic to be about 10 miles away.<BR><BR>I'd look twice before passing up Ruby's at Bryce.

Hi Eva,<BR><BR>The Desert Pearl is very nice. I would recommend it highly. Try to get a room facing the river, they are more $ though.<BR><BR>Utahtea always gives great advice on southern Utah. I believe she &amp; hubby go often in a motorhome. As for me, I live in Utah, so when I go south, it's usually to just one destination at a time. I drive there on auto-pilot since I've been there so many times. I don't think I could tell you a highway number without looking at a map - except for Hwy 12 - one of the greatest scenic drives in the US.<BR><BR>Moab would be a great place for a little pool time - better yet the river rafting. Just as relaxing &amp; much more scenic.<BR><BR>Have a great time. The itinerary suggested by Utahtea is excellent. My only comment is that although Monument Valley is beautiful - it's a LONG drive for a picture....

After the nonsense on this board of the last couple of days it is refreshing to get such decent replies to my queries. As I stated I have done (and will do much more) some research. These comments are exactly what i had hoped for-- pros and cons about the places to stay and the distances between.<BR><BR>Utahtea--fter reading your posts for the past year or so I am pleased to be the recipient of your sage advice.<BR><BR>To George, Dayle,Steve, and Gail (who seems to hail from the great state(?) of MA as well) I love the input from you guys. <BR><BR>I was worried about the inclusion of Monument Valley in terms of time commitment but it seems to me we need to do it because it may be a while before we head west again(not due to lack of desire but we still want to see Hawaii). If we can all get the 2 weeks off it will not be a problem.<BR><BR>Anyone stayed at Wonderland at Capitol Reef (town of Torrey). It looks darn cute, Any comments?<BR><BR>Any more advice would be great!<BR><BR>Eva<BR><BR>

Hi Eve,<BR><BR>You have to get from Moab back to Las Vegas. The fastest way would be I-70 to I-15 and that's 460 miles. The I-70 part is scenic thought the San Rafael Swell but the I-15 is boring. <BR><BR>By going to Monument Valley and Lake Powell it's only a total of 550 miles. <BR><BR>I really don't see Monument Valley is being that far out of your way. Besides you are going to want to see Lake Powell too.<BR><BR>Utahtea

Hi Eve,<BR>You have received the most excellent advice here! All of these posts have made me remember the searching, reading &amp; planning I did! :)<BR>My family (also from the East ~ upstate NY ~ 2' of snow yesterday &amp; still snowing!) did almost the identical trip you have planned last June &amp; July. (Yes, it was hot ~ but we were prepared)<BR>We flew into SLC, made a circle of a route, starting w/Moab. We used Las Vegas to break up the hiking, National Park part of our trip. Must say the kids, ages 15 &amp; 13, enjoyed the horseback riding, rafting the Colorado, hiking the North rim &amp; seeing Arches justs as much as Vegas. Thank God! Also, they have both completed essays on portions of our trip. It's amazing all they will learn without even realizing it! Jeopardy geography questions are a breeze. <BR>In addition to all you've listed, don't miss Dead Horse Point State Park. The views are incredible.<BR>Utahtea helped us plan our trip, along w/Dayle and Bob Brown. Reading their posts is like getting an &quot;insider's view&quot;. It's really invaluable!<BR>The drive from Moab to and through Monument Valley was &quot;just like you see on t.v.&quot;. I loved it! Also, from Monument Valley onto Lake Powell was just beautiful. <BR>This will be a trip you will always remember! Even though I completed a scrapbook of our trip, I've still got pictures of Bryce on my fridge. <BR>I wish I was planning another vacation right now! <BR>If you're out there Utahtea, what should a family see after Utah? RMNP, Colorado? The Black Hills of SD, or straight to Yellowstone?<BR>Would love your opinion!<BR>Have a great day all, Tricia<BR>

Hi again, I forgot to add that we stayed at Ruby's Inn, just outside of Bryce. I would recommend, along w/everyone else, that you try to get lodging inside Bryce. Ruby's was good if you couldn't. Tricia

<BR><BR>One place I haven't seen mentioned is Valley of the Gods, which is just north of Monument Valley. My wife and I love all the places that you are going to; Utah's sights are a true wonder. But to us, Valley of the Gods was simply awe-inspiring.<BR><BR>It doesn't take long to drive around it. But it is very memorable. When we were there, there was no crowd. In fact, it was just us. Just us and the wind blowing through the sage.<BR><BR>Have fun.

Other places to look at are: Kodachrome State Park, Coral Sand Dunes State Park, and Cedar Breaks Nat Mon.<BR>

Try calling Xanterra rather than just relying on the Web. We did that last year and managed to get into the cabins at both Bryce and Zion in June (and we didn't even really start booking until April!) Keep trying, you might just get lucky and hit on a cancellation. In Moab, there isn't too much variety on offer in terms of accomodation, we stayed at a B&amp;B which I would not recommend and at a Best Western which I would (if only I could remember which one it was... had a pool and was off the main drag) Surprisingly nice. Moab will be a great resting point for you and the kids and Utahtea's suggestion of a rafting trip there will be wonderful. Basically, go to the parks in the early morning while it's still cool and not too crowded, head back to Moab for some mid-day R&amp;R by the pool then if you're up to it, go back to the parks for some late afternoon sightseeing when the heat and crowds have died down again. It's a gorgeous part of the world! You're lucky to be going there.