Need help planning Arizona & California Desert trip in March
Oct 5th, 2015, 07:43 PM
#21
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http://www.americansouthwest.net/cal...hua_trees.html
See if any of those places fit into your trip.
I was unimpressed with Red Rock Canyon. I suppose it's ok if you're in Vegas and want an easy day trip, but I would not set aside any time for it otherwise. Valley of Fire definitely has more wow factor.
I would not worry about taking your car off pavement within reason. I've done it numerous times in national parks and have never had any damage. Just don't do something crazy or reckless and you will be fine. Having said that, I think there's plenty to do in Death Valley that doesn't require going off pavement. I think I only drove down one unpaved road for a mile or two just to get out in the middle of the salt flats. No big deal.
See if any of those places fit into your trip.
I was unimpressed with Red Rock Canyon. I suppose it's ok if you're in Vegas and want an easy day trip, but I would not set aside any time for it otherwise. Valley of Fire definitely has more wow factor.
I would not worry about taking your car off pavement within reason. I've done it numerous times in national parks and have never had any damage. Just don't do something crazy or reckless and you will be fine. Having said that, I think there's plenty to do in Death Valley that doesn't require going off pavement. I think I only drove down one unpaved road for a mile or two just to get out in the middle of the salt flats. No big deal.
Oct 6th, 2015, 02:39 AM
#22
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whereAreWe - thanks for the info on Red Rock Canyon. I think we'll try to make it to Vally of Fire but not set aside any time for Red Rock.
Janis - now you have me really worried. I am generally not at all risk averse but I had not known that about rental cars. I'd certainly read about the various places in Death Valley that are often advised not to do in rental cars or cars with low clearance such as Titus Canyon, etc. but more than half the major sites require a couple miles on an unpaved road.
Natural Bridge (1 ½ -2 miles on unpaved spur road suitable for passenger vehicles), Devil's Gold Course (1.3 miles well-graded dirt road), Twenty Mule Team Canyon (unpaved, but accessible to all standard vehicles other than buses), Mosiac Canyon (2 mile gravel access road).
I'm also going to Saguaro National Park and the main loop road in the 'best' half of the park is two thirds unpaved.
I'm certainly not talking about going 'off-roading' but if half the interesting things I'm planning on seeing requqire a couple miles of unpaved road and I'm risking a 'serious problem' then I may have to re-think the whole trip.
What exactly is the 'serious problem' ( as far as I remember the last time I rented a car in the US my regular car insurance was considered the primary insurance).
Janis - now you have me really worried. I am generally not at all risk averse but I had not known that about rental cars. I'd certainly read about the various places in Death Valley that are often advised not to do in rental cars or cars with low clearance such as Titus Canyon, etc. but more than half the major sites require a couple miles on an unpaved road.
Natural Bridge (1 ½ -2 miles on unpaved spur road suitable for passenger vehicles), Devil's Gold Course (1.3 miles well-graded dirt road), Twenty Mule Team Canyon (unpaved, but accessible to all standard vehicles other than buses), Mosiac Canyon (2 mile gravel access road).
I'm also going to Saguaro National Park and the main loop road in the 'best' half of the park is two thirds unpaved.
I'm certainly not talking about going 'off-roading' but if half the interesting things I'm planning on seeing requqire a couple miles of unpaved road and I'm risking a 'serious problem' then I may have to re-think the whole trip.
What exactly is the 'serious problem' ( as far as I remember the last time I rented a car in the US my regular car insurance was considered the primary insurance).
Oct 6th, 2015, 07:54 AM
#23
By serious problem -- I mean your insurance coverage would most likely be voided.
But probably 99+% have no problems at all so the rental company/insurance would be none the wiser.
Most of the unpaved roads in DV are gravel and totally fine in a car (I've taken my own personal cars several times over the years). I wouldn't be afraid of the drivesbut if there was a problem - that is the issue.
Anecdote not related to DV or your question really . . . In an earlier life I raced and rallied sports cars. There was a three day event near Lake Tahoe w/ autocross/rallies/concours/other car events and one of our fellow car club member's car was in the shop so he rented a mustang to participate. During a break the idiot decided to 'rally' w/ another car up and over some unpaved logging roads. Did some serious damage to the body trim and nearly totaled the car because it tweaked the frame. He got help getting the car out and then flat bedded it back down to the Sacramento dealership and left it (out of hours) w/ a note saying "We hit a deer" and returned back to Lake Tahoe. The insurance covered all the damage . . . because they didn't know it was off road.
. . . So if you have a problem -- just get it towed to Furnace Creek and you'll be fine
But probably 99+% have no problems at all so the rental company/insurance would be none the wiser.
Most of the unpaved roads in DV are gravel and totally fine in a car (I've taken my own personal cars several times over the years). I wouldn't be afraid of the drivesbut if there was a problem - that is the issue.
Anecdote not related to DV or your question really . . . In an earlier life I raced and rallied sports cars. There was a three day event near Lake Tahoe w/ autocross/rallies/concours/other car events and one of our fellow car club member's car was in the shop so he rented a mustang to participate. During a break the idiot decided to 'rally' w/ another car up and over some unpaved logging roads. Did some serious damage to the body trim and nearly totaled the car because it tweaked the frame. He got help getting the car out and then flat bedded it back down to the Sacramento dealership and left it (out of hours) w/ a note saying "We hit a deer" and returned back to Lake Tahoe. The insurance covered all the damage . . . because they didn't know it was off road.
. . . So if you have a problem -- just get it towed to Furnace Creek and you'll be fine
Oct 6th, 2015, 08:48 AM
#24
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"By serious problem -- I mean your insurance coverage would most likely be voided."
I think only the insurance you purchase from the rental agency would be voided? Personal car insurance should still cover it - but OP would need to verify with their insurance on the specifics. I admit that I haven't read the fine print on the rental insurance as I never purchase from an agency and have never damaged anything going off pavement. All my damage claims have been in the city.
I think only the insurance you purchase from the rental agency would be voided? Personal car insurance should still cover it - but OP would need to verify with their insurance on the specifics. I admit that I haven't read the fine print on the rental insurance as I never purchase from an agency and have never damaged anything going off pavement. All my damage claims have been in the city.
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Oct 9th, 2015, 05:55 AM
#25
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Thanks again for all the replies. I think I've decided not to risk any long stretches of unpaved roads, such as to get to Lee Flats, but will have to hope for the best on the numerous but very short (1-2mile) 'spur' roads to get to most of the sites in the parks.
As people keep giving me suggestions I get 'new' ideas. So the idea to go to Valley of Fire Park is wonderful and now that's on my 'must see' list. And the idea to get there going north of Grand Canyon rather than south made me realize we'd be close to Antelope Canyon. We went there on our last trip to the region, four years ago, and didn't get reservations so didn't want to wait the 3 hours in the 100 degree sun. But it was the main regret of that trip. So now that's on 'the list', especially since that route means no five hour driving stretches.
So does this itinerary make sense
Days 1 & 2: 2 nights - day and a half in Saguaro/Tucson area
Day 3: 1 night - half/two thirds day in Sedona
Days 4 & 5: 2 nights - Grand Canyon South Rim
Day 6: drive (about 3 hr) to Antelope Canyon, which would put us there mid day, then drive (about 3 hr) to Mesquite for the night
Day 7: Valley of Fire - most of the day, drive to North Vegas for the night (about 1 hr drive each end of that day)
Day 8 & 9: Death Valley (staying in Furnnance Creek)
Day 10: Death Valley in am, drive to Vegas (maybe via Rhyolite Ghost Town), drop car, evening in Vegas.
Day 11 - fly home (early flights)
As people keep giving me suggestions I get 'new' ideas. So the idea to go to Valley of Fire Park is wonderful and now that's on my 'must see' list. And the idea to get there going north of Grand Canyon rather than south made me realize we'd be close to Antelope Canyon. We went there on our last trip to the region, four years ago, and didn't get reservations so didn't want to wait the 3 hours in the 100 degree sun. But it was the main regret of that trip. So now that's on 'the list', especially since that route means no five hour driving stretches.
So does this itinerary make sense
Days 1 & 2: 2 nights - day and a half in Saguaro/Tucson area
Day 3: 1 night - half/two thirds day in Sedona
Days 4 & 5: 2 nights - Grand Canyon South Rim
Day 6: drive (about 3 hr) to Antelope Canyon, which would put us there mid day, then drive (about 3 hr) to Mesquite for the night
Day 7: Valley of Fire - most of the day, drive to North Vegas for the night (about 1 hr drive each end of that day)
Day 8 & 9: Death Valley (staying in Furnnance Creek)
Day 10: Death Valley in am, drive to Vegas (maybe via Rhyolite Ghost Town), drop car, evening in Vegas.
Day 11 - fly home (early flights)
