grdretreat

My husband & I and 3 children (12,9,4) have an opportunity to go to Las Vegas the week before Thanksgiving. We will spend the last 2 nights of our trip in Vegas while my husband is doing business. We will arrive in LV on Thurs. & thought we would travel to Zion, Bryce, & south rim GC returning to LV Monday night.
Many questions:
Is 4 days enough this time of yr. to see all 3 places, if not which would you elimniate?
What will driving conditions be like & should we rent 4 WD?
What route would you take?
Where would you stay considering what will be open?
Thanks so much for your advice.

PaulRabe

Unfortunately, four days will be pushing it to see all of them. I fear you will end up thinking "If it's Sunday, this must be the Grand Canyon."

*IF* you can drive out of Vegas by mid-day Thursday, go immediately to Bryce to see it before the sun sets. Spend the night close to the rim. Be sure to see it again as the sun rises on Friday. Visit Zion on the afternoon of this day, as well as Satuday morning. Drive to the Grand Canyon that afternoon; you will probably arrive after dark. Be absolutely certain to see the Canyon at sunrise; if this is how you see it for the first time, you may be blown away for life. Spend the rest of Sunday seeing it from as many overlooks as possible. Walk down the Bright Angel Trail for at least twenty minutes, then back up for an hour; this is the only way to begin to feel its true size.

You will not need a 4WD for any of these travels; roads are well-paved at all points.

With the three kids, you are probably not going to do any major hiking. Thus, two days at the Canyon would be maximum. If you go to either Bryce or Zion, you should go to both. Thus, I find it hard to eliminate anything from your itinerary. If only you had another day. :^(

Patrick

Is it necessary to go to the South Rim? Forgive me if the road to the north rim is closed by then since that means you MUST go to the south rim, but frankly, you can put me in the bunch that thought the north rim was just or even more spectacular. Also the north rim would cut out a whole lot of driving time.

grdretreat

Thanks for your help. Maybe we could add a day. I did pick south rim since North rim is closed. If I do not add a day, would you skip GC south rim & just do Zion & Bryce? These boards & all your help is wonderful!

bogger

We once did a weekend in the Zion area while we were in Las Vegas. We stayed at a wonderful ranch outside of Zion, then we toured Zion, drove to Bryce and back to Las Vegas that night. It was way way too much driving! I would eliminate Zion, but not Bryce and if time and driving permit would do the GC.

peterboy

This from the NPS website:

"Visitor services and facilities inside the national park on the North Rim are only open from mid May to mid October. For the 2004 season they will be open from May 10 - October 14, 2004."

dwooddon

In late November, driving conditions in and around Bryce Canyon may be great or there could be snow and ice. It varies from year to year.

If you go from Zion's east gate and up US-89, there are no severe grades and the road department does a good job of keeping the road open and driveable. If you go up I-15 and across Cedar Mountain (Utah Hwy 14) or Bear Valley (from Parowan), the elevations are much higher and the grades are more severe. They also do a good job with these roads but it usually takes longer to plow and at least on Cedar Mountain, they stop plowing at sunset. If there are no storms then that will not be a factor and as the other poster mentioned, the roads are good for all of these routes.

I am much more comfortable with a 4-wheel drive at that time of the year. Chances are you won't need it but I always think its better to have it and not need it than it is to need it and not have it.

Another caution: Bryce Canyon is at a much higher elevation than either Zion or the Grand Canyon. It can be reasonably comfortable in Zion, requiring only a sweater and light gloves while, at the same time, it is quite cold at Bryce. I've been there in November and December when you could get by with a warm long sleeve shirt. I've also been there when long johns, a heavy coat or parka, and very warm golves were the order of the day. In either case, lighweight sneakers are not a great idea that time of year. I prefer water resistant hiking boots with light nylon socks under heavy wool socks to keep my toes toasty.

Have a great trip.