Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Page => Bryce => Zion => Vegas

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Page => Bryce => Zion => Vegas

Hi there, I need your advice regarding a trip planning for next October. We'll be in Page on October 11th at night (after already about ten days traveling from SF thru Yosemite, Death Valley, LV and GC), and would like to catch a plane back to Europe on October 14th in Vegas. Now, in-between, we'd like to see Bryce and Zion, while minimizing driving time (i.e. max 4-5 hours drive in a day). My question is : is it feasible to go from Page to Bryce, visit the canyon, and head to Springdale in one day (Oct 12), then visit Zion and drive to LV on the 13th? Also, what is the exact route from Page to Bryce? Mapquest shows 3 hrs, while Rand McNally shows 2 hours! If I saw correctly, a part of the road between page and Bryce is dirt road? FYI, my first plan was to skip Bryce eventhough I heard, know and believe it is a pity! Thanks in advance for your comments Xavier

The dirt road you are talking about is Cottonwood Canyon Road. I've never taken that route but I plan to this summer but in a 4 x 4 vehicle and not if it is raining or looking like it's going to rain! http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/grand_staircase_escalante/cottonwood_canyon_road.html From the website: "The unpaved Cottonwood Canyon Road is a relatively popular cross-country route, starting from US 89 near milepost 18, and eventually leading past Kodachrome Basin State Park to Cannonville on UT 12. Some sections of the road are rather steep and narrow, with overhanging rocks, but 2WD cars usually can make the 47 mile journey although for a few hours after heavy rains the route may be impassable even by 4WD vehicles. The surrounding land has much of interest to explore; slot canyons, arches, springs and endless colourful, eroded rocky scenery." There is also more information on this road at that web site. http://www.worldisround.com/articles/2007/text.html At this web site the guy said it took him 3 hours to drive the 40 some miles. I don't think I would take that route if you want to make time. The other route would be to stay on Hwy 89 throught Kanaba, Utah and then take Hyw 12 over to Bryce. This is 155 miles and should take about 3 1/2 hours. I would spend as much time at Bryce and then head the other 87 miles to Zion. That should take another 2 hours to drive. Your plan can be done if you get up real early in the morning. Utahtea

Ooops, I forgot to give the second link where the person said it took 3 hours. http://www.worldisround.com/articles/2007/text.html Utahtea

Thanks Utahtea, would you be so kind and let me know what you'd do in my place? I'm really at loss and can't make up my mind! Leaving Death Valley (Furnace Creek) on October 8th, I need to be in Vegas on the 14th (or better the 13th) to catch a plane, but would like to see Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon and spent one night in Vegas (not necessarily in this order!). What would be the best itinary?

I think I would do something like this if I was coming all the way from Europe. Oct. 8 From Death Valley drive to Zion National Park 300 miles. Spend what's left of the day in the park. Spend the night at the Lodge in the park if you can or in Springdale, Utah. Oct. 9 spend most of the day in Zion and leave late and drive the 85 miles to Bryce in time to see the sunset. Spend the night in the park or nearby. Oct 10. spend some time in Bryce before driving 155 miles to Lake Powell and arrive before sunset. (Unless you take a boat trip on the lake there isn't much to do here). Spend the night in Wahweep or Page. Oct. 11 Maybe take one of the short 1 or 2 hour boat trips on the lake. Drive the 140 miles to the Grand Canyon. Allow your self time to stop at the many overlooks of the Grand Canyon that you will see when you enter at the Desert View entrance of the Grand Canyon. Spend the night at the Grand Canyon. Oct 12 Spend the day exploring the Grand Canyon by riding the shuttle buses to the overlooks you can not drive to. Oct. 13 drive the 280 miles back to Las Vegas and spend the evening there. This also gives you what ever time you have on the 14th in Vegas. Utahtea

Utahtea YOU are GREAT! :-) Really! It all seems quite obvious, but I guess you really have to know the area to see it! Besides, I wasn't expecting your answer so fast! Do sleep sometime? ;-) (Or are you not in the US?)

Hehehe....It was just a little past midnight here in California and that was my last post for the night! I hope you enjoy your visit. We visited the GC, Powell & Zion in early Oct. 2002 and the weather was just perfect! It can get cold at night during this time of the year. Utahtea

I can't wait to be there! Thanks again!