RETAKING MY PLANS FOR UTAH'S NATIONAL PARKS (LONG LOOP)
 

We are three couples (70's, 50's and 30's) on the initial stages of planning our 14 day trip to Utah's National Parks (had to cancel last year due to health issues). Trip will start and end in Las Vegas (October 12-26, 2011). This is my tentative schedule:

Oct 12 - Arriving Las Vegas and stay overnight.
Oct 13- Las Vegas to Kanab (the animal shelter is a must for my wife). Stay overnight.
Oct 14-16 - Kanab to Lake Powell (visit Antelope Canyon and Rainbow bridge).
Oct 16 - Lake Powell to Moab (pass through MV- been there before). Should I overnight in Bluff or Blanding?)
Oct 17-20 Moab (Arches, Canyonlands, Gobling Valley)
Oct 20 - Overnight in Torrey
Oct 21 - Torrey to Bryce thru Hwy 12 (overnight).
Oct 22-26 - Las Vegas (I know i'm bypassing Zion), but my family insists in staying at Las Vegas for three nights. Maybe I could convince them to, at least, spend one night in Springdale).
Need your input and opinions regarding the pacing and places to visit of this trip. We are not hikers. We enjoy greatyly natural wonders and will do some easy hikes.

Thanks in advance

Gilberto

October 16 Moab is a much nicer place to stay than Blanding.
Moab is only 75 miles and 1:20 from Blanding.
Any reason you picked Torrey? I liked Green River and the John Wesley Powell museum next to the Green River.
Try to convince the family to see Hoover Dam and/or Valley of Fire State Park while in the LV area.
Sunscreen is advisable even that late in the season.

I think maybe Bryce will be somewhat cool and possibly snowy.

You have three very distinct age ranges. What you do depends on desire and physical condition.

For bryce I would get up early to see the sunrise at Bryce Point and walk/hike down some of Navajo Loop or Queens Gard (or connect both). The depends on physical condition as once you go down you'll have to get back up. And in 8,000 ft of elevation.

You don't have to go to the bottom. You can go a few hundre yards and then turn and go back up. Just go down at least a bit.

Skipping Zion is a mistake. Some very easy, scenic and beautiful walks/hikes.

Goblin valley is a short stop.

What you do in Arches depends on physical condition. A late afternoon hike to Delicate Arch is beautiful but a bit long and uphill (I'm looking at the ages again). What you can do for sure is park in the Windows area and walk around a loop of arches there. A good taste.

Again, physical condition. Fiery Furnace ranger-led hike. Nothing difficult but a lot of walking. Not much up or down hill.

In Moab -- with Tagalong -- scenic river cruise is fantastic for all ages. Great scenery!

Rainbow Bridge requires the boat tour on Lake Powell. (Which I love!)

Page, AZ to Moab, Utah is only 270 miles. You should still have time to visit Monument Valley and one less packing and unpacking at a motel.

Don't make a special trip from Moab, Utah to Goblin Valley. You can make it an hours stop on your way to Torrey, Utah

I think Torrey, Utah is an excellent choice for over night so you can spend a little time driving though Capitol Reef National Park. It's also a lot quieter than Green River with the trains going right though town at all hours of the night.

I would give up a day in Moab since you aren't hikers and spend one night in Zion. If nothing else, you should drive though Zion on your way from Bryce to Las Vegas. Maybe spend 2 hours and ride the free shuttle buses into the canyon.

Utahtea

Thanks all for your comments so far. So, how much time will we need to visit the most beautiful Arches and to pay a visit to Island in the Sky? What's the best time for pictures in Delicate Arch? How long will it take from Moab to Torrey, if we visit Gobling Valley?

Moab to Torrey is about 3 hours. Goblin Valley is about 15-20 minutes off the main road plus 1-2 hours there depending upon your interest so figure on about 5 hours.

Delicate Arch is by far the most beautiful. You have two choices: a very distant viewpoint or hiking there. While it's a pretty easy hike it's a bit long, you're in elevation and it's mostly uphill going. That makes it downhill coming back.

Since I think it's easy (I'm in my upper 60's) you can rest as often as you have to and drink lot's of water. In my opinion the best time is an hour or so before sunset. The sun will set behind you and the Arch will turn golden. Also, the snow covered mountains in the distance will do their part.

At sunrise the sun will be on the other side and the Arch will be in shadows.

You can allow a little more than an hour to get there and a little less to return. Allow at least an hour to sit around as the sun beging to lower. Allow enough time to get back before it gets dark or make sure you have some flashlights.

The most bang for the buck will be the Windows section. You can walk an easy loop in a couple of hours (including going inside and sitting around) and the parking area is in the middle.

You have the North & South Windows, Double Arch, Turret Arch. Depending upon your interet you can walk into and thru them all. On the way you can stop at Balanced Rock and if you want walk right up to it. I'm convinced they reinforce it every evening.

While Canyonlands is a National Park and Dead Horse Point is a state park (you pass the state park on the way to the NP), I think there are two sights in Dead Horse Point that beat anything in Canyonlands. Mesa Arch is a short walk from the parking area. It's the only arch you'll see that is approached at the top rather than at the bottom. A great view of it and thru it to "the Washerwoman"!!!

The view of Dead Horse Point making a 180 degree turn is spectacular. And it's very close to the parking area.

If you're up to it you might consider (have reservations about some in the group) the Fiery Furnace ranger-led hike. It's about 3 hours long but nothing difficult with numerous stops. It's in an area of the park that you're not permitted to go to alone as there are no real trails. I'm kind conflicted about this one for your group.

Thank you very much for your detailed reply, Myer. Another question: Any advantage of doing this trip Clockwise?

Do try to talk your group into visiting Zion -- it is just lovely.

I don't know where you live regarding elevation.

I don't know if the direction is important.

I would try to put Bryce early as it will have snow due to elevation. However, it's not a bad idea to get used to the elevation before walking down into Bryce canyon.

Please note that October 14-16ish is Fall Break for Utah schools. It will be crowded no matter where you do down south. You will have to have reservations made by August 1 at the LATEST for that weekend!

Not sure if StantonHyde is referring to UEA (the only statewide fall break I can think of)- but 2011 dates are Oct 20-21

Anybody can confirm the Fall Break for Utah schools? That will help me with my hotel reservations, which I haven't started yet.

I wouldn't worry about the fall breaks. We were there over Memorial Day weekend(twice) and it wasn't bad. Have been to Utah twice in October on weekends and it wasn't bad.

You are making a mistake skipping Zion. At least spend one day and night there. Take a day off of Vegas. 24hours in Vegas is plenty enough for me. There are great restaurants, expensive good shows, and after I loose $5 that is enough gambling for me.

You could run into snow in the higher elevations, but I doubt it would give you much trouble. I like your ideas(other than no Zion).

If you just want to look at Islands in the sky, you might want to do that from Dead Horse Point State Park.

Ok. I'll add my 2 cents.

Don't miss zion. I think I wrote that back up near the beginning.

At the least the Riverside Walk is appropriate for all ages and physical conditions.

The fall break (UEA) is Oct. 20-21. I've found areas of Southern Utah crowded this long weekend as families get in one last vacation so get reservations ASAP. The weather should be pleasant. Have a great time.

O, I bet Capitol Reef and Torrey will be crawling with people on Oct 20-21. Good heavens, you might run into 4 people on a trail instead of 2 or 3.

Seriously, you may find a few people. Zion and Bryce could be a little crowded, but do your hiking and sight-seeing early morning and late afternoon to avoid the crowds.

I went to Zion last year over the fall break and I have NEVER seen so many fracking people in southern Utah!!!!!!!! Moab will also be mobbed. We did hike the Kolob canyon section in Zion the second day we were there which was less crowded. Capitol Reef does tend to have fewer people than the other parks (Zion, Bryce, Moab area)I would shoot for something a little less crowded (Cap Reef) or go to Moab where there are more trails and people disperse. The key, though, is the hotel reservations. Do NOT wait on those.

Thanks again to all of you. Don't worry, I won't miss Zion. I will make some modifications on my schedule and will stay two days. Later will post my revised itinerary. Now I have some doubts. What to visit while staying at MOab (besides Arches) and what to visit from Torrey.

<i>What to visit while staying at MOab (besides Arches) and what to visit from Torrey.</i>

Moab: Besides Arches there is Canyonlands Island in the Sky District. You don't want to miss the scenic drive out Hwy 128 which goes east out of Moab and follows the Colorado River & canyon to Fisher Towers. Other scenic drives are the Potash Road, Hwy 279 that follow Colorado River going west out of Moab and look for petroglyphs. Just across the river is Kane Creek Road and more petroglyphs. If you have the time you might consider driving south to see Canyonlands Needle District with a stop at Newspaper Rock State Park.

Goblin Valley can be seen on the drive from Moab to Torrey, there's no need to make a special trip or double back.

Capitol Reef National Park would be the main point of interest while in Torrey. You really don't have time for much more.

Utahtea