emalloy

llooks like a wonderful trip so far. Just a couple of suggestions to make the trip a bit more enjoyable.

Pick up a cheap cooler before you set out, fill it with ice, water, soda, etc and any snacks or sandwich things you like (cheese, cold cuts, fruit etc.). Get an additional 24 pack of bottled water to take along on hikes. There are many places with no food facilities and it is good to be able to stave off starvation without driving/hiking an hour or two to get food.

Any time your gas tank gets to half and there is a station, fill it up. Sometimes it will be hard to find a station that is open, especially on weekends.

georgecollins

emalloy--good points, Where would be a good place to stock up??Maybe on the way out of Vegas?? Wine??. We did this same thing on our Alaska tour.

to all: Is there any redundancy in the trip?

sharondi; thanks again for the pics

emalloy

Yes stock up in Vegas and if you want wine, etc. get it there as some towns are dry.

peterboy

How amusing...I just realized that we'll be in Torrey the same night you are. Perhaps we'll see you at Café Diablo. We'll be headed the opposite direction on "the loop".

georgecollins

Peterboy--great, We have reservations at the Diablo at 7:45. Can change time for a table of 4. Would love to meet youall.

I did notice a Wallmart in Mesquite,Nv right on R15.

spirobulldog

Sept 4 looks like an awful lot to me. It depends on how much of the hike you do and how long your at Goblin Valley. You can just do Little Wildhorse as far in as you like and then turn around. It is a bit of a trick to find. I wouldn't rely on GPS. Also you want Little Wildhorse not Wildhorse.

Sept 5--I suggest getting homemade pie for breakfast @ The Gifford House and eat it at the picnic sight there in Cap Reef. Deer are almost a guarantee to be there too.

I think you better allow more than 3 hours for Calf Creek Falls. I haven't heard of it called Little Calf Creek, so maybe your doing something entirely different.

Perhaps I missed something. Have you been to Zion before? Your cutting it short, IMOP.

georgecollins

spirobulldog:

Yes, been to Bryce and Zion. We have done many, many national parks and were trying to add unique things to the trip. In fact we just moved one day at Zion to Bryce, to add more time to the Escalante/Boulder area

Lower(not little)Calf Creek--my mistake, our guide book says 3 hrs but we can easily add 30-60 min with all the modifications we have made.

Sept 4 is a big challenge. Will do as much as possible there by car and as you recommend, go down the trail as time permits on Little Wild Horse. Goblin will be short as we will be going to Escalante Devils Garden to see more Goblins. We keep looking for eliminating redundancy or at least more of the same.

Sept 6 is also tight. Still work to be done there. We have scheduled an 8:30 dinner at the Slot River Inn and will start at sunup.

Little Wild horse is correct.

Ooooh, another pie--my kind of breakfast. Thanks

Dayle

george,

One thing I notice is it looks like you are planning to hike to Delicate Arch, then drive all the way out of the park for lunch or dinner at Desert Bistro, then all the way back up to the furthest point in Arches, Devil's Garden?

Desert Bistro is fabulous - res recommended, but you should have dinner there your first night in Moab, then pack a lunch and have a picnic at Delicate Arch or where ever. It's not a good use of time to drive in/out/in/out. It does take quite a while.

I really liked the Hells Backbone Rd., but agree it's not your best use of time on this quick trip. Long bumpy drive for short payoff, very appropriately named.

Hwy 12 is much, much more scenic and totally awesome. Definitely do Lower Calf Creek Falls, but allow plenty of time. It's sandy and slow hiking in some points. Waterfall is spectacular and great pay off. Take your shorts/suit and have a dip!

I'm sure everyone is going to have a great trip.

Peterboy and Sharondi, I finally got the cable to download from my camera. Pics coming this weekend of mini GTG at BMI!

georgecollins

Dayle:
Lunch in the Arches--good idea.
LCC--will allow more time for hike and in plan from spirobulldog recommendation. Thanks for the reinforcement.

Dinner at the Desert Bistro.

peterboy

Don't change your plans for us. We'll be coming all the way from Springdale that day and may opt for the Burr Trail/Notom Rd. route to Torrey. I can't guarantee an arrival time.

Keep an eye out for the bald guy with the big moustache

georgecollins

And keep your eyes out for the bald guy with a short white beard.

georgecollins

Dayle: Suggestions for Zion?--updated itinerary below. We have two half days open on the 8th and 9th.

Our neighbor just told me the Sunset Restaurant in Moab has just mediocre food with a great view.

And we have shortened the Little Wild Horse hike via your recommendation.

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EVERYONE:--Updated itinerary:
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Aug 31----- Ga to LAS,....... rental car to Hotel Alexis

Sept 1-LAS to MV-Antelope Canyon hike -Drive 7 hrs.
----Wind Talker Monument=Hampton Inn/ View =dinner

Sept 2 ---To Moab via--MV ride thru-- Drive time 3-4 hr
----Arches visitor ctr-Hampton Inn/Desert Bistro dinner
----PM-4hr-Islands in Sky/Green river/Arch hike/Grand view

Sept 3 -- Arches………………Moab Diner--bkft
AM--3hr----Delicate Arch hike--Picnic lunch
PM--4hr----Devils Garden hike/ possible night pgm..
----------Desert Bistro dinner///.Hampton Inn

Sept 4-To Torrey-Hanksville-gold Mill-Drive time 3 hr.
AM------1hr---Goblin
----------2hr--Little wild horse hike
PM -----2hr--Chimney Rock/Capitol Gorge drive
---------1hr--Hickman Br. Trail—Gifford House(5th AM ?)
-----------Best Western/-Cafe Diablo(7:45)(4:00 Pie)

Sept 5-to Boulder/Escalante--------Drive time 2-3 hr
-------Anasazi Museum--bkft Backbone Grill Boulder
3-4hr--Burr Trail / Wolverton loop-Slot River inn/dinner

Sept 6 - Escalante -----------------------Drive time 2hr
3-4 hr--Lower Calf creek hike/River Bridge/Kiva coffee
2hr------Devils Garden
2hr -----Willis Creek Hike
PM ---- to Bryce-----Bryce cabin/ Lodge dinner late

Sept 7 Bryce
Rim Walk/Mossy cave/Queens landing-Lodge dinner
Option--Willis Creek if missed/or add Bryce activities

Sept 8 Bryce-----------cabin
AM--open, option go to Zion
PM---Drive to Zion--ZION do 2hr tour ride(2:30PM)
---2hr--Watchman trail (zion)----Zion Cabin

Sept 9- Zion,
AM -- 5hr-Observation Pt hike (east entrance)
PM -- 2hr open
LAS after dinner to Alexis Hotel-----Drive 3-4hr

Sept10-home

peterboy

We like The Whiptail Grill in Springdale.

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/146411120

and Oscar's of course.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/oscars-cafe-springdale-2

utahtea

Stock up on your wine in Las Vegas. In Utah you have to go to State Liquor stores and most if not all are closed on Sundays. There are State Liquor stores in Moab and Springdale if you need more.

Utahtea

georgecollins

peterboy/spirobulldog and utahtea:

We have added Whiptail and Kolab Reservoir (when we leave Zion)to the trip, Sept 9 on our way back to Vegas.

utahtea--wine info--thanks we are always running out

spirobulldog

Devils Gardens are a lot different than Goblin Valley. Both good. But in my opinion, Goblin Valley is easiest the best. I wouldn't think you would need more than an hour there. My wife didn't find them as interesting as my daughter and I. On a previous trip I had been with my neighbor, a college age kid. He was truly blown away and we wound up staying there about 5 hours and even into the night to see the night stars. Night Sky is great in Canyonlands, Cap Reef, and around Goblins.

utahtea

I haven't been to Whiptail or Kolab Reservoir. Yeah...there are places I haven't been to yet...LOL! Devil's Garden is one that we had wanted to do last year but we were in Utah when the Government closed all the national parks and BLM lands. If you are looking for something to see you might try Snow Canyon just outside of St. George. I personally would just spend the time in Zion. I can never get enough of that place.

Oh..and put me in the group with spirobulldog's wife and daughter. I don't find them as interesting as spirobulldog and we have spent the night camping there.

Utahtea

spirobulldog

My daughter liked it just fine, my wife was a bit underwhelmed.

Whiptail is the BOMB! Try the spaghetti squash enchilada

Booklover44

Have used this forum to plan trips - so much great info! Just wanted to add
We did the Arches- Fiery Furnace hike last summer and loved it, not hot, or strenuous.
Also did Goblin Valley and Little Wild Horse Canyon {?name could be wrong, they are 'next' to each other on the way to Cap Reef} Loved GV, esp the more we explored, LWH canyon trail was hard to find the canyon entrance, it was blocked by a rock pile and we had to climb up. around and down a bit to get to the trail, wouldn't have found it if some hikers hadn't come/climbed out. This could have changed in a year though.

spirobulldog

I have done LWH twice. Both times a bit of trouble figuring out how to get in. It is a popular trail with a ton of people though, so really no big deal. Google the trail and you will find out how to find it. There is a large parking lot. Once you find the entrance the canyon is easy and impossible to get lost in.

What's funny, is both times coming out of LWH, I don't remember any effort getting out from the entrance like I did getting into it.