emalloy:

Will skip Cayote if overcast or we are not there with a vertical sun.
We think the same way. Horsehoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam,are on the option list.

Happy to eliminate redundancy.

Yes, the petroglyph trail is just a little farther east of the Canyon Overlook Trail.

peterboy:

perfect, and we still have the reservation 7:45 at the Diablo in Torrey if you can make it(if only for a drink)

emalloy:

After educating ourselves with the Antelope Canyon hassles with trucks, ladders, timing, reservations----and checking out Glen Canyon dam and Horseshoe Bend---We decided to drop Antelope and take your recommendations. We still have many slot canyons on the trip--Willis,Calf creek, etc.

and sorry---no, you can't come along, this trip,
I have my Irish gal all to myself.
No kids, no grandkids. Perfect.

Thanks George....you never know. We'll certainly be hungry after a long day. ;)

Remember the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum in Blanding on your way from Monument Valley to Moab. A great museum and you'll get to see some of my artwork on display there. I have several new works that will be there by then.

Here's the museum site

http://stateparks.utah.gov/park/edge...te-park-museum

...and my contribution:

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/peteroglyphs

In Moab, I have a few works at Vern Erb's Hogan Trading Company on Main St. It is a fantastic collection of original southwestern art...the largest such offering in Utah. Well worth a visit IMO. You can spend thousands there or a few dollars for mementos...something for everyone.

http://hogantrading.com/

For photography there's the Tom Till Gallery in Moab and my friend Bret Edge is also represented in his gallery a little further north on Main St.

Lets see.......copilot viewed your links-----------

Copilot is a potter and just informed me we will be stopping at Cedars St park Museum.

Mom is a arist--dozens of paintings
Me--fish---dozens of pics-fish and boats
Kids--more dozens
Grandkid--even more dozens
Etchings and artifacts from all over the world
My Fossil collection---ah-ha, maybe there could be a fit there

And upstairs there are 40-50 painting in a stack on the floor--no more wall space.

However--your art is impressive and even more impressive is the time and effort you put into the process. Unique. And we will take a look.

I just hope she doesn't want another addition for more wall space. (:

Thanks for the links

Yes a potter is going to want to go the Edge of the Cedars. If your wife gets the urge to make any, I'd love a reproduction of an Anasazi mug ;) You might get sucked into more time there than you think.

It actually has the largest inventory of artifacts in the 4 Corners due in part to inheriting the collections of the group of pot hunters in the town several years ago after they were busted. They were old men and all but one I believe committed suicide rather than do time. Sad on many levels.

If you want to meet another old timer, stop and visit Huck's Museum & Trading Post as you come into Blanding from MV. It is a "rustic" place on the right on the edge of town. If he's there, go in and pay to see his "Museum". If he's up to it (health issues) he'll get you up close and personal with his collection of artifacts. I've never seen a larger display of Ancestral Puebloan sandals anywhere. Stone tools, unique pottery, textiles and cordage...everything and lots of it.

There's a lot of concern about Huck's collection but he swears he'll never go. Be patient and don't judge and you'll have a unique experience. Huck's passion is his museum and it is what keeps him going I do believe.

peterboy:

Not enough Time--that day focus is Islands in Sky district. Won't have time for another museum stop that day.
And yea--copilot checking out museum pottery.


All:

I am having second thoughts about slot canyons. We dropped Antelope(don't do crowds) After LWH, and other slot canyons we will run into; will we see anything different in Willis Creek(skipping this would allow more time in Zion or Bryce) ?

TIA and an updated itinerary with all the great advice:

Aug 31----- Ga to LAS,.. rental car to Hotel Alexis
Sept 1-LAS to MV- -Drive 7 hrs.
AM—.Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam
PM--Wind Talker Monument-Hampton Inn

Sept 2 ---To Moab via-MV ride thru- Drive 3-4 hr
Valley of the Gods/Cedars Museum/Needles OL
Canyonlands Visitor ctr-Hampton Inn/Desert Bistro
PM-4hr-Islands in Sky/Green river/Arch hike/Grand view

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

Sept 4-To Torrey(R128N)-Hanksville/Mine-Drive-3hr
AM--3hr-Goblin overlook drive/Little wild horse hike (narrows)
PM ---1hr--Chimney Rock/Capitol Gorge drive
1hr--Hickman Br. Trail—Gifford House
-------------Best Western/-Cafe Diablo(7:45)(4:00 Pie)

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

Sept 6 - Escalante ----------------Drive 2hr
AM---4 hr--Lower Calf creek hike/River Bridge/
PM---2hr------Devils Garden drive
--2hr------Willis ck.-(option)
Late PM -- to Bryce--Bryce cabin/ Lodge dinner late

Sept 7 Bryce
Rim Walk/Mossy cave/Queens landing-Lodge dinner
add Bryce activities

Sept 8 Bryce-----------cabin
AM--open, option / Willis ck2 hr/go to Zion
PM---Drive to Zion/Visitor station
4-5hr-Weeping rock/Emerald lower pool/Riverside walk

Sept 9- Zion,
AM—Canyon Overlook-12hr.(sunup)// petroglyph panel
3hr-Scout”s Lookout hike-after Bkft
PM-2hr open
Whiptail Diner, Springdale then Kolab Reservior
LAS to Alexis Hotel(midnight)------------Drive 3hr
Sept10-home

Day 2 is pretty busy. I suggest skipping Canyonlands Needles - there really isn't an overlook. Needles District is better for a backpacking and camping trip - all the hikes (while spectacular) are very long and remote. The road in to Needles is very long - lots of great rock art and ruins to explore but you'll drive a long way on a day when you already have plenty of driving to do.

Don't miss Edge of Cedars Museum in Blanding - outstanding collection and a restored kiva on site. Small but incredible state park museum.

Not sure how much time and daylight you'll have on Day 2 to drive all the way out to Canyonlands Islands in the Sky to do Mesa Arch hike and Grand View. Moab to the Visitors center is over 30 miles - long haul. Plus, we're losing daylight earlier and earlier these days. You may end up instead wanting to enjoy your lovely meal and cocktails at Desert Bistro instead.

If you do the drive through of Monument Valley, you really don't need to do Valley of the Gods, although it is very nice I found it to be like a mini MV. See my pictures of it at www.flickr.com/photos/emalloy2009 in the 2011 album to get an idea.

This will give you a bit more time in Canyonlands/Arches. We do like the Needles district for a fairly quick trip. The drive in has spectacular views and we stop at Newspaper rock for petroglyphs and always visit Cowboy Camp/ Cave Spring. You are down in Canyonlands there while Island in the Sky is on top looking down into the area. A very different perspective. It would take about 2 hours total to drive in, stop at Newspaper rock, the VC and Cowboy Camp/Cave spring. If you get to the road in and are at all pressed for time, I would opt to visit Island in the Sky instead and do Mesa Arch and GrandView hikes. If you don't have time this day, perhaps you could do it after Delicate Arch hike on day 3 if there is still daylight.

So much to see, you need another visit.

Yes, Day 2 (Sept 2) is going to be tough to do. I also suggest skipping the Valley of the Gods road. It is only 17 miles but will take an hour or so. Also, if it has rained, you may find yourself turning around halfway or more through. You could inquire at the VoG B&B at the base of the Moki Dugway and they will probably know if it is passable. It, as well as the Moki Dugway. were washed out the day we wanted to drive it but was open the next day.

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/21362498

The Needles Overlook is shorter than the road into the actual park but doesn't take you past Newspaper Rock.


http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/146285244

The Needles District of Canyonlands is mainly a "hikers park" will less to offer the auto tourist with little time. It is 22 miles from the main road to the Needles Overlook so figure on an hour and a half for that.

You may find that the EoC State Park Museum in Blanding and then your activities in Moab will easily fill the day.

It will be frustrating to pass by some attractions (you've already scrapped Mesa Verde) but it may be necessary so you can have quality experiences elsewhere. Then start planning you next adventure.

sharondi; peterboy and emalloy.

Thanks for the pics, We will skip needles(we thought a 30min ride) and VoG(we think we did this before as we did goosenecks after Mesa Verde and MV). We plan on being in MOAB around lunch time. Dinner reserved for Desert Bistro in Moab (late).

This will keep me from dragging my copilot out of the museum in Blanding.

Meyer and All:

I am having second thoughts about slot canyons. We dropped Antelope(don't do crowds.) After LWH, and other slot canyons we will run into; will we see anything different in Willis Creek(skipping this would allow more time in Zion or Bryce) ?

It will be interesting after your trip to hear what you actually ended up doing. I have yet to go and actually follow our plans to the letter. Weather, weariness, injury and time have all caused us to tweak our plans in the past.

So true, emalloy - so much to see, you need another visit. That's why Peter(boy) and I are headed back this fall for the 3rd year in a row.

It will be difficult passing by the Needles District this trip. The views are incredible - love the cowboy camp too!