S. Utah intinerary help
 

I (with my wife) would like to visit the parks of S. Utah in late April & early May.
From LV: Zion, Bryce, Rt 12, Burr Trail, Capitol Reef, back to Cedar City & Kolob Canyon area of Zion.
Day 1 Las Vegas
Day 2-3 Springdale (Zion)
Day 4 Bryce area
Day 5 Torrey (Capital Reef)
Day 6 From Torrey to Cedar City
Day 7 Catch Kolob Canyon on way to Las Vegas
Day 8 go home
I feel this is a little rushed. Any suggestions welcomed

Hi Krueger,

Yes, it is rushed. On day 5 you will be spending most of the day driving Hwy 12 and (I assume) just part of the Burr Trail on the way to Torrey. That won't really leave you much time to see Capitol Reef.

If you can add at least 1 day to your trip you will do much better!

Or, depending on when your flights arrive/leave LV, you could either drive straight to Zion from LV, or drive to LV on day 8 and leave. It's only a 2 1/2 hour drive. I'm one of those that really can't stand Vegas, so I vote for heading on to the parks ASAP!

You're going at a great time of year, although the wildflowers don't really get blooming until mid-to-late May. Weather will still be quite cold at night at Bryce and Capitol Reef.

krueger,
Like Dayle, we can't stand LV and only fly there and head straight to Springdale, which we love. You might consider giving up Cedar City/Kolob Canyon & LV and spend a night in Boulder (Grand Staircase Escalante). There's not much in Boulder but it is such a stunning area and we love the Boulder Mountain Lodge and Hell's Backbone Grill. And you pick up the Burr Trail right there in Boulder. Spend a few nights in Torrey to see a little of Capitol Reef - it's breathtaking - as it the drive on Rte 12. There is so much to see that you won't mind backtracking. I sure wouldn't. Your itinerary is do-able as it is but an additional day or two would be great!

Dayle & Sharondi.
Thanks for your suggestions. I could live without LV but my wife agreed to come on this trip if it included some "civilization." My revised plan now is to spend one night at Springdale and two in Torrey.
Sharondi: do you suggest I backtrack on Rt 12 and spend an the evening of Day 6 in Springdale? Also do you suggest one night at Boulder and one night in Torrey rather than 2 in Torrey? Is the Burr Trail just more of the same as we will see on Rt 12?
Have a happy & a merry!

Hi again Krueger,

Hmmm: Vegas = civilization???? Not in my opinion!!


If you want to do a hike along the way on Hwy 12, there a some good ones (Calf Creek Falls & Escalante River). If you want to do that, then yes, stay 1 nt at the Boulder Inn. They fill up early so get your reservations.

Then you could to the short out and back on the paved part of the Burr Trail the enxt morn, backtracking to Boulder and going on Capitol Reef from there.

Of all these destinations, I would give up Kolob Canyon if needed.

In Torrey, the Diablo Cafe is terrific. Ambitious food in a very down-home atmosphere. It is only open about six months out of the year, because the chef skis the rest of the time. I don't know when in the spring it reopens.

The first part of the Burr trail is called Long Canyon. You can't miss the starting point as you wind down to the bottom and enter thru the soaring walls of orange sandstone. A few minutes down the road there is a neat little side canyon to the left that you can explore. You will also recognize when the main canyon road ends as the walls open up. I would turn around here. Calf Creek Canyon is a 2 to 3 hour (fairly easy) hike to a 125' tall waterfall which is very beautiful. It starts right next to Hwy.12. Definitely spend some time at Capitol Reef and try to do a couple hikes. They are all excellent.