Southern Utah Itinerary - Draft
 

I am in the early planning stages for our vacation next June. We are Dad, Mom, Son 16 and Daughter 13. We have already been to Mesa Verde, Monument Valley, Zion, Grand Canyon and Moab on previous vacations. We enjoy beautiful scenery, wildlife, and easy hikes (typically less than 1 mile).

Day 1 - Drive from Arkansas to Albuquerque.
Day 2 - Chaco Culture, spend the night in Farmington.
Day 3 - Valley of the Gods, Muley Point and Goosenecks State Park. Possibly sunset tour of Monument Valley with Simpsons. Spend the night at Gouldings.
Day 4 - Drive to Bryce Canyon. Stop for a tour of Antelope Slot Canyon and check out Horseshoe Bend. Spend two nights at Bryce Canyon Lodge.
Day 5 - Bryce Canyon. Hike the Navajo/Queens Garden Loop. Drive the scenic drive
Day 6 - Drive Highway 12. Side trip to Kodachrome Basin State Park. Spend the night in Torrey.
Day 7 - Capitol Reef scenic drive. Leave that day heading towards Yellowstone for week 2.

Questions:
We took a morning jeep tour of MV in 2002. It was one of the best things we've ever done, but don't want to do the same thing again. Should we take a sunset jeep tour or just drive ourselves? We have a 4wd SUV.

What is the best way to experience Bryce; the half day horseback ride or hiking the Navajo/Queens Garden Loop? We aren't avid hikers, but made the hike to Delicate Arch without any problems. Is this hike more or less strenuous?

Anything else we are leaving out? Thanks for your feedback.

We opted out of our scheduled horseback ride b/c we decided to hike in the morning instead. If you can schedule your ride in the hotter part of the day, why not do both? Plan to hike the Navajo/Queens Garden Trail from the Wall Street end first - we did it backwards and had a heck of a climb out at the end! We really enjoyed Antelope Canyon, too. Have fun!

I'm hurt! The Why No Replies thread gets 30 replies, but I only get one;).

Just kidding, but I could use some advice.

You might want to try posting your two questions separately under more specific headings such as "MV jeep tour worth it?" to catch the attention of anyone who has done this jeep tour or gone horseback riding in Bryce. I'd give you advice if I'd done either of these, but as I haven't you probably don't want my advice ;-)

I can only give you my opinion on two of your questions, but it will top your thread.

We did not take a jeep tour of Monument Valley -- drove ourselves (with a 4x4 SUV). I would not do that again. It was hard driving and nothing is well marked -- we didn't know what we were looking at half the time. We did not enjoy the experience.

We have been to Bryce twice (once on our honeymoon many many years ago) and hiked the Navajo/Queens Garden trail both times.(and it hadn't changed much in 30 years) We haven't done the horseback ride, but I would definitely do the trail. We also hiked to Delicate Arch (we are not avid hikers either)-- I think they are similar in how strenuous they are.

Have a great trip -- would love to read your trip report when you return. (hint, hint)

<font color="red">&quot;I'm hurt! The Why No Replies thread gets 30 replies, but I only get one.&quot;</font>

Sorry, I've been without a computer for about a month or I would have replied sooner!

Chaco is an excellent choice! I loved that place.

One thing to consider regarding Monument Valley is you can not go to all the places that a tour can go.

If you can do the Delicate Arch hike then you shouldn't have any problem with the Navajo-Queen's Garden loop. Start with the Navajo loop because this is the steeper part so it will be easier going down this way and coming up on the Queen's Garden side which isn't as steep. I've never done the horseback ride because I prefer to go at my own pace and stop when I want to.

Another side trip you might enjoy on Hwy 12 would be the Burr Trail. Most of this is paved from Boulder. You will want to drive out the Burr Trail and then double back to Boulder, Utah. This is a very scenic drive and well worth the time if you have it.

Utahtea

The gardentrail/Navajo loop is a piece of cake compared to Delicate Arch.Paul

Don't miss the garden trail/ navajo loop. It was one of the highlights of a trip thru the whole southwest.