dshamritsky

I kind of rewrote my loose itinerary a little and added a lot of things that people suggested to do.

1. Land in Las Vegas drive to Zion Ntl Park
2. Zion Ntl Park
3. AM in Zion-Bryce Canyon
4. Sunrise at Bryce- then Capitol Reef Ntl Park
5. Pie for Breakfast- Goblin Valley- then Arches Ntl Park (Dead Horse Point for sunset)
6. Arches Ntl Park (look at dinosaur tracks, Copper Ridge)
7. Arches Ntl Park
8. Goosenecks, Monument Valley- then Grand Canyon
9. Grand Canyon
10. Drive to Las Vegas
11. Fly out of Las Vegas

I have not made reservations yet so any hotel recommendations would be awesome. Thanks for all of the awesome posts and keep them coming.

spirobulldog

Grand Canyon--I assume you mean South Rim.

I'm not totally sure which lodges are open, but

Zion Lodge

Bryce Lodge(may not be open in March), Ruby's would be 2nd choice

Bright Angel Lodge or El Tovar

Holiday Inn Express in Moab or just about anywhere there is ok
there are BnB's there if you like that type thing.

Day 10--See Hoover Dam
Day 5- I think you would have time for Little Wildhorse too.

Sounds like a good plan. The only flaw, I see is that The Narrows, Angels Landing, and Bryce may or may not have everything open, depending on snow levels in March.

Call The Gifford House to make sure they are open in March. Normally the pies arrive @ 8:00AM and are sold out by Noon.
Austin's Chuckwagon has a really good deli for lunch,sandwiches and even some breakfast items(their bread pudding is good for breakfast). they have a nice little store too.

dshamritsky

Spirobulldog I was actually looking at Zion Mountain Resort for lodging at Zion and Ruby's at Bryce. Bryce Lodge only opens April 1st. have not really decided on anywhere to stay at Capitol, Moab, or South Rim. Thanks for the Hoover Dam, I completely forgot about it.

tomfuller

The Copper Ridge Dinosaur tracks are at N38* 49.90 W109 45.72.
Turn east off US 191 5 miles north of Canyonlands Field (23 miles N of Moab). 2 miles out the road is a parking spot with a BLM sign about the tracks at the foot of the trail.
If it has rained recently, be careful on the BLM dirt roads.

Myer

I'm not sure about sunset at Dead Horse Point.

Has anybody done that? I've seen photos of sunrise at Mesa Arch.

Make sure you go to Delicate arch in Arches for sunset. Some will say sunrise but that's a matter of opinion and choice.

InSandy

You have three days / well two and a half / for Arches. You don't really need that. On day 5 when you say Arches where you should really go is either Canyonlands or if it is too late (depending on how much time you spend in Capitol Reef and Goblin valley and possibly Little Wild horse) then just Dead Horse Point for Sunset. Yes, I have been there for sunset and it can be wonderful, just a gorgeous view and if there are some clouds in the sky to make it interesting it is great.

Also you have Copper Ridge listed day 6. I hate back tracking, especially on a full itinerary... and you would be backtracking if you do it this day. This is another thing you can do day 5 on the way into Moab. Good luck finding the tracks though I sure couldn't.

On the other hand if day 5 gets too full, then you could do both Copper Ridge and Canyonlands / Dead Horse Point on day 6. This would leave one full day for Arches and that is enough time to get all the main points. Sunset at Delicate arch provides the best lighting, though it is beautiful any time. You are planning far enough ahead that you could sign up for the Fiery Furnace hike. This is kind of a slow wander through the fins and is a great way to enjoy the park. You could do this either day 6 or 7

InSandy

tomfuller, I'll take your coordinates to copper ridge next time and see if that helps. I've tried twice, I just wonder if they are worn away.

spirobulldog

You will need the better part of a day in Moab if you do anything with Desert Highlights.

Having done Delicate Arch at Sunrise and Sunset, I would choose Sunrise. Way to many people there at Sunset.

"Sunset at Delicate arch provides the best lighting"
This depends on if you want to have sunset or sunrise actually in your photo. The sun will be at your back, casting wonderful shadows and light if you go at Sunset. It is nearly impossible to go on the other side of the arch and get a photo with the sunset actually in the photo, due to all the people on that side.
In the morning, you can get the sunrise, the La Sal Mountains and the Arch all in your photo.

Be sure and take a flashlight, either way you would be in the dark.
You will have only a handful, if any, people there in the morning.

I know everyone thinks I'm crazy, because it seems like "the obvious" decision would be at sunset because "that's what everyone else does". If you watch the weather channel(can't remember the name of the guy-he has many photographic episodes in national parks), he goes a lot of time in the off season or at odd times of the day and even at night. The hike is actually good enough to do it morning and evening, so heck try both if you can.

spirobulldog

http://www.flickr.com/groups/759571@N24/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/duoli/283273453/
This guy thought he got it wrong, but look at all the comments

spirobulldog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23YsPEvMEqQ

you'll have a glorious time, any time you go to it!!

dshamritsky

I was also reading something about Delicate arch at sunrise and how it was much less crowded, i am sure my photos will not be that amazing but will keep sunrise in mind. I agree the Desert Highlights looked like a lot of fun but I do not want to spend a whole day on it.

Myer

spiro, to get a shot similar to that for sunrise you have to almsot fall of the cliff to the other side of Delicate Arch.

That photo almost has the color of a sunset.

If you go anywhere facing the Arch you'll have the sun in your face.

However, for sunset you can stay just about anywhere facing the Arch.

I guess the answer is to go back and do both.

Would that be a "Delicate" marathon?

spirobulldog

I would like to see it at night at photograph a long exposure. I think snow would be nice too.

dshamritsky

will try to do that if i can, i agree long exposure would look very cool.

dshamritsky

Sadly the Gifford House is only open during the 'summer season'. I guess that means not March. If anybody has a suggestion for lodging in or near the South Rim of Grand Canyon it would be much appreciated. Also anywhere to stay in Las Vegas for the night would be good to know.

wtm003

I was at Capitol Reef the last week of March and the Gifford House was open. Enjoyed the mixed berry pie.

dshamritsky

Thank you wtm, that is very weird because it says that the Gifford House is only open during the summer season. That is exactly the same time I will be there. BTW where did you stay when you visited. Thanks

wtm003

Hopefully it will be open for you too. We stayed at the Best Western in Torrey. Clean, basic motel room. I have no complaints but I might try Austin's Chuckwagon next time.

Outside of Zion, in Springdale, we stayed at The Desert Pearl Inn www.desertpearl.com which I love. We've stayed there twice and both times extended our stay.

In Moab I've stayed at the Best Western Canyonlands and at Ruby's outside of Bryce. Preferred the BW Canyonlands, but both were fine at the time of our stay. Since it has been several years since I've stayed in either do your research because who knows what may have changed.

Myer

I stayed at the BW in Torrey. Actually it's the closest motel to the park.

They have a large dining room and a heated pool.

I would stay there again.

tomfuller

As for the dinosaur tracks - insandy, They have been there for several thousand years. I poured a little of my water in the tracks to take a picture.
The road turns off across the RR tracks 5 miles North of the airport. Walk up the trail on the left side of the gully.
It's about 150 yards above the BLM sign about dinosaurs.