The DeLorme Utah map has the state on 64 pages. It has 300 foot contour lines. It has lat/long grid ticks at the edge of the pages. REI is a good place to look for DeLorme maps.
There are a few on Ebay for a little less than the $19.95 list.
The map pages are 11" X 15.5"

"OK so everybody is saying that staying inside the park is way better right?"

Well, it's easy to spend someone else's money so take that into account.

Grand Canyon - yes, best to stay in park as the closest lodging is 12(?) miles away and not significantly cheaper than some of the in-park choices.

Zion/Bryce - lodging is a mile or so away from the park entrance. I found it incredibly easy to get into Bryce and couldn't justify the extra cost to stay in park. Zion Lodge is further up the main canyon so you're more in the middle of the park right away instead of having to drive in and jump on a shuttle.

Only you can decide what's best for you. If money is no object, in park is best. But $100 here and there does add up.

Hey everybody. I booked flights to and from Las Vegas because I have a friend flies to and from Las Vegas once or twice month who told me that now would be the cheapest, unless you want to check every single day for the next six months. Am going to get my lodging and already got a tentative reservation at the Bellagio (hey when your in Vegas). Thanks a lot for all of the stuff, I never could have done it with out you guys.

Hey everyone
I thought that I should give you all an update. All of the lodging, flights and car rentals have been booked so I'm glad thats over! I was thinking that now would be a good time to head over to REI or EMS to buy some stuff that I might need because of the holiday sales/discounts. I have a camelbak, a deuter 42 liter backpack, and pretty much all of the basics after I went to Yellowstone. I was wondering if there is some other stuff that I am missing. Thanks to everyone who has helped me out, I couldn't have done it without you guys.

Looking forward to a report when you return.

Not only a report but many photos.

Have a great trip!!!

Did you get your DeLorme map book?
I walked outside the east side of Arches from the Delicate Arch viewpoint and found a geocache. Delicate Arch was one of my favorite Earthcaches.
Have a great trip.

Haven't read all the posts but as for wildlife in Utah - saw a big ole Bear hauling arse in a field - just below the road - from Zion to Bryce - and he was really making tracks - chasing a rabbit or something - which zipped under the fence and he came to an abrupt stop.

Also saw lots of Antelope and Deer in Bryce (in the meadows along the road) - and on the lawn in front of the Blue Angel Lodge at the Grand Canyon - saw two big Elk - one a 7 x 7 (Imperial) and the other a Royal (6 x 6) - which were just casually munching on the grass.

Thanks tomfuller, I am planning on getting the map soon. Tomsd thanks for the wildlife info, I couldn't find anything on their websites that told about what type of wildlife is common. Was the bear a grizzly or a black bear? Thanks again to everybody

d-

We don't have grizzly in Utah. We have lots and lots of other wildlife!

Bear
Bison
Moose
Elk
Deer
Pronghorn Antelope
Coyote
Fox
Cougar
Bobcat
Ringtail Cats (Zion, nocturnal)
Bald and Golden Eagles, several species of Hawks
Beaver
Badger
Skunk
Racoon
Most of the weasel family
only poisonous snakes are Rattlers
all kinds of rodents and reptiles
mosquitoes in the during the summer - areas where there is water

Prairie dogs and porcupines.

wow not much to add with all the reply but here is my 2 cents:

1st get the year park pass, it will save you money

If you can, it is worth the expense to stay in the parks at least one nite .. Bryce you are right there at the rim, maybe 20 yards and get to the nite ranger walks real easy .. follow my name and it will take you to pics of the inside of the cabins at Bryce

Most of all have fun !!

They say they don't have Grizzlies in Utah anymore - and haven't had for a while - but this guy sure looked like a Griz (Black bears can also be brown) - and was big!!! :)

As for Bright Angel Lodge - maybe some rooms don't have baths/showers but we had one in a Rim View Room (not the cabins.)

MichelleY,

Thanks! Forgot about the prarie dogs and porcupines. Oh yeah, marmotts too. :-)

Speaking of weasels. This morning as I drove out of the neighborhood to work, I saw an ermine run across the street! They are kind of beautiful little guys, white with black tipped tail. This is only the second time I've seen one.

2dogs, the lodge on the rim of Bryce is only open ater March 31 which after me. Dayle and Michelle thanks for the list of wildlife in Utah. Also Bright Angel Lodge has no more open rooms, on Maswik and Yavapai had rooms

Book a room and call for cancellations on the rim.

Hey everyone,

As the trip is getting closer I am beginning to think about what hikes I should do. I only want to do hikes in Zion, Arches and maybe one of the smaller parks such as Goblin State Park or Little Wildhorse. In places like Bryce and Capitol Reef I think that I will just do the scenic drive because I do not have that much time in those parks. What are some good day hikes in those parks? Above people have listed tons of things but with 10 options I really do not know which one to do. Obviously great views are nice but wildlife would be a plus. The hikes could probably be somewhere around 6 miles and not to easy or overly strenuous. Thanks in advance and for everything everyone has written to make this trip possible.

The best 2 hikes in Arches are to Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch. I logged Delicate Arch as an EarthCache on the geocaching website.
I also parked at the viewpoint for Delicate Arch and walked east out of the park and found a physical geocache.
In Goblin Valley I did the required task and logged the Earthcache and then I wandered among the hoodoos and found a geocache there as well.
Doing geocaching with a GPS, I have seen many places that I would never have found otherwise.

Goblin Valley-There really isn't a hike, you just wander around through the little Goblins Probably allow an hour or so.

Little Wildhorse is actually a part of San Rafael Swell. You should allow 2-5 hours depending on if you do the entire loop or just a short in and turn around back out type of thing after a mile or two.

Capitol Reef. I hiked 29 miles there. I don't like the hikes there nearly as much as I do the other UT parks(I've been to CR twice). I am the type of person who likes to see major attractions along the route or a destination type of hike-such as an arch, waterfall, etc. The hiking here is very scenic and very very very few people. So, if you like that type of hike, then this is a great place.

Bryce--It would be a shame not to hike down into the Hoodoos. I would for sure do Queens Garden/Navajo Loop Combo hike. It is one of the best hikes in UT. Peekaboo Loop is nice too
Probably allow 2-3 hours

Zion--I love The Narrows and Angels Landing. Either of these take about 1/2 day or so. Emerald Pools is ok and so is canyon overlook trail.

Arches--Hike to Delicate Arch takes 3 hours or so. Hike to Landscape Arch take an hour or 4 hours if you do the entire Devil's Garden Trail. Allow another couple hours to see Turret Arch, The Windows, Double Arch, and Balanced Rock