PortiaLucy

Our family (two girls--ages 11 and 14) is planning a weeklong trip in late June. We're flying into Las Vegas mid-morning and spending two nights at the GC North Rim, three nights at Zion (Desert Pearl), and two nights at Bryce (lodge) before returning for a late afternoon flight out of Las Vegas. We'll do a fair amount of hiking and taking in scenic overlooks (though I have a fear of heights I will try to overcome) but would like to find some other activities to keep things varied.

1) My husband would like to tour one of the big dams--either Hoover or Glen Canyon. Hoover is more on the way (we could do it as we leave Las Vegas) but are wondering which is the more interesting to tour and whether Glen Canyon would be preferable enough (crowds? scenery?) to be worth the detour.

2) We'd like to take at least one horseback ride somewhere (but not a full day to start, as we haven't been on horses in some time). We've heard you can ride down into the canyon at Bryce. Has anyone been? Does it feel nerve-wracking (i.e., are you worried lest the horse stumble)? Any other recommended horseback riding spots/stables?

3) I've read here about the 1/2-day float trip below Glen Canyon (sounds cool) and inner tubing on the Virgin River (sounds cold). I realize they're very different experiences, but drifting down at least one river sounds fun. Again, the former would mean quite a detour for us (either between North Rim and Zion or between Zion and Bryce), but is it worth it? Or are there other part-day floats anyone can recommend?

4) Anything else worth recommending? My daughters are pretty good sports about exploring new places, but I realize heat and altitude will take their toll, so less-strenuous activities are fine, too. For example, is the IMAX film at Zion worth seeing?

TIA.

placeu2

I did this trip last summer with my scared of heights/edges wife and 2 teenage boys. We did it in the opposite order that you are planning.

I will try and address some of your questions based on our experience.

We toured Hoover and all liked it. We did this on our way to Zion. You will go out of your way to do it. Bite the bullet and come back the way you came. We tried the backroads through Mead...mistake.

On your way into the N. Rim, stop in Jacobs Lake and buy homemade cookies at the shop there. Outstanding! Also a good place to get car drinks and snacks, etc. Once you pass this place there is nothing on the road for over an hour till you get to the GC.

We did the horse ride to the bottom of Bryce and it was a highlight of the trip. We did the 2 hour version and we were plenty stiff from that. 1/2 day would have been too much. There are a couple of spots on the trail that challenged my wife but she was a real trooper. The animals are well trained and very sure footed....gut it out, it's worth it! The ride from Bryce Lodge is the only one that goes into the canyon..do try this one! Interestingly the same group of Cowboys train and operate the horses at NR and Zion as well. Very good guys.

Hiking is easiest (relatively speaking) at Zion becauyse of the altitude. Bryce and NR are significantly higher. Save some of your hiking energy for Zion, we loved it there. Your mileage, of course, may vary. A great family hike at Zion is Canyon Overlook, again gut it out, it's worth it. My wife made it, you can too. You can skip Angels landing and Hidden Canyon with your fears. Try Riverwalk/Narrows and Emerald Pools amongst others.

Have not done the float trip but want to.

Have a good time, ask if you have other specific questions and I will try and help. I can email you some pictures if you want as well.

Idnas71

Good morning everyone.

Placeu2, I noticed you took the 2-hour horseback ride at Bryce. I'm leaving in one week for my vacation in the same area and have the same 2-hour horseback ride scheduled at Bryce. Did you do any other hiking trails at Bryce? If you had to pick one trail to do in combination with the 2-hour horseback ride, which would you do?

Thanks,
Sandi

hotdogz

I think the 1/2 day float trip plus Glen Canyon Dam might warrant an overnight at Page/Lake Powell. It would be long/tiring day to drive there, do those activities and drive back. Seems like Hoover Dam and tubing Virgin River fits in better with your lodging plans.

Concerning your fear of heights:

My family went to these same three places last summer. You can't possibly have a greater fear of heights than me. Plus, while I've done it a couple of times before, I'm pretty nervous sitting atop a horse for a guided trail ride. That said, I actually did the 2 hr. horse/mule ride down into Bryce Canyon and am still alive to tell you about it today. Overall I enjoyed it alot and am very glad that I did it. When they were assigning horses/mules, I made sure they were VERY aware that I would be the most nervous/scared customer they have ever had, and to give me the best behaved horse/mule they had. They also made sure when we rode out that I was second in line, right behind the guide. There was a least one section of the ride down that I had to shut my eyes for a while. By the way, their website is www.canyonrides.com

Most of the scenic overlooks don't require you to go all the way to the railing to get a good view (in my opinion anyway), and the trails to get there are ok. Most of the time I was perfectly happy with the view 20 ft back. from the railing. The one exception was Bright Angel Point at GC North Rim. There is a trail right at the North Rim lodging that goes out to Bright Angel Point. I got about halfway could not go any further. My husband continued on with the girls, and when they were back he told me I would not have liked it.

placeu2

Sandi,

We only stayed one night at Bryce so did not do much hiking. We had been at Zion first for 2 nights and did a ton of hiking. At Bryce, we just walked around the edges mostly, nothing to the bottom. After 2 hours on the horse, my knees would have refused to do anything real strenuous in the next few hours.

While at Bryce, do drive south to Bryce Point. It's just a couple miles from the Lodge and offers some views that you don't see in the lodge area.

One other tip: Make yourself get out of bed to experience sunrise at the canyon. Sunset is great as well but different.

Idnas71

Placeu2,

I'm only spending one night at Bryce myself, and two nights at the Desert Pearl in Zion. I guess I'm taking the reverse route from yours. I do plan to rise early to see the sunrise at Bryce, the same morning of the horseback ride. If I do any hiking there it will probably be late afternoon of the day before the ride. After the ride we'll change into some clean clothes and head straight to Zion for two nights. Will have one entire day to hike some trails there so I hope the riding won't make me too terribly sore... I'll stock up on some Ibuprofen just in case.

I can't wait to hit the highway next week!

mainetoday

Hey there, we were just out to Bryce and the North Rim, from Vegas last September. We actually drove up from Vegas, spent some time at Cedar Break Nat'l Monument and then up to Bryce (stayed at Ruby's the first night) and then at Bryce, in the Xanterra Motel right in the park the next night. We got up the next day for sunrise, chilled out, did some hiking down the Navajo Loop Trail and did the 2 hour horseback ride in the afternoon. Worked out great!!! If you are afraid of heights, the horseback ride may be a little nerve wracking for you, just because they teach the horses and mules to walk along the edge of the trail (and there are some pretty steep cliffs that you go up and down), but they are very sure-footed, so as long as you just rely on the horse/mule, you should be fine. Next, we checked out the rest of the park. Got up the next morning and drove to the North Rim, what an awesome drive, it's great. The lodge there is gorgeous and sunrise at Bright Angel Point is beautiful. Just a very natural area, the North Rim is not as busy as the South Rim, but the trees (ponderas, etc) are just so peaceful. Have a blast, it's a lot of driving, but on the way back to Vegas, we actually took an alternate route and hit the Coral Sand Dunes State Park on the way back, that was pretty nice too. Have fun

JoyM

Oh my, have I made a mistake? I just mailed off my deposit for the four hour horse ride at Bryce. My kids, 8 and 13 are afraid of heights. They refused to take the mule rides at the South Rim. How steep of a fall would it be? I know these horses are well trained and falling is unlikely, but a kid may not reason that out. Also, does anyone know about renting an ATV at Ruby's? or some where near Bryce or Zion?

gail

If you are afraid of heights - read "Over the Edge - Death at the Grand Canyon" before you go (seriously). We did similar trip last summer and I had this unbelievable fear that one of us would fall INTO the Grand Canyon. This book is one of the best sellers at Park bookstore - we spoke with an older Park Ranger at a shuttle bus stop who could remember some of the events.

Why would I recommend reading a book about about thing more awful than you can imagine - because virtually all of those killed were doing something either stupid or very non-traditional (like parachuting off edge). With all the visitors to GC each year, if it were easy to fall off animal, into canyon, etc - there would be many more.

As far as fear at edge of Bryce of GC - I could not go closer than 2-3 feet of edge - but I did not miss anything. No need to look straight down. Hardest thing was watching my kids going closer.

Husband and 13 year old daughter did 2 hour horse ride (that turned into 4 hours) from Ruby's to Red Rock canyons (njot down into Bryce). They enjoyed it - well behaved horses, good guides. Also did hike into hoodoos at Bryce - that was great.

Sunrise and sunset at Bryce is incredible - rocks change color before your eyes. Also, we saw lots of big wildlife in early AM and late PM hours.

Hoover Dam over Glen Canyon - no comparison in size, history, etc. We were there in August - no problem with crowds (although it was 105 degrees, so that may have kept crowds down - inside visitors center is air conditioned) My husband could have spent more hours there, but teenagers had had enough steel and concrete.

We didn't spend anytime at IMAX or other "inside".

mainetoday

Well, don't worry yourself too much, are your children familiar w/ horseback riding at all?? Bryce is definately not as steep a fall as the Grand Canyon is, that's for sure, but like I said, they do train the horses and mules to walk on the edge for better viewing purposes. It's really only the decent and the accent that are the steep parts, once you're down in the canyon, it's gorgeous. They'll have fun, plus it's always good to experience something new. The horses/mules are well trained, as are the guides.