Booklover44

Great info, I knew you would all be helpful! We are driving from MI, and seeing the sights as we go. So Moab is our first stop, Page (antelope cany)is also'on the way', we have 2 screenagers 14/17 with us as well, mom won't hike (learned that last year) - why I wondered which float trip was best- I am thinking floating would be a good way to get my mom more 'into' the parks w/o having to hike. The pic links are amazing - esp. b/c I know that they hardly compare to being there. Yosemite is still on the agenda, we won't need the shuttles to get to Maripossa Grove, we are stopping there on our way out of the park, early, so we may be ok. Hopefully we can park and stay parked for the rest of the time. (Staying in tent cabin)

Myer

The Mariposa Grove shuttles are not to get you from the Valley to the Grove. They are to get you from the general parking lot near the grove to the actual grove itself.

I think the amount of parking close enough to avoid the shuttles is very, very limited if it actually exists. I don't quite remember.

spirobulldog

www.deserthighlights.com in Moab for you sceenagers. Totally amazing and will top EVERYTHING. Very safe. My daughter and I have been with them twice.

There are a ton of options for floating trips around Moab. Green River, Colorado River,etc. Also, you could do a hummer tour. Slickrockair.com is a good way to get a view from the air, and I thought they were reasonable.

Your mom won't hike, but surely she would go the quarter mile to Double Arch, Windows Section, and Balanced Rock in Arches. Those are all only a 10 minute walk.

Where else are you going? Goblin Valley isn't far from Moab and it is definately high on my list of really cool places in Utah.

spirobulldog

Yes, there is parking right at the Grove(very limited). There is a shuttle that runs a mile or so away. There is also a shuttle/tram/train(whatever you wanna call it) that runs around part of the grove itself. If granny doesn't want to walk she can take that.

emalloy

We did the smooth water raft trip from Page and also went to Antelope Canyon. You do walk through Antelope canyon, but it is flat and sandy, not a hike. I have some pictures of both at www.flickr.com/emalloy2009/sets in the 2008 set if you want to psych up mom.

suz24

The upper part of the mariposa grove is one of my favorite places on earth. Something about the little muir cabin at the base of the big trees is so wonderful. Regarding yosemite and trees, the key to Mariposa Grove is to go as early as you can in the morning. If you can walk from the parking lot up to the grove, then go really early before the tram begins operationg and it will be quite quiet, even in the middle of summer on a weekday. So you hike up the hill and through the groves. You can see the distances on the map and can call and chat with rangers if you need more info. I did the loop backwards, went up to the higher grove first. Saw birds and a fox on the way. The flowers at the upper grove, near the cabin were soooo lovely. On the way back i went through the lower grove which was, by then, beginning to get more populated. If you need to take the tram, then get there before it opens and get on one of the first ones up.
The key for the rest of yosemite is to be out and about when others are standing in line for meals. By the way, the little nature center at happy isles is lovely and small. We try to visit the park each year either before memorial weekend (dogwood blooms) or after labor day. It is lovely and can be enjoyed well. Sit by a quiet part of the river, away from the buildings and roads, eat your packed sandwich, and just listen to the river and the birds. Ahhhhhh.

Myer

suz,
I thing there's a person in the group that either won't or can't hike.

I agree with you that Yosemite is beautiful. I was out very early in the morning taking photos and had no problems. However, once the day starts you've got issues.

I spent 4 hours in traffic getting back from Glacier Rd to the Lodge in the Valley. All of the waiting was inside of Tunnel View.

My daughter who stayed in the Valley that day and took shuttles to the activities her and her daughter did also ended up sitting on the shuttle for several hours.

The day we went to the grove had even more issues. On the way back we went down Glacier Rd. The cars were just back up as the small lot was full and there was no other way there.

A bear was walking around about 50 yards off the road and that caused more issues (that's fine as bears are special). She somehow pulled over on a side and we jumped out to take photos of the bear.

Booklover44

Oh, it is going to be very difficult to avoid congestion in Yosemite . . . we had a lot of trouble in Yellowstone last summer - buffalo were the culprits though - hours in traffic, and it was not pleasant. My mom is 71 years of age, and gets around well, but last summer she would not venture out on any trails, so I am planning accordingly. (She just waits for us, so we will still do some short hikes.)

I did not realize the shuttle was to get to the Maripossa Grove - thanks for repeating- I am a little slow sometimes, and the upper part sounds like my kind of place. We will just have to get out early - difficult with teens, but b/c we come from EST. . .The whole trip is long- 1/2 with mom and 1/2 with DH - I am saving Zion, hwy 12, CRNP, for the return trip to hike with DH! and am using a lot of info from previous posts to plan -Thanks so much! (and we will be in YNP July, Sat-Mon, dates were/are not very flexible.)

Tomsd

Geesh - did't know traffic had gotten that bad? We are/were usually up early to drive to places if we were going to drive - or otherwise were riding bicycles around - or walking. And never have had a shuttle bus wait long at all - so guess we have been fortunate?

As always the key is GO EARLY to the most popular sites/ones that require the most driving, and plan accordingly for the rest of the day. Hey - getting to the pool for an early afternoon swim (before all the hikers come back) is also great - and then taking a little mountain high nap before dinner is also very nice.

Tomsd

And the cynical side of me thinks that perhaps they are letting all the traffic into the valley floor - so they can then promote a carless valley after people complain about all the congestion?

Booklover44

and forewarned is forearmed!

spirobulldog

I'm all for a carless Yosemite Valley, just like Zion.

Myer

It's really a shame that they've allowed such a beautiful place to be ruined by traffic and they desire to commercialize everything.

If they built a parking lot where the main road meets Glacier Road and had two or three shuttle buses going back and forth with one stop at the Sentinel dome trailhead I would definitely pay a couple of dollars for the ride.

Tomsd

Don't get me wrong. I am all for a system like that - and we loved some of the carless villages in Europe also - such as Zermatt and Murren.

I think you can still work with/around the current situation - again - IF YOU GO EARLY.

InSandy

Booklover44, for a scenic river trip without any whitewater then you need to do the one out of Page that goes through the Glen Canyon. It is an absolutely fabulous trip, with beautiful canyon cliffs, great narrative, and relaxing experience.

The trips out of Moab are more for adventure and fun. The section below Moab is mostly flat water and better scenery than that above Moab (Fisher Tower run), but there are no take outs, so you have to motor back and not many companies offer that.
On your way into Moab, if you are coming on I-70 then take the Cisco exit and take hwy 128 into town. Beautiful drive, but it isn't signed on the freeway so you have to watch for exit 214.

Can't comment on Mariposa Grove, it was snowed in the only time we visited.

spirobulldog

There are actually two exits within a few miles to 128(I think one takes you thru Cisco). I don't know for sure, but surely one of those would have a sign.

Canyonlands By Night-does what I assume InSandy means by flatwater below Moab. Don't go to far below or you'll have grandma on The Cateract Canyon.

InSandy

Why you'd do the canyons boat by night I've never understood, you miss the color so they project their own? I don't get it.

I'm not sure I remember seeing the other exit for 128, though it would be easy to miss. Neither of them mention Moab or Arches.

Booklover44

Alright, did some 'homework', and looking at maps, I can see how 128 would be easy to miss, I'll be looking and it looks like an incredible drive (great start to the SW landscape) and in Maripossa grove, it looks like we could take the tram up, and then hike down (mostly) the elevation gain is not that much, but it is always easier going downhill! That way we could venture a little more into the upper grove. The jury is still out on the rafting . . .