On a previous post, after getting some very sound advice from fellow Fodorites, I suggested an itinerary for our May trip to Zion/Bryce/Capitol Reef. We are planning to fly into Vegas, drive to Zion, spend three nights (since the first day will be lost to driving). Then drive Highway 12 out to Torrey and spend the night. Check out Capitol Reef the next day staying in Torrey one more night. The next day we would be driving from Torrey to Bryce to spend the day and night at Bryce. Planning on an early morning the next day to catch the sunrise before heading off to Vegas for our late afternoon flight. Just curious, how early is the sunrise in Bryce that time of year??? I guess we can always catch some zzzzz's on the flight home.

I'm wondering about the travel time between Torrey and Bryce. Even allowing for an early start, will we have enough time to see the best of Bryce when we get there? Assuming we arrive between 11 a.m. and noon, does that allow us ample opportunity to do the Navajo/Queen's Loop which seems to be the hike most people talk about and still catch the sunset at Sunset Point?

Thanks again for the great help.

Diane

Hi Diane,

If you do most of your stopping and photo ops on the way TO torrey on Hwy 12, then you can make the return drive more quickly. Still, you should start very early. Bryce is definitely worth a full day.

The other option might be to only spend 1 night in Torrey, spend most of the day at Capitol Reef and drive back to Bryce in the evening before dark. It would be a beautiful time to drive.

Or, you could drive back as far as Boulder (Boulder Mtn Lodge) or Escalante and stay overnight there.

To be really efficient, sunrise at Bryce Point is a must, hike Navajo Loop down and Queen's Garden back up to get into the Hoodoos, then Inspiration Point and Natural Bridge. In the morning the sun will be in you face at Natural Bridge so I'd go there mid-afternoon.

Hi Dayle and Myer,

Thank you for your responses. As always, your insights are most helpful and much appreciated. Dayle, I like the idea of just spending one night in Torrey, touring Capitol Reef the next day and getting a head start to Bryce by sundown, but would that be enough time to see the "highlights" of Capitol Reef? I guess I was under the assumption that Capitol Reef was much larger than Bryce and more time would be needed there. Not that we do much serious hiking.

To avoid driving in the dark, what time would we have to head out of Capitol Reef to reach Bryce (or Boulder for that matter).
We live in the east and the sun doesn't set until 8 or 8:30 p.m. Not really sure what time sundown is in that area of Utah in May.

If you want to be at Bryce by 8:30 then leave Torrey by about 5:30PM.

IMHO, if you've never seen Bryce or Zion, spend your time there and skip Capitol Reef. Capitol Reef pales in comparison to Bryce's red rock. I live in SLC and have spent many vacations in so. Utah, nothing like it. Flying in/out of Vegas is definitely the right idea.

www.sunrisesunset.com

It even gives nautical twilight, astronomical, and civil twilight, whatever the heck those are.

It looks like the sun will rise about 5:30 and set about 7:40. Of course, this changes about a minute each day. Haven't done it, but you might want to check out Bryce's Full Moon hike (depending on when you are there) and there stargazing program where they set up telescope equipment. We did a stargazing at Carlsbad Cavern a couple of years ago (they do it only one day per year along with thier annual bat breakfast). We were shocked when Mr. Hale (Hale/Bop Comet) was there helping out with the telescopes.

Spirobulldog,

Thanks for the info on sunrisesunset.com---what a great website! Actually it looks like when we're in the Bryce area the sunset will be later....sometime around 8:30 p.m. or so. Gives us a lot of daylight to sightsee before returning to our lodging for the night.

Myer---I took your advice and kept checking Bryce Canyon Lodge everyday (sometimes multiple times a day) and guess what??? I got the night we wanted. The day before or the day after are not available, but fate must have smiled on us and they were open for the night we needed. Persistence does pay!!

When we leave Springdale after visiting Zion and head out through Rt. 12, what are the best sights to see along this drive? Bryce we intend to see on the way back. Some people talk about Kodachrome Basin, is it worth a stop to see it? The Burr Trail sounds like a "must see" but that's up near Boulder.

Still haven't decided whether to stay in Boulder and drive up the rest of 12 to Capitol Reef, returning to the Boulder Mountain Lodge (which seems to get great reviews). Or split the two nights between Torrey (at Austin's Chuckwagon Lodge) and Boulder Mountain Lodge. With all the stop offs along 12, will it take all day to get from Springdale to Boulder or for that matter Torrey by evening?

Look forward to your responses.
Thanks!

I left Bryce for several hours to go to Grosvenor Arch.

On the way back I stopped in Kodachrome Park for a couple of hours.

In my opinion, had I not been right there, I would have been annoyed with myself for wasting the time.

I'd rather redo something in bryce before going back to Kodachrome Park.

Hi again d,

My favorite thing to do on Hwy 12 is the hike to Calf Creek Falls. It's 5 mi round trip and some hiking in sand, but well worth it with the gorgeous waterfall at the end!

Others are a portion of the Burr Trail and Hell's Backbone. Hell's Backbone is a long detour on a graded gravel road, so you probably don't want to take time for that.

The scenery just along the hwy is worth many photo stops!

Lodging at the Boulder Mtn Lodge gets booked up early too. At this point, it may not be an option, but check.

I can't agree with skipping Capitol Reef and ending yout journey at Bryce. The drive (scenic Hwy 12) to Capitol Reef is makes it worthwhile and the park is enjoyable though different from Zion or Bryce.

Others have mentioned the diversions available along Hwy 12. Certainly the Calf Creek hike is worthwhile. Here's what it is like:

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/34819896

and the falls which provide a cooling mist after the warm hike:

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/34819899

Also along Hwy 12 is the Hole in the Rock Road just past Escalante. About 15 miles down that road is the Devils Garden which is a great way to kill and hour or so. Dusk is a wonderful time to be there:

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/85698055


Either of these ismore worthwhile than driving the Burr Trail IMHO. We (sharondi and I)love the Burr Trail/Notom Rd route to Torrey from Boulder but, it isn't for everyone and will slow you down.

As far as Bryce goes, a day is all you need or a day and a half if you want to take some hour to hike into it (which I highly recommend). View s like this will be the reward:

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/21313206


I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. If you love the western landscape, there's nothing to compare with the area you're about to take your adventure in. I'm jealous....

Thank you all for the great suggestions. Peter, your pictures are amazing! Makes me wish we were leaving tomorrow!!

Definitely will be taking Highway 12 out to Torrey and spending a day in Capitol Reef. Looking forward to the drive as much as the parks themselves!

If you drive through the Washington/St. George area, stay away from Steve's Tire Store! I've had a number of my rental customers over the years get ripped off there!