Hi everyone,

We're starting to plan about a one week visit to Arches, Bryce and Zion NP in late June 2006. Can anyone advise how many days we should devote to each of these parks? We're thinking of doing more than just a drive through the main scenic routes, and may go on a few hikes. Thanks.

You could get away with a full day (2 nights) at Bryce, and Zion/Arches/Canyonlands deserve equal amounts of time, so spilt the rest between them. If you can possibly manage a few more days, I'd try to do that. When you factor in drive time, tyou aren't spending very much time at each park. There are TONS of posts about these parks if you need ideas/info.

Another thing to consider, since Zion and Arches are quite a ways from each other, is picking either Zion/Bryce or Arches/Canyonlands. There is so much to do in each location (lots of neat hikes/scenery in the areas outside the parks, too) you could easily spend your week in one or the other.

I hope this week includes both weekends or like christy1 said, you will be spending a lot of time driving.

I'd spend two nights and have one full day at Zion, two nights and one full day at Bryce, one night at Torrey to drive scenic Hwy 12 and have a litte time for Capitol Reef if you can and at least 3 nights and 2 days in Moab to see Arches, Canyonlands and Dead Horse State park.

Are you driving to and from these places or will you be flying in?

Utahtea

Thanks for the useful tips. Seems we are going to need more than a week to do everything we want. Here are our fixed dates: we're flying into St. George on June 23 and departing from St. George on July 4. Essentially, we have 11 full days in Utah.

Tentatively, we're planning to drive the first day up to Moab, and spending 4 full days in Moab for Arches/Canyonlands/Dead Horse State Park.

From there, we have about 2 full days to get down to the Zion/Bryce area, and we're planning to explore Capitol Reef and the Grand Staircase. We also plan to drive the scenic Hwy 12. We may stay either in Torrey or Escalante. Currently, we're looking into exploring the Slot Canyons. Do you have any advice on the slot canyons or know of any decent outfitters?

Lastly, we've got four full days planned in the Bryce/Zion area, and plan to stay in Panguitch and Springdale.

I hope this effectively spreads out our trip with the time we have. Let me know. Thanks.

When allocating your time take into consideration you will have to take the shuttle to visit sites along the scenic road through Zion Canyon.
Get a National Parks Pass $50 (if it doesn't go up next year) good for calendar year for all national parks & monuments that charge admission fee. See your other post for answer to slots.