JMPichler

Would appreciate help in organizing my trip to Utah next May. We arrive in Las Vegas Monday, May 14 and depart Las Vegas Thursday, May 24 (tickets have already been purchased). We will not be spending a great amount of time hiking, but are more interested in viewing. Definite on our list is Zion, Bryce, Moab & Salt Lake City. We are also considering the Grand Staircase, Lake Powell, Capitol Reef, Canyonland and Arches. Also, near SLC, Provo, Ogden and Park City. We would be interested in a water activity either at Lake Powell or the Colorado River. Since we are not big hikers, do we need as much time as I am allowing at each site? I would really appreciate if someone could advise me on an itinerary. I am not sure of how many nights to spend in each area. The itinerary I have in mind is as follows:
Day 1&2 - Drive from Las Vegas to Zion; spend 2 nights in Sprindale???
Day 3&4 - Zion to Bryce Spend 2 nights at the Lodge. (Include Grand Staircase & Lake Powel)
Day 5,6&7 - Bryce to Moab; spend 3 nights in Moab (Include Capital Reef National Park, Arches & Canyonland)
Day 8&9 - Moab to SLC; spend 2 nights in SLC (Include Ogden, Provo & Park City)
Day 10 - SLC to Las Vegas; spend 1 night in Vegas
Day 11 - Depart for home

lifelist

If you're not hikers, then one night in Zion is probably sufficient. It doesn't take very long to drive the park, and there are a few level walks you can do.

How were you going to use your two nights at Bryce? Go from Zion to Lake Powell then to Bryce? Or, go from Zion to Bryce and then backtrack to Lake Powell? I would probably just drop Lake Powell. It's an outlier on your route and would take up a lot of time backtracking.

I would add a night at Capitol Reef or in Torrey, Utah - outside of Capitol Reef. It breaks up the drive to Moab very nicely. If you're not hikers, then Bryce only needs one night since it takes less than a day to drive the outlooks. Don't miss sunrise though - Bryce is a sunrise park.

I'd probably do the following for a drive-only tour with minimal hiking:

Day 1: Vegas to Zion
Day 2: Zion to Bryce
Day 3: Bryce to Capitol Reef via Hwy 12
Day 4: Capitol Reef/Grand Staircase
Day 5: Capitol Reef to Moab
Day 6: Moab
Day 7: Moab
Day 8: Moab to SLC
Day 9: SLC
Day 10: SLC to Las Vegas
Day 11: Depart for Home

If you have a high-clearance vehicle, then there are a number of great dirt roads to drive in Capitol Reef. I really like the Grand Staircase Escalante area, so 3 nights split between Bryce and Capitol Reef is well spent. I think Capitol Reef is a better base for this area, but two nights at Bryce wouldn't be bad either.

I'd also stop by Goblin Valley State Park on the drive from Capitol Reef to Moab. And, a stop by Dead Horse Point on the way to/from Canyonlands would be worthwhile, as well. For water activities, the Green River might be worth checking out.

Dayle

Hi JM,

For completely non-hikers, I like Life's itinerary. I have to wonder why you want to drive up to SLC and Park City? Are there specific things you want to see? Ogden??? Ogden???? Unless you want to see the Golden Spike Monument????

utahtea

I also like lifelist's itinerary if you are not going to do any hiking, but if you really want to see Lake Powell, then I would then drop Salt Lake City.

If you want to add Lake Powell then do it right after Zion and before Bryce. The best part of the lake is near Page, AZ. You can do an all day boat tour on the lake to Rainbow Bridge or a 1/2 day float trip on the Colorado River. If you do the all day boat tour, plan on two nights in Page.

You can also do rafting trips on the Colorado River in Moab, Utah.


Utahtea

Photodog

Couple of places you definitely want to visit in the Page area are Antelope Canyon (slots)and Horseshoe Bend. At Antelope there is an upper slot which you simply walk into and a lower slot across road from upper which takes climbing up and down metal ladders to get into. If you want to see the shafts of light penetrate the chambers in the upper section plan on visiting from 11am-2pm. You will need a tripod or high speed film/digital as light level is very low. Do not use a flash as you will eliminate the "glow" you are trying to get on the rocks. Also do not include any sunlight when shooting up towards the sky. A small flashlight might be helpful getting around.

Horseshoe Bend is 4 miles S of Page on US89. It is 3/4 mile trail over slickrock and sand to reach a spectacular view of the Colorado River several hundred feet below your feet looping around a butte.

Between Page & Kanab take turnoff to Paria Movie Set. Great stratified buttes especially colorful near sunset. Nearby is turn off to Cottonwood Canyon Rd which goes through the cockscomb to Grosvenor Arch (double arch) can continue on this road to join Utah 12 near Cannonville. Utah 12 is one of most beautiful roads you will ever find as scenery goes. Do not take Cottonwood Canyon or Paria Movie Rd if road is wet or looks like rain. Road is not passable if wet.

Since you plan on visiting so many national parks, consider getting the National Parks Pass either at your first stop or through AAA. Costs $50 ($48 AAA). Good for entrance fees for all in car for calendar year for all national parks and mounuments which charge admission.