Minnie

I am so impressed with the wealth of information that is available on this Utah site. I have spent much time reading about the National Parks in southwest Utah. Now I'm overwhelmed and could use some advice.

My husband and I (50ish, like to hike and take lots of pictures) have the opportunity to take a very quick tour of southwest Utah in mid-May. The days and places we are going cannot be changed. I am asking for advice on what to do in the small amount of time we have.

Here is the itinerary:
Day 1: Leave Salt Lake City and drive to Bryce Canyon NP. Spend 2 nights at the Bryce Canyon Lodge.
Day 2: Tour Bryce Canyon area
Day 3: drive via Hwy 12 to Capitol Reef NP. Overnight at Skyridge
Day 4: Drive back to Salt Lake City

I know this is not much time. We plan to return in October. What activities do you folks out there recommend to get a taste of the area?

Many Thanks!

utahtea

Since you have such a short time, it seems like a very good plan. October will be a great time to revist the area!

In Bryce I would recommend doing the drive to Rainbow Point and then do a hike. I like the Navajo - Queen's Garden Loop trail. Try to get to the rim for sunrises and sunsets.

On the way to Capitol Reef you might like to stop at Anasazi State Park in Boulder, Utah to see some ancient Indian Ruins. Take your time on the scenic drive. There are many other things in the area to do, but I would make it to Capitol Reefs to have the time there to explore. There are petroglphys and great hiking trails. I like Grand Wash, Capitol Gorge and Hickman Arch.

Utahtea

Minnie

Thanks, Utahtea. I really appreciate your suggestions.

MikeBuckley

Minnie,

My wife and I believe the National Geographic Guide to the National Parks is indispensible. Our experience is that its suggested itineraries that accomodate stays of various lengths are particularly reliable.

I am also doing research on hiking in the Utah parks (which is why I came to this site) and am happy to pass along sites you might already be familiar with:

Bryce -- http://www.nps.gov/brca/hiking.html

Bryce area -- http://www.utah-trails.com/index.htm

Capitol Reef -- http://www.nps.gov/care/genhike.htm

bob_brown

I like Bryce, but for someone in less than good hiking shape, the altitude is enough to be stressful.

I think you can get very good views from the rim near the restaurant. The rim trail undulates some and from the high points you can achieve good panoramas.

If you are up to it, the trail to Tower Bridge and return is a good half day outing. It shows off a variety of formtions and colors. But, don't go rushing off without knowing well your limitations. Coming back uphill can be murder on the unfit.

As a general rule, about half of what you want to do is possible, about one forth of what you want to do is sensible. So if a two miles looks like a piece of cake, let me suggest you take it one forth mile down and one forth mile back!
If you are there the next day and still hot to go, extend it.

At Capitol Reef, I recommend identifying the major formations i the park, including the Chinle, Moenkopi, Wingate and Navajo. The trail to Hickman bridge is interesting; the trail through Grand Wash is relatively short and flat, but it highly spectacular. I am not sure I would try Cassidy Arch without being in known good shape.
That country looks deceptively easy to hike. Too easy. A little altitude, a little elevation gain, a little dehydration, and problems suddenly appear where they should not be.

amyx

At Capital Reef be sure to visit Sunset Point at Sunset. It was so awesome that words cannot describe it! On the other hand, sunset at Bryce didn't do the same to me.

You will probably be more impressed with Bryce in general, but Capital Reef always has a special place in my heart. Maybe it's the quirkiness, ruggedness and remoteness of Capital Reef?

bob_brown

I love both places! The rock formations are more varied at Capitol Reef. Bryce is essentially an amphitheater carved from soft limestone. Hence you have one formation dominating the landscape.

At Capitol Reef you have several including the beautiful Chinle formation with its reds and greys and the Moenkopi. Then there is the awesome white of the Navajo Sandstone.

The exposure of those formations, plus others, makes the "Reef" a geologic showcase.

I have to agree, that walking along some of those washes near sunset is a special experience.

Minnie

Thanks to everyone for their input.

Mike, I found the web-sites very helpful, especially the virtual tour.

Bob, I appreciate your recommendations regarding hiking. We are in pretty decent shape, but we live in Flat Florida. Also, our advanced ages? may be a factor to consider.

Here is the tentative plan. I welcome suggestions as to whether we are planning too much, too little, whatever. Remember, my husband takes lots of pictures. This requires extra time.

Day 1--Arrive at Bryce around noon. Drive to Rainbow Point, see Grand Staircase. Stop next at Aqua Canyon to view hoodoos.View Natural Bridge. Stop at Farview Point. Visit Swamp Canyon. Be at Paria View in time for sunset(for pictures)

Day 2--Be at Sunrise Point in time to view the sunrise. Hike Navajo Loop to Queen's Garden Trail. I read somewhere that it's easier to start at Navajo. Lunch break after hike. Explore Mossy Cave. Visit Fairyland Canyon. Go to Inspiration Point, Bryce Point, and finally Sunset Point in time for the sunset. Whew! Is all of this really possible in one day?

Day 3--Drive to Capitol Reef, stopping to visit ruins in Anasazi Park in Boulder and anything else that srikes our fancy. Drive on to #24 for viewpoints and petroglyphs.

Day 4--Hike Capitol Gorge trail before heading back to SLC.

MikeBuckley

Remember, my husband takes lots of pictures. This requires extra time.

My perspective: I'm a serious amateur photog. I take a LOT of time. Because of the picture taking, It's pretty reliable for me to estimate taking twice as much time as any of the guide books suggest. You probably have a good idea about that as well.

bob_brown

Minnie, I do not mean to be an alarmist about Bryce, but I would be less than candid if I did not tell you thawt I met my physical health reality in Bryce one spring at age 67. I had always thought of myself as being in good shape and I figured I do at Bryce what I always had done, but that year I got there early in the season and I was not in condition for even 8,500 feet. Going down was fun; coming back proved to be more than I was ready for. But once you go down that hill, your return options are limited.

I ended up at the clinic in Panguitch being put on blood pressure medicine.
Not much mind you, but the doctor told me that it was time. He made me promise I would check with a cardiologist when I got home; which I did. The cardiologist starting monitoring me very closely and has made a few tweaks in my dosage as I have got older. The main point is that the blood pressure IS treatable and I can exercise IF I follow the guidelines. In fact, after a stress eleoctro cardiogram two weeks ago, I can go sweat to my heart's content.

I have found that my heart gets contented a lot easier these days.

If your husband likes photography, I think your opportunities at Capitol Reef for contrasts of light and shade, color and formation, will be greater.
Yes, Bryce has shapes like nowhere else in the world. But Capitol Reef has the Chinle and the Moenkopi formations which are conglomerates full of color that change with the intensity of the sun.

I realize your time is highly rationed, but having taken a few photos myself, I know for a fact that "The Reef" is full of opportunity. So is Bryce.

I think you will begin to do what I do now: I plan more time for Capitol Reef. There is no place quite like it for me.

As soon as my present orthopedic surgery heals up, I have a trip to both parks on the lineup. (These blasted crumbling hips!! Oh well. Most orthopods have a supply of new ones that can be installed almost routinely. It is just the time and discomfort of getting over the replacement process that seems to go on forever. )

utahtea

DH was 54 and I was 53 when we did the Navajo - Queen's Garden Loop last summer. They told us to go down the Navajo because it's steeper and the climb out of Queen's Garden is more gradual. We were kind of huffing and a puffing as we came up Queen's Garden...but then we were trying to beat a thunderstorm that was quickly approaching

Utahtea

Delegator

My response to your day two schedule, which I think is doable:

You wrote: Day 2--Be at Sunrise Point in time to view the sunrise. Hike Navajo Loop to Queen's Garden Trail. I read somewhere that it's easier to start at Navajo. Lunch break after hike. Explore Mossy Cave. Visit Fairyland Canyon. Go to Inspiration Point, Bryce Point, and finally Sunset Point in time for the sunset. Whew! Is all of this really possible in one day?


We actually heard that Sunset Point isn't the best place to see the sunset!

We saw the sunset at Bryce Point, and really enjoyed it there. It wasn't that crowded (I think most people go to sunset point). The little newspaper you get when you enter the park lists which locates are best for sunrise/sunset.

We saw the sunrise at Sunrise Point (walked there from our campsite). It was beautiful, but crowded.

Our full day at Bryce we did sunrise at Sunrise Point; quick breakfast at campsite; Sunset Point; Queens Garden/Navajo Loop trial (as we were starting, around 8:00 a.m., it was beginning to get crowded; we started at Navajo on Utahtea's advice); drove out to Rainbow Point (got caught behind slow moving vehicles -- they were doing roadwork as it was September -- shouldn't be a problem in mid-May; drove to out to the Bristlecone Loop trail and did it (quick; about 1 mile; very different terrain -- woodsy); drove to Natural Bridge. We definitely kept moving, but we got it all in. My only concern is that it will be warmer when you are there which may make the coming out of the Navajo/Queens Garden take a little longer than expected.

The next morning, we got up, watched the sunrise again at Sunrise Point, packed up the tent and went to Fairyland, which I really enjoyed and think is a must see at Bryce.

Delegator

FYI, it is .6 miles in from Sunset Point when you start on the Navajo Loop. Then it is 1.6 miles out on the Queen's Garden trail. It is not 1.6 miles up. First there is a flat area with trees (and one really old, tall tree which is so cool). The last half hour up was a bit difficult for me. I'm a little overweight, and it was getting hot. Not too difficult, just walk for a few minutes, stop for a few minutes, etc., difficult.

I think it took us almost as long on the first part, despite it being down hill, and much shorter as we just couldn't stop taking pictures. It was amazing.

bob_brown

One more comment. I found that I did fine if I stayed along the rim trails at Bryce. It was that long uphill trek from Tower Bridge that I had trouble with.
There is a tremendous amount that can be seen from the rim.
Capitol Reef is lower and many of the trails are fairly flat. There are some steep ones, like the trail to Cassiday Arch where Butch is reported to have hidden. If he did hide up there, I would like to know how he got water.

But the trail to Hickman Bridge is reasonable and the grail along Grand Wash is sandy and flat.

Both parks offer variation, color, and beautiful views of a different nature.

Hann

They do quickies in Utah??? >

Minnie

Thanks to all for the hiking tips. I will write everything down in my little notebook. We leave in about a week and I'm really psyched for this one. This site is truly the best way to learn about destinations. The guide books don't even come close.

Thanks Again!