I've been reading the posts and am wondering if there is a preferred direction to take with this trip?

Is it better to visit Zion first because it is closer to Vegas?

Is there a reason to visit Grand Canyon first?

Some places/parks it is better/more scenic to enter going in a particluar direction and exit in a particluar way. Is that the case with any of these parks or the drive to get there?

Thanks.

-Bill

ttt

No responses yet. I'm leaning towards doing the G.C. first. Anyone? Utahtea? Does it matter?
Thanks,

-Bill

It doesn't matter. I prefer the Grand Canyon first and ending in Zion because I feel Zion is a more relaxing environment. In Zion you are down in the canyon and there is beautiful scenery everywhere you look...even if you stay in Springdale at the gate of Zion.

Coming in the tunnel entrance from Mt. Carmel Junction and then decending on the switch backs IS IMHO the most scenic & dramatic route into Zion.

Going to the Grand Canyon first allows you to exit at Desert View. This is good for two reasons. Your first views of the Grand Canyon will be at the Grand Canyon Village where the canyon is the most dramatic instead of Desert View where it's not. Also you will decend down to Hwy 89 which is very scenic and if you come in that way the scenery is to your back.

Utahtea

OTOH, coming in via Desert View gives you easy access to a great view and saves the best canyon views for last.

It could still be done first that way, coming up 89 and detouring through the wonderful Wupatki NM and Sunset Crater NM. Then into the GC viea DV, make the road stops, stay over to see the rest of GC down by/beyond the Village. Then backtrack east stopping at the views you liked best enroute to Cameron and north.

Thanks utahtea and mrwunrfl!

-Bill

We stayed in vegas and went to Zion and Bryce this easter. Both were beautiful. Next year we are planning to vsit again and, following advice, will probably go from Vegas to the south rim, but only because we have already been north. I agree it doesn't really matter. I would suggest you work it on the basis of how much time you have and what you want to do/see in that time and let that dictate your route. Rog

RogandLin,

Thanks. I am thinking 2 nights in G.C., 1 night in Page, 2/3 nights in Bryce and 2 nights in Zion, maybe one night in Vegas.

What was the weather like in April?

Thanks,

-Bill

Early or late April? I've been to Zion in early April and it was pretty cold that year but we were told it was unseasonably cold.

I haven't been to Bryce at that time of the year but I think they will still have a lot of snow on the ground. Three nights in those conditions might be to much time. I think I'd opt for another night in Zion.

Utahtea

Utahtea,

If we go in April it will be early April. We are also considering mid/late June. We won't be doing this until 2007 so we have some time to cogitate on it.

I will be back with more questions.

Thanks!

-Bill

Since you aren't going until 2007, I'd watch what the weather is like this April and June in these area so you can get an idea of what it might be like the next year.

Like I said, I'm not sure if the trails in Bryce will be open in April because of snow, so you might call the park and ask this April.

Are you considering a boat trip on Lake Powell or Float Trip on the Colorado River out of Page, AZ?

Utahtea

Utahtea,

Maybe to the float trip and lake cruise. We are also interested in one of the slot canyons like Antelope. Are the float trips really that great?

Good idea about watching the weather!

-Bill

The slots are good and only take a couple of hours. These could be done on the same day as the float trip if you take the early morning trip. YES, it is worth it! It's so beautiful! Here are my pictures:

http://utahtea.lithium.com/pages/vacation2003/float.htm

The boat tour on Lake Powell to Rainbow Bridge is another one of my all time favorites! I don't have digital pictures of this trip.

http://utahtea.lithium.com/pages/Vac...powell2001.htm

If you want to do both the float and boat trip, then you will really need to spend two night in Page. The boat tour takes almost all day.

Utahtea

utahtea,

We are interested in seeing Cedar Breaks too perhaps. Can that done as a day trip or enroute from Byrce to Zion?
It looks a bit out of the way on the map, but it is hard to tell. Are there places to stay around Cedar Breaks in case we do want to spend a night?
Thanks,

-Bill

I bet its just personal preference. We are planning this trip for June 2006. And we've chosen to do the most driving first, going out to the Grand Canyon (south rim) first and then continuing the loop up and around ending at Zion. Then back to Vegas, which I beleive is the shorter leg. We wanted to have less of a travel back to Vegas at the end of the trip.

I bet its fun in any direction.

We also did GC first,then Monument valley, LakePowell, Bryce, and the Zion. Stay in Springdale. Paul

jamg,

Cedar Breaks is a mini Bryce and with your short time, I think I'd skip it.

It is only about 50 - 55 miles out of the way, but they are slow driving miles and could add 2 to 3 hours getting to Zion. If you do go, I'd recommend going up to Panguitch and taking Hwy 143 to Cedar Breaks and then take Hwy 14 back to Hwy 89 so you can enter Zion through the tunnel.

I would check road conditions before departing Byrce if you go in April. It's a high elevation drive and they do get snow ther.

Utahtea

When I did that loop a flew into Vegas, drove up to Zion, down to Bryce and then the Grand Canyon.

That's simply because I got a better price on flights into Las Vegas rather than Phoenix.

I honestly don't think it really matters. The only trip I've done that I recommend doing in a certain order was driving the Oregon/California coast from North to South. That way most of your turns into scenic points are easy right hand turns. If you do south to north you'll be making most your turns to the left across traffic.

Thanks for your responses!

-Bill