Vegas Trip: Circling the Grand Canyon
Feb 3rd, 2002, 05:20 AM
#1
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Vegas Trip: Circling the Grand Canyon
I am making a trip to Las Vegas at the end of April. Since I don't know when I will ever be able to get back to this area of the country, I would like the chance to get to see as much as possible. I thought that I might rent a car on Monday, driving to Sedona and spending Mon. and Tues. night there before heading out to the Grand Canyon Wed. morning and spending the night there. Then we would leave early Thur. morning and drive to Bryce Canyon, spending the rest of the day there and spend the night at the lodge in the park. Fri. moorning, we would get up early to see the sunrise, then head over to Zion spending the afternoon the before heading back to Las Vegas that evening. We fly out of Las Vegas Sat morning. I know that all of this sounds like a lot of driving and terribly busy but is it too busy? Any suggestions on things to cut out? My husband is one of these people that likes to go to Florida or California every year for vacation and I finally talked him into going to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, not knowing if I will ever get the chance to go back.
Feb 3rd, 2002, 07:40 AM
#2
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Ginny-
I've been to that area (Vegas/Sedona/3 Nat'l Parks) several times. My advice: Cut out Sedona and the south rim of the G.C., unless you enjoy driving 8 hours a day. Instead, go from Vegas to Zion (roughly 3-hr drive), and spend two nights there (if you can't stay in the park lodges, stay at Cliffrose Lodge, just outside the park). Zion is too beautiful to do in just one afternoon! Then drive on to Bryce (another 2.5-3 hours) where you can stay inside the park, steps from the rim of the canyon. Also visit the NORTH rim of the Grand Canyon. I can't remember how far it is from Bryce...perhaps 1.5-2 hours away. The north rim is MUCH more beautiful and uncrowded than the south rim, and has a nice lodge.
The only problem with going in April is that there may be snow at Bryce and the G.C. I went in late April, and there was 6' at the higher elevations at Bryce! The roads were maintained well enough for us to drive around...but hiking was not an option! At the GC the roads are closed when there's too much snow...you may have to call and check. Zion, on the other hand, will be very warm (perhaps hot) and sunny and beautiful. THIS is where you should spend most of your time. Plus...did I mention the hot springs?
A great book I used for all my journeys out there is Fodor's "National Parks of the West". It has great advice on where to stay, eat, hike, etc.
Let me know if you need more advice on this part of the world...a place I like to visit often!
S
I've been to that area (Vegas/Sedona/3 Nat'l Parks) several times. My advice: Cut out Sedona and the south rim of the G.C., unless you enjoy driving 8 hours a day. Instead, go from Vegas to Zion (roughly 3-hr drive), and spend two nights there (if you can't stay in the park lodges, stay at Cliffrose Lodge, just outside the park). Zion is too beautiful to do in just one afternoon! Then drive on to Bryce (another 2.5-3 hours) where you can stay inside the park, steps from the rim of the canyon. Also visit the NORTH rim of the Grand Canyon. I can't remember how far it is from Bryce...perhaps 1.5-2 hours away. The north rim is MUCH more beautiful and uncrowded than the south rim, and has a nice lodge.
The only problem with going in April is that there may be snow at Bryce and the G.C. I went in late April, and there was 6' at the higher elevations at Bryce! The roads were maintained well enough for us to drive around...but hiking was not an option! At the GC the roads are closed when there's too much snow...you may have to call and check. Zion, on the other hand, will be very warm (perhaps hot) and sunny and beautiful. THIS is where you should spend most of your time. Plus...did I mention the hot springs?
A great book I used for all my journeys out there is Fodor's "National Parks of the West". It has great advice on where to stay, eat, hike, etc.
Let me know if you need more advice on this part of the world...a place I like to visit often!
S
