Will we have enough time in Bryce & lodging between Bryce and Page
 

We are trying to figure out timing for the following and trying to decide whether to allocate more time and if so, where to stay midway between Bryce and Page. We will be arriving in Bryce mid-late afternoon and would like to try to do the easiest trail which I read is the Queen's Garden, drive to the different scenic overlooks and catch the sunset and stay for the night at Best Western Ruby Inn(no avail for 2 nights) Is that doable - about how long does the Queen's Garden trail take, taking into account that we are very slow, will probably take a lot of stops and catching up with our breaths. If it get's a bit harder than the different people in our party can manage, we'll probably cut it short, probably at least until we reach the hoodoos. Is that enough time or do we need to do some of it the following day before heading out to the next part of our trip in Page? We are considering staying somewhere closer to Page for the second night so that we can make it between the hours of 8-2 which I read is the most ideal times to see Antelope Canyon.

While at Page, I am also trying to figure out timing - I read it will take an hour to get to Antelope Canyon with a tour(any tour recommendations - the one with the airconditioners sound good), so that's 2 hours roundtrip, and then from there go to Horshoe Bend - how long does that take and how long and how hard/easy is the trail to see the view?

If we end up having to stay for the most part of the second day in Bryce, any suggestions of a place/town to stay in between Bryce and Page so that we can cut down on the time/distance of the drive to Page the following day?

My daughter gets car sick when we drive continously for several hours so ideally we would like to be able to chop up driving times, which unfortunately makes everything take much longer. Also, is the one hour ride to Antelope Canyon very bumpy and through unpaved roads(I got the impression that it might be from reading the posts about the open sided trucks?)

Thank you once again!

Ruby's Inn is not the only show in town mind you. Bryce Canyon Pines motel is ok and it is not far at all from the entrance. There is not much between you and it, so you might consider a switch. There are also motels in Panguitch. They are a little farther away, but there is very little traffic on the highway.

I would not stay at Ruby's Inn anyhow.

Once you start down you can't cut it short. You've got to come back up. You're into the hoodoos within a couple of minutes.

I would go down Navajo Loop and back up Queens Garden. Allow for a couple of hours. There's nothing hard. The trail is wide and smooth. So if you're winded or want to stop and rest, there's no problem.

The lookouts of real interest are Sunset Point (where Navajo Loop starts/ends), Sunrise Point (where Queens garden ends/starts), Bryce Point and Natural Bridge (very different).

Get up early the next morning and drive to bryce Point for the sunrise. Then leave for Page. It's probably a little over 3 hours.

I wouldn't go into Page or take a pre-booked tour.

You'll be driving south on Route 89. At Route 98 just below Page turn east and drive a little over a mile until you see B

that'll teach me!!!

until you see Big Lake Trading Post. Continue east another mile in the direction of the power plant and you'll see a sign on the right. Pull into the parking lot. The charge is $6 for parking and $20 for the guide and ride to the canyon.

It's a 15 minute drive each way and you spend an hour there. There's no elevation change so you'll just be walking from front to back and then back. Spectacular.

The whole thing is an hour and a half.

Then drive back west on Route 98 until you get back to Route 89. Turn south for less than a mile and you'll see a sign on the right for Horseshoe Bend. Pull into the parking lot. There's no charge for parking or the sight.

However, it's a hot 3/4 mile walk/hike on sandy rock. It's not a difficult walk. Just hot. Take water and head covering.

When you get to the end there's no barrier, fence or screen. You don't look out. You look down!!!

I was afraid but had to see it and photograph it. I lied down on my stomach about 5 feet from the end and crawled. I already used the word spectacular!!!

The another hot walk back to the car.

If you get to Page a bit early, just north after you cross the bridge look on the right for a sign that says scenic road.

That's "the best dam view". No charge. Park your car and walk down some rock stairs to an observation deck. You are facing Glen Canyon Dam. It is the best dam view.

Horseshoe Bend is just a short distance outside Page. It's an incredible view, but can be a very long hot walk on uneven rocks and sand only, esp tough when it's 100 degrees (lesson learned...water, hat, sunglasses...or next time a cloudy day!!). We stayed in the Best Western in Page for only $89/nite--very nice and clean. We ate at the Dam Bar which was a nice place for a burger, much more restaurant than bar and had a nice covered patio with a view of the dam. The dam tour was very interesting (esp if your husband's an engineer!!).