We're planning a week long visit to LV,Zion and Bryce later this autumn. If possible we would also like to fit in a visit to the North Rim on the Grand Canyon. Is 1 week enough time to see it all? Where should we spend the most time? LV is the starting point but we're not likely to spend more than 1 night there as we'd like to get out into the N.P instead. Any recommendations on where to stay would be much appreciated.
We would also like some ideas on what to see in the parks.

Yes, you can fit this into a week. When in the autumn are you going? The North Rim is generally closed from late October until early May because of heavy snows. We haven't been there, but I understand that it's pretty remote and there aren't a lot of lodging options, so you'd better make your reservations soon. I don't know how much time you'll want to spend there, but I've heard there aren't as many trails and viewpoints there as there are at the South Rim.
Zion and Bryce are about 2 hours apart, and the North Rim is about 120 miles from Zion, I would guess it takes about about 2 and a half hours? Each place is spectacular, but we really loved Zion and wished that we had more than 2 days to spend there. It has a lot of different options for hiking, from easy to strenuous. At the visitor's center you can pick up a brochure that describes all of the different trails and gives the level of difficulty, time it takes to hike, etc. The weeping rock is a short hike from the road, and very neat - don't miss it. We also enjoyed the trail to the Emerald Pools, the River Walk trail ( including hiking through the river a ways up into the narrows of the canyon), and the canyon Overlook Trail. We stayed at Flanigan's in Springdale, and highly recommend it - it was reasonably priced, attractive, clean, big rooms, nice pool and hot tub, good restaraunt. The National Park Lodge in Zion looked pretty nice, too. The Omnimax theater show about Zion in Springdale is worth seeing, and gives some background on the canyon.

Two days should be enough at Bryce. It's unbelieveably beautiful, but once you've hiked into the canyon and wandered among the hoodoos (definately recommended), driven to the end of the canyon, stopping at all of the viewpoints, and seen the sunrise and/or sunset from Bryce Point (be sure to do this!), you sort of run out of things to do. Ruby's does have a rodeo, which we didn't go to. Horseback rides are available at both Bryce and Zion, I don't know how far in advance you need to book them.

You will have a wonderful time at these places; we did, and I can't wait to go back someday!

The previous poster is correct about lodging at the North Rim and also about access. If you're going in September or October, call now for reservations in the park. Otherwise, the nearest town (Jacob's Lake) is 40 miles away. And, I'm not sure what, if any, accommodations are available there. The advantage to the North Rim is that it's less crowded. And, of course as you already probably know, with your itinerary it's closer to your other planned visits.
If you can't get reservations in the park, then just leave early in the morning and plan to spend at least a long day there. Staying until sundown is must, so you can see the canyon change colors as the day progresses.

I must got back from where you are going. Zion is crowded and hot. Having been there 4 times now I have decided I don't see why people go there.
The North Rim of the GC is remote, so if you want to go there, try yesterday to get accommodations. There are 3 types:
cabins with 2 queen beds, lesser cabins that have smaller rooms, standard motel units with 1 bed, and something called a Pioneer Cabin with 2 rooms, one for the parents and a room with 3 single beds for the children. There are some limited accommodations at Jacob Lake, but very limited.
Bryce is gorgeous!! But because of the altitude, you need to be in good conditions to go down into the canyon.
We walked down to Tower Bridge and thought it spectacular.

As a musing on the theme of Zion, Capitol Reefs is carved from the same sandstone formations (Navojo, Kayenta, and Wingate) and offers more opportunity for close viewing in semi if not total solitude.

Just returned from the area you are planning to visit and I totally disagree with previous post. Zion was spectacular - it was not overcrowded by any means. Hikes are wonderful. We also did a one hour horse-back ride which was really fun and reasonable ($15 for 1 hour ride). Also went tubing down the Virgin River was was a blast. Stayed at the Desert Pearl -right outside park entrance and absolutely beautiful. Our visit to the North Rim was actually a let down after Zion. Becuase of recent fires all but one trail was closed to hiking. The view into the canyon was great, but aside from that, not much to do. Bryce was nice - a very nice hike among the hoo doos - but not much else. We stayed at Ruby's - a standard motel with sub par restaurant. Would not recommend it, but didn't see too much else nearby.

We LOVED Ruby's! They have an indoor olympic sized pool & perfect location for Bryce. This year, we called early enough and we're staying in the park.

Has anyone been to Ruby's rodeo? Is it worthwhile? The kids want to see a rodeo but not if it's a tourist-trap. Thanks!

Hi Hannah,
We did the same trip a couple of years ago. Air fare and rental cars are cheeper in Vegas then most places. Stayed in Vegas 1 night. Then I had made reservations in each park, (Zion, Bryce and North Rim) for two nights each. The log cabins were perfect. Great walks, great views. Totally relaxing vacation. Have fun.

I forgot to suggest that you stay in the parks if you can. It's a joy to be there for sunrises or sunsets. to make reservations try www.amfac.com It's the agency that you have to use in order to get a cabin in the park. Enjoy.

I did your a trip a couple of years ago without going to Bryce, did it in 4 days and that was just too short. Getting to the N. Rim and lodging was a pain but well worth it, stayed at Jacobs Lake but next time I'd try to get lodging at the Canyon. Jacobs Lake was rustic and that would be my second choice.
By all means try to get to the N. Rim if possible. I go to the Canyon a couple of times each year but only to the N. Rim once. I'll go back next chance I get.

Hannah,

We did roughly the same trip, in April a few years ago. We started in Phoenix, spent several days, then drove up to the South Rim, stayed two nights, then stayed one night each at Bryce and Zion. Finally, we ended at Las Vegas. This worked very well, and we felt we had sufficient time at each place.

The three canyons are quite different, and all spectacular. The surprise to me was Zion--we stayed in the National Park Lodge that's right in the base of the canyon--what a beautiful setting.

I can't tell you about the North Rim, unfortunately. If you decide on the South Rim, definitely eat (if not stay) at the El Tovar Lodge. If you can't get reservations there, go for another lodge that's got a view of the canyon. We couldn't get into a lodge at Bryce, but rather stayed at Ruby's (Best Western), which we liked a great deal.

Enjoy your trip.