potential trip last week in April: We are not hikers (hip problem), but like to take pictures, bird, enjoy nature, do things leisurely. Don't like to drive a lot in one day. Trying to only spend 1 night in bryce if it makes sense. Since could be cold and high altitude (sometimes a problem).

day 1 - arrive las vegas late afternoon
day 2 - explore las vegas, maybe side trip to hoover dam.
day 3 - leave LV in the morning - explore valley of fire. arrive zion very late afternoon.
day 4 - zion
day 5 -leave zion drive all the way to boulder rt 12. ( 4 hours???/). Overnight in boulder
Day 6 -drive slowly back to bryce - explore on the way. Over night at bryce
day 7- explore bryce - will this take all day or could we leave in afternoon and stop at desert pearl on way back or. St. George?. .
day 8 - Or more time around zion, and then
day 9 -to LV and plane home.

Not sure how to plan from bryce onward. How long does it take to leisurely see bryce if not hiking? Can spend a day more or less on trip = some flexibility here.

Thanks

Your plan seems quite reasonable.

Inside the gates at Bryce Canyon NP, there is a road that runs for 20 miles or so with easy access to all the developed lookout points. It has a low speed limit so you are not going to zip from one to the next but is easily doable in a day, assuming a clear road and good weather. Late April could be anywhere from clear to stormy and from reasonably warm to unreasonably cold. You are at a high elevation and that does effect some people, however, if you are doing nothing more strenous than driving and walking a few hundred feet to each lookout, it should not be severe.

Bryce Canyon is gorgeous at anytime but especially so if there is snow on the ground. I'd make a special effort to get up before dawn and be at a lookout when the sun rises. The light playing on the pink rock is often spectacular.

If you're not in a hurry, I'd say to take the full day ay Bryce (day 7) then day 8 at Zion again (I could never get enough of Zion & The Desert Pearl. I'm sure St. George is a lovely town but it can't compare to Zion. Day 9, drive to Vegas and fly home. It is only about a 3 to 3 1/2 hour drive from Springdale to Vegas.

I would overnight in Bryce to see the sunset and sunrise which will make for more photo opportunities. I wouldn't worry about having to much time there. Even if you just find one of the benches along the rim, it's wonderful to just sit and enjoy the views!

Utahtea

we are planning an overnight in bryce. the question is whether to spend 1 or 2 nights there. night 6 is there. the question is about night 7 - to stay there again or go on to desert pearl.

I can't believe I'm suggesting spending less than one full day at Bryce, but if you don't hike (and I'm assuming the hip problem would prevent you from taking the horseback ride into the canyon as well), then getting back to the Desert Pearl is not a bad plan. Driving to all those scenic overlooks at Bryce is quite lovely, but you should be able to fit it in the afternoon you arrive and/or the morning before you leave. Beyond that, you'd have to hike down into the canyon (and come back up) to get a different view, so head back to Springdale and the wonderful Desert Pearl, relax, and enjoy.

Joanel,

I visited Bryce/Zion this past May. It was a wonderful trip. Spent just one night at Bryce and it worked out very well. Arrived mid to late afternoon one day, drove the scenic loop road, stopping at most overlooks. Also walked quite a bit of the rim trail. Had dinner at the lodge and returned to one of the scenic overlooks (forget which one) for sunset. Stayed in one of the cabins just steps away from the rim and went out about midnight to stargaze. SUNRISE is the time not to miss. The best pictures I have from the whole 10-day trip came from Bryce at sunrise. Did the Navajo Loop/Queens Garden trail and was back to the car before noon. One night worked out perfectly for me and I felt like I made very good use of the time. Enjoy your trip planning and trip!

I would choose a night at the Desert Pearl in Springdale over Bryce. You will have fantastic views of Zion everywhere you go in Springdale. At Bryce you have to be at the rim to see the canyon.

Utahtea