Utah National Parks
Discussion
Hello,
I know in the several Vegas threads people have mentioned Utah national parks (ive visited Zion myself), but has anyone else visited the other NP in Utah or around Vegas?
At the moment the plan is to fly into LA for a couple of days them head to the NP for 5 days, ideally looking to camp out or i saw someone do some sort of kayaking and camping out trip by themselves, which would be good and then back to vegas for a few days or coke and hookers (naturally).
I know theres various sites (im looking at them now), but just wondered on other peoples thoughts.
Or where else would people visit for similar sort of thing? My travel buddy can only do 10 days but i can stay longer if required.
Thanks
James
I know in the several Vegas threads people have mentioned Utah national parks (ive visited Zion myself), but has anyone else visited the other NP in Utah or around Vegas?
At the moment the plan is to fly into LA for a couple of days them head to the NP for 5 days, ideally looking to camp out or i saw someone do some sort of kayaking and camping out trip by themselves, which would be good and then back to vegas for a few days or coke and hookers (naturally).
I know theres various sites (im looking at them now), but just wondered on other peoples thoughts.
Or where else would people visit for similar sort of thing? My travel buddy can only do 10 days but i can stay longer if required.
Thanks
James
Got back last week from 4 weeks in California Nevada Utah Arizona. Camped in my teepee which I take with me and nice hotels50/50 split. Utah, must do Moab, arches np, islands in the sky, needles, , Bryce . Then a great place is Page. Grand Canyon train from Williams is great, the dome carriage a must. Have only two National parks to do, booked already for xmas around California and Arizona in a motor home, but next summer the plan is to finish the two parks.
Did much the same thing as you're planning about 15 years ago, but guessing the parks haven't changed that much 
Bryce Canyon is probably at the top of my list as it's both spectacular to look at and approachable in scale.
Monument Valley is just over the border in Arazona and in almost every US film. There's a campgound with spectacular views of the valley too, possibly http://monumentvalleyview.com/ (it WAS 15 years ago). While around Monument Valley you're sort of got to drive Highway 163 and do the where-Forrest-Gump-stopped-running photo - no matter how uncool you know it is.
Arches National Park is OK but, well once you've seen one rock arch you've kind of seen them all.
Bryce Canyon is probably at the top of my list as it's both spectacular to look at and approachable in scale.
Monument Valley is just over the border in Arazona and in almost every US film. There's a campgound with spectacular views of the valley too, possibly http://monumentvalleyview.com/ (it WAS 15 years ago). While around Monument Valley you're sort of got to drive Highway 163 and do the where-Forrest-Gump-stopped-running photo - no matter how uncool you know it is.
Arches National Park is OK but, well once you've seen one rock arch you've kind of seen them all.
ps If you want to read a pretty good novel set in the area try Wet Desert but do not mention it during visits to the Hoover or Glen Canyon dams.
chris7676 said:
Bryce vs Zion - how do they compare ?
I myself will be passing on a day so can go through one only with limited time (driving from Page to Salt Lake City).
Having spent a fair amount of time around Moab, if I had half a day I'd go for Bryce, if a whole day Arches and walk up to Delicate Arch, if two days both of those, if longer Zion as wellI myself will be passing on a day so can go through one only with limited time (driving from Page to Salt Lake City).
Edited by chris7676 on Tuesday 18th July 12:37
Note sure if it's still there, but used to stay at the Gonzo Inn, bottle shop opposite (useful if you're a Brit in Yootaw, don't forget to take your passport)
Went to Bryce last year and it was great. The hoodoo's are amazing and there are lots of hikes to keep you occupied as well as lots of things to do if you are not just into walking and seeing how amazing the natural world is.
We also went to Zion and loved it not only for the walks, but we also went canyoneering for a day and hired the equipment there. If you've not done this, it's amazing and was a major highlight of our holiday. You basically wade up the canyon clambering over rocks and it's fun.
Horseshoe bend is well worth a look if you are traveling from the Grand Canyon towards Bryce Canyon... No safety barriers, and you can get to be right on the edge..... be careful!!
The Hoover dam is also good along with the hoover dam bridge if you are leaving Vegas and going to the South rim of the Grand Canyon. Love the Grand Canyon too, in face, I could have done with just 1 day in Vegas and more days around Utah, Arizona etc
We also went to Zion and loved it not only for the walks, but we also went canyoneering for a day and hired the equipment there. If you've not done this, it's amazing and was a major highlight of our holiday. You basically wade up the canyon clambering over rocks and it's fun.
Horseshoe bend is well worth a look if you are traveling from the Grand Canyon towards Bryce Canyon... No safety barriers, and you can get to be right on the edge..... be careful!!
The Hoover dam is also good along with the hoover dam bridge if you are leaving Vegas and going to the South rim of the Grand Canyon. Love the Grand Canyon too, in face, I could have done with just 1 day in Vegas and more days around Utah, Arizona etc
chris7676 said:
Bryce vs Zion - how do they compare ?
I myself will be passing on a day so can go through one only with limited time (driving from Page to Salt Lake City).
Bryce and Zion, chalk and cheese, I myself will be passing on a day so can go through one only with limited time (driving from Page to Salt Lake City).
Edited by chris7676 on Tuesday 18th July 12:37
if your on limited time then there are three options, Just drive through zion on the main road which goes through the tunnel and down to the canyon entrance. You will get a tiny feel for Zion but the second option involves parking and catching the shuttle bus up the canyon as in the summer its the only way to access the main canyon attractions. so your really making a day of it now rather than quick pop in looksy as most of the attractions in the valley need a bit of a walk too.
The third option of Bryce is quite accessible from the road and parking lots, its one road up and back down and runs along the top of the "canyon" (there is a bottom road to that goes to Escalante and capital reef) with overlooks of the hoodoos and out over the desert once you get to the end of the road, on a good day you can see all the way across the grand canyon and lake Powell (although you cant see them) up to canyonlands NP if you know what land features to look out for, Navajo mountain,(big round rock south of lake Powell), San Francisco mountains (sharp peaks between flagstaff and GC )etc. It can take a while to do the whole road but its fairly dependant on how long you spend looking, how many turnouts you stop at and if you start a hike etc.
The wild card option if your really pushed for time is drive through zion for a tiny taste, do the back side of zion (just off I15 south of cedar city) and then go up to cedar breaks out the back of cedar city. Its only a national monument, but as they say if it had been located anywhere else out of the shadow of UT parks it would have been a national park. Essentially it is a mini Bryce but still has a fairly impressive theatre of hoodoos,
Time of day you'll be there is another factor:
Bryce is at its prettiest (and cooler, and less crowded) sunrise to mid-morning and late afternoon.to sunset.
Zion - not really time-critical. The canyon wade and Angel's Landing climb are reasonably shaded so can be tackled at any time really.
Bryce is at its prettiest (and cooler, and less crowded) sunrise to mid-morning and late afternoon.to sunset.
Zion - not really time-critical. The canyon wade and Angel's Landing climb are reasonably shaded so can be tackled at any time really.
Not quite sure what youd like me to comment on?
Thanks for the information?!?
Currently torn between here, philippines, Colombia caribbean coast line as each one has its pros and cons. Also the Americans i knew who where going to join me are being flakey about it all now. The scenery will be epic but not sure if its more of a couple thing than 2 guys thing
Thanks for the information?!?
Currently torn between here, philippines, Colombia caribbean coast line as each one has its pros and cons. Also the Americans i knew who where going to join me are being flakey about it all now. The scenery will be epic but not sure if its more of a couple thing than 2 guys thing
I've been lucky enough to visit Utah and surrounding states a few times now. Bryce is still my favourite destination.
Bryce Canyon by Julian, on Flickr
Bryce Canyon by Julian, on FlickrYou said you could stay for longer if necessary - if you can manage the time (and the cost - I think it costs a pretty penny these days unfortunately) then you could try a rafting trip down the Grand Canyon. Best holiday I've ever had, and can't recommend it highly enough!
You raft by day and camp beside the river by night, all in some stunning places - you get to see an amazing part of the world from 'in' it rather than stare at it from the rim. Most days there are also side hikes to do if you fancy it. You mentioned that you fancy camping and kayaking - this would be a great trip for you, I reckon. We did see people kayaking it, but I've no idea how you go about this - it's pretty heavily restricted to the few companies allowed to guide the Grand Canyon. And I'd imagine you'd need to be a pretty handy kayaker!
As I remember, the full trip takes about 2.5 weeks, but you can do just the 1st or 2nd half if you can't do the whole trip. Doing this involves hiking in/out of the canyon at the South Rim, depending on which half you do. We did the 2nd half which is supposedly more fun rafting but slightly less scenic, but it's all relative - it was still pretty breathtaking! If I ever go back, and I plan to, I'll try and find the time to do the whole trip.
The only thing I'd say is that assuming you're active and keen enough, make sure you do an 'all paddle' trip - where there is a guide at the back of the raft steering/guiding, but you are one of 6 sat on the side paddling. You want to be involved in the rafting in my opinion, not just sat there with your feet up doing nothing but watching.
Anyway, good luck whatever you decide - I'd love to see some of the other NPs, so will read the other replies with interest...
You raft by day and camp beside the river by night, all in some stunning places - you get to see an amazing part of the world from 'in' it rather than stare at it from the rim. Most days there are also side hikes to do if you fancy it. You mentioned that you fancy camping and kayaking - this would be a great trip for you, I reckon. We did see people kayaking it, but I've no idea how you go about this - it's pretty heavily restricted to the few companies allowed to guide the Grand Canyon. And I'd imagine you'd need to be a pretty handy kayaker!
As I remember, the full trip takes about 2.5 weeks, but you can do just the 1st or 2nd half if you can't do the whole trip. Doing this involves hiking in/out of the canyon at the South Rim, depending on which half you do. We did the 2nd half which is supposedly more fun rafting but slightly less scenic, but it's all relative - it was still pretty breathtaking! If I ever go back, and I plan to, I'll try and find the time to do the whole trip.
The only thing I'd say is that assuming you're active and keen enough, make sure you do an 'all paddle' trip - where there is a guide at the back of the raft steering/guiding, but you are one of 6 sat on the side paddling. You want to be involved in the rafting in my opinion, not just sat there with your feet up doing nothing but watching.
Anyway, good luck whatever you decide - I'd love to see some of the other NPs, so will read the other replies with interest...
Something we did in Zion was to hire equipment in Springdale and walked up the canyon, nearly all of it in the river. It is a brilliant day out, doing as much or little as you want.
Get the bus to the path start and enter the river at the end of the paved path, not recommended to do without the proper kit (stick, dry pack, wet shoes and the weather forecast, the most important)
Get the bus to the path start and enter the river at the end of the paved path, not recommended to do without the proper kit (stick, dry pack, wet shoes and the weather forecast, the most important)
Hi Matt,
Thats the thing i was talking about, re the rafting/camping. However, unfortunately the Brit that was coming with me has pulled out due to nothing being planned (bit hard to plan when he cant financially commit) and the Americans havent been forthcoming either so im looking at either Colombia or the Far East (unless that goes Nuclear)
Thanks for the help people
Thats the thing i was talking about, re the rafting/camping. However, unfortunately the Brit that was coming with me has pulled out due to nothing being planned (bit hard to plan when he cant financially commit) and the Americans havent been forthcoming either so im looking at either Colombia or the Far East (unless that goes Nuclear)
Thanks for the help people
Pity James, but I'm sure those other places will be pretty good too. I hear good things about Costa Rica if you're still searching.
I wouldn't avoid doing the trip I mentioned above because you're on your own - the one we did had roughly a dozen punters and half a dozen guides, so there's plenty of people who are obviously going to be of a similar mind to you, given they're on the trip too. And as a solo I'd imagine you'd have no problem finding a space on a trip or a cancellation.
Good luck with whatever you choose...
I wouldn't avoid doing the trip I mentioned above because you're on your own - the one we did had roughly a dozen punters and half a dozen guides, so there's plenty of people who are obviously going to be of a similar mind to you, given they're on the trip too. And as a solo I'd imagine you'd have no problem finding a space on a trip or a cancellation.
Good luck with whatever you choose...
So I did go to Bryce canyon for a few hours and it was amazing, especially the ability to easily walk down the canyon, meaning it's so much more than a series of viewpoints.
Wether-wise it was about 16 deg (C) vs 26 in Page / Horseshoe Bend on that day, so I'm sure it could get quite cold in November.
Wether-wise it was about 16 deg (C) vs 26 in Page / Horseshoe Bend on that day, so I'm sure it could get quite cold in November.
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