Travel Related

[Barefoot_Boy]

Hi,

We plan to visit the national parks along the Colorado River, beginning with The Arches, near Moab, UT, and including Canyon Lands,  Glen Canyon and Zion, and finishing with the Grand Canyon, during late September and early October this year.

Has anyone taken this trip?

Can anyone offer advice on how much time to allow at each park, travel time between parks, where to stay, etc.?

We have no time restrictions, other than avoiding snowstorms.

Any advice will be welcome.

Thanks!

[SeeingUSA]

In summer 2008 we visited all of these parks during a three + month trip. We traveled by motor home so only accommodation information we could provide would be on campgrounds.

Arches – we spent 4 days. We took several different hikes to see various arches.

Canyon Lands – 1 day but if went again would take a second day to do some 4x4ing. We also spent 1 day at Dead Horse State Park- in route to Canyon Lands.

Each of the above parks can be reached easily from Moab. Canyon Lands and Dead Horse are less than an hour past Arches.

Glen Canyon – spent 7 days next to Page AZ. If you enjoy the water, you’ll want to spend at least a week. We went from Moab to Torrey so we could visit Capitol Reef National Park – highly recommend a stop if you have time. We stayed 4 days here. Less than a day’s drive from Moab.

Zion was an unexpected delight. First, the Boysenberry yogurt at the Zion lodge is a must! We spent 4 days here and that was not enough time to hike all the trails and see the sights. We stopped at Bryce Canyon also and recommend spending 4 or 5 days there, the hikes through the hoodoos are breathtaking.

Only took a day for us to get from Capitol Reef to Bryce and from Bryce to Zion, it’s just a few hours.

 I’m sure you’re aware of the weather at the north rim after September and you’re planning on going to the South Rim. We spent a week there and would have liked a few more days. With all the trails and overlooks, there was plenty to do.

Not sure what you would like for etc – but here are some comments on activities that may be useful:

Arches- Double O (longer hike and more adventurous), Navajo, Delicate and Windows were favorites.  Balancing Rock is a must see. Also in the area is a house call Hole N the Rock – quite interesting.  Last, there is a cowboy dinner with night cruise down the Colorado, which was quite different and enjoyable. Reservations are made at the office just outside of Moab.

Canyon Lands.  Beautiful but we missed the opportunity to do any 4x4ing. Lots of roads available to go off-roading. If able to do again, we’d pack a lunch, lots of drinks and go 4x4ing.

Glen Canyon and Lake Powell – are awesome! A visit to Glen Canyon dam is another must see. Also suggest hiring a boat (pricey but what adventures) and travel Lake Powell for a day. See Rainbow Bridge monument – what a sight! And take time to go up several of the finger canyons along the lake. You can also rent a houseboat (with or without jet skis or a Baja) and stay on the lake. And what they say about Antelope Canyon is true, a beautiful canyon. Unfortunately very crowded, and tour groups are rushed through, so look to schedule on a day that’s less busy yet beware the canyon is at its best at certain times.

Zion – if you don’t mind getting wet then hiking the Narrows is a memorable experience.  Make sure you check with the rangers on the weather and two tips (1) rent or get a good walking stick to probe the water for drop offs, and (2) wear old tennis shoes with good soles.

We wish you the trip of a lifetime!

[Barefoot_Boy]

Dear Occasional Visitor,

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us!  Very interesting and helpful.  We appreciate it!

Barefoot_Boy

[Mary]

I took a similar trip in September 2009, but arrived from the South, as I am in Florida.  The weather was great (unseasonably warm as it turned out), so I was able to enjoy the Grand Canyon, then on to Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire (NV), Zion, and Bryce, then headed down through Glen Canyon.   This is a great time to travel as the crowds are thinner and there are less children.   

I did take a helicopter trip over the Grand Canyon and it was fabulous.   I used Papillon and would recommend them anytime.   At the Canyon, be sure to check out the Desert View, Tusayan remains, and the watch tower. 

I loved, loved, loved Zion Park.   There are horses and trails (and guides I presume) if you are interested.   There are free spring water taps at the Lodge, so bring a jug or two.  (PS drink plenty of water, it's really dry)  I stayed in St. George UT - a charming town, all the amenities.  It took me about 45 minutes to get to Zion, a little over an hour to get to Bryce.  I used AAA online to see how to get to where and how long it would take me.   I also used my computer to check the weather along the way.

I took blue jeans, but wore shorts exclusively, although I did layer with shirt, sweater, and jacket.  I would recommend enjoying the venues in the early morning (before 9am) as the vistas are beautiful in that early morning light.   It gets a little chilly at Bryce (8300' above sea level), but I still wore shorts.   Wear sturdy comfortable shoes (a good pair of tennis shoes are sufficient);  hiking boots aren't a necessity, unless you are really hardcore. 

Everywhere I went, fellow travelers were friendly and quick to share their own experiences and suggestions.  I also met many Europeans, and had great conversations.  I agree with the previous post about the parks, just thought I'd add my experience.   I'd like to go back, but a little farther north (as your trip suggests).   It's all beautiful country -- you'll love it.

Be sure to share when you get back.   Happy Travelling!

[Barefoot_Boy]

Mary,

Thank you very much for your advice. Very interesting and much appreciated!