Itinerary to Grand Canyon/Arches/Canyonlands/Bryce

Are you sure visiting 4 parks in 3 days? You won't even have time to
drive through the park. If you want to take some good shots, you need
to hike a bit to do so. You should visit Arches and Canyonlands on a
separate trip, IMHO.

I visited Zion, Bryce, and the north rim of the Grand Canyon in one long day.
That was during the summer, not the winter however. In Zion I was able to hike
up the Watchman trail, in Bryce I took a short hike to an overlook, and in the
GC I hiked down to the Coconino overlook. Then, after the GC hike, I drove to
Vegas.

I started up the Watchman trail about 10am, and I was in Vegas by 11:30pm. I
had started the day in St. George UT, having driven in from L.A. the day
before. Which, after sleeping in the parking lot of the Gold Strike Casino, is
where I returned the next day.

Schedule he http://tolstoy.com/lonewacko/utah.html

Other state and county highpointers, Hans Florine, and others have done things
which are far more wacky. See, for instance, cohp.org or highpointers.org

-- Lonewacko: I'm Still Blogging Across America
http://lonewacko.com/blog

NUSED (Lonewackodotcom) wrote in message ...
Are you sure visiting 4 parks in 3 days? You won't even have time to
drive through the park. If you want to take some good shots, you need
to hike a bit to do so. You should visit Arches and Canyonlands on a
separate trip, IMHO.

I visited Zion, Bryce, and the north rim of the Grand Canyon in one long day.
That was during the summer, not the winter however. In Zion I was able to hike
up the Watchman trail, in Bryce I took a short hike to an overlook, and in the
GC I hiked down to the Coconino overlook. Then, after the GC hike, I drove to
Vegas.

Just want to get an idea. How long does it take to drive from Bryce
to Las Vegas? Is it a mountain road?

Also, does snow storm strike the Canyon and Utah area very often? If
I visit the Grand Canyon in December, will I simply see snow and fog
instead of the beautiful scene?

P Ross


I started up the Watchman trail about 10am, and I was in Vegas by 11:30pm. I
had started the day in St. George UT, having driven in from L.A. the day
before. Which, after sleeping in the parking lot of the Gold Strike Casino, is
where I returned the next day.

Schedule he http://tolstoy.com/lonewacko/utah.html

Other state and county highpointers, Hans Florine, and others have done things
which are far more wacky. See, for instance, cohp.org or highpointers.org

-- Lonewacko: I'm Still Blogging Across America
http://lonewacko.com/blog

I visited Zion, Bryce, and the north rim of the Grand Canyon in one long
day.
That was during the summer, not the winter however. In Zion I was able to
hike
up the Watchman trail, in Bryce I took a short hike to an overlook, and in
the
GC I hiked down to the Coconino overlook. Then, after the GC hike, I drove
to
Vegas.

Just want to get an idea. How long does it take to drive from Bryce
to Las Vegas? Is it a mountain road?

Unless you're on an Interstate, none of the highways in the area are like
Interstate. They're generally two lane roads. Some of them are flat desert
roads, some gain elevation, few of them are extremely twisty in the Appalachian
sense.

And, bear in mind I did my three-parks-in-one-day during the summer. In the
summer, there are many fewer worries vis a vis driving in those areas. And, the
north rim of the GC - which is what I visited - is closed during the winter.
So, if you want to visit the GC, you're probably going to the south rim. And,
to get from one rim to the other you have to go to one end or the other.

I'd suggest just choosing one park, and having Plan A be to stay there all the
time. Plan B would be if the weather is good to go for another park or two.
Note that Zion is at only about 4000', whereas Bryce is about 8000'. And, IMHO,
Bryce is fairly insignificant. Arches is OK, but I certainly wouldn't drive all
that distance during the winter just to see it.
-- Lonewacko: I'm Still Blogging Across America
http://lonewacko.com/blog

Lonewackodotcom wrote:

I visited Zion, Bryce, and the north rim of the Grand Canyon in one long
day. That was during the summer, not the winter however. ...

Unless you're on an Interstate, none of the highways in the area are like
Interstate. They're generally two lane roads. Some of them are flat desert
roads, some gain elevation, few of them are extremely twisty in the Appalachian
sense.

And, bear in mind I did my three-parks-in-one-day during the summer. In the
summer, there are many fewer worries vis a vis driving in those areas. And, the
north rim of the GC - which is what I visited - is closed during the winter.
So, if you want to visit the GC, you're probably going to the south rim. And,
to get from one rim to the other you have to go to one end or the other.

And the days are shorter in winter, meaning that instead of it being
light until 8PM or later, it's dark by 4:30PM.

--
Evelyn C. Leeper
http://www.geocities.com/evelynleeper
If you won't be better tomorrow than you are today, what
need have you for tomorrow? --Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav

Too much, too little time.

Ask yourself if this is a marathon trip to "bag" parks or a respite from
your daily life.
There's a LOT of beauty in that region, but I dare say you will miss it all
if you sprint past it.

Slow down and enjoy!