Last year we had to cancel a planned 'Red Rock' or Grand Circle trip, and are now in the process of re-planning it :)I have done a LOT of research, including reviewing 19 different RV.net forums on this same general subject, and 2 from Tripadvisor. And I purchased (on recommendation of a fellow RV.net member), "Land of the Canyons, A photographer's guide to Utah and Arizona".Our main constraints are when we can start (Apr. 30, 2012), when we need to finish (by Memorial weekend), and the fact that we are being joined in the final week or so by friends in a 40' class A (we will be in our 29' 5er).I have planned the trip knowing that there will be MANY things we can't see, yet have tried to 'squeeze in' as many sites as possible w/out having to drive too far off the main hwys (our F350 is a gas guzzler!). And I think I have provided enough 'slack' from day to day (minimum driving too) so that while I am off on my Mtn. bike exploring slot canyons and taking pics, my wife can stay back in camp and read (her passion!)We live in NorCal and will drive to the KOA in Ely, Nv. for our 1st night on the road. And return that same way. As of now, not counting any side trips, we will be traveling at least 2,400 miles.Here's a map of the route (Point "A" on the map is Ely, just off the map on the left).And here is my planning spreadsheet;At first we were going to do Zion and then Bryce, but since the CG at Bryce doesn't open until May 10th (and GC north May 15), we figured we could do them last...and then our friends from from NM can join us in the Moab area and go along over to the GC.And if you're wondering, we've already been to Sedona (a week in condo last Jan and loved it!), and we've already been to Mesa Verde (my brother lived in Durango for a while). Any thoughts/comments?ThanksSteve

When you get to the North Rim take a half day to do House Rock Rd if your vehicle will take gravel roads and you can deal with isolated areas:House rock roadThen go to the Buck Farms overlook. You can stand right on the edge of the canyon with not another person in sight or probably within miles of you. The road gets a little rough going to the overlook but take it slow, it's only a mile or two long anyway.We only saw one truck with a couple USFS people in it the whole trip. There is absolute silence and you'll get a whole new view of the canyon without mobs of people.The entrance is east of Jacob's Lake on Hwy 89? There is a shot of the sign at the entrance in that folder above. Ask about it at the National Forest visitor center in Jacobs lake for current conditions. The road was in the most part a high speed gravel road.

Bryce is open all winter, Its cold but its open

Looks like a very good plan with the right amount of days allotted for each. Hope you get on the Wave hike!! That's around the date we did it and it was HOT so carry more water than you need. Have fun.

Roy&Lynne wrote:Bryce is open all winter, Its cold but its openThanks, yes, I mis-stated that.:S I should have said they don't start taking reservations until them. :BI'm assuming it's like Yosemite (where we go twice a year) where the campground is open all year, but it's '1st come 1st served' until the peak period, and then it's reservation only. It is my understanding that that date is May 10, 2013 for Bryce North Campground.Steve

2gypsies wrote:Looks like a very good plan with the right amount of days allotted for each. Hope you get on the Wave hike!! That's around the date we did it and it was HOT so carry more water than you need. Have fun.Thanks! My fingers will be crossed for the Wave lottery, and if I don't win it on-line, I have allowed for several days to go try to get one in person the day before.I have 100oz camelback and a belt with 2 bottle holders (from the DW's marathon days), so I should be covered!Steve

Another Grand Circle Planning forum! | Good Sam Community

43 Replies

calberry
Explorer
Jan 13, 2015
Sorry, I keep forgetting about this...yes, for over a year from my last post, and a year and a half from the trip ;-( This trip report may take a number of years at this rate!

We arrived in Zion on day 2 in time to set up camp, walk around the visitor's center and check-out the shuttle bus schedule for the next day, and have a nice relaxing dinner.

On the first full day we got out early and spent the whole day riding the shuttles and getting off and checking out each stop. Very cool way to see the park.

The next day I got up at 4:30am and went to the museum to get pics of the sunrise on the Towers of the Virgin.

We had read the best way to enter the park is from the east (more impressive views for a first timer), but that was impractical for us, so instead, after I got my sunrise pics, while the DW went for a long walk, I drove all the way out of the park to the east, turned around, and came back, stopping countless times to take pics along the way. On that day alone I took 643 pictures.

Here are just a few pics of our stay in Zion; click Here. After the link opens select Slide Show, and then in the upper right select Full Screen.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Dec 15, 2013
That second pic could almost be UT hwy21 between Milford UT & jct hwy 50, NV. don't think we saw 10 vehicles going in the OPPOSITE direction in near 100 miles. free range cattle wandering across the road. No fuel stations. Beautiful country in its own way of nothingness. Huge sections of seeing nothing made by man except the road.

Hwy 50 in NV is supposed to be Americas loneliest highway. 21 made 50 look like rush hour. Love roads like that.
RVUSA
Explorer
Dec 15, 2013
It's mighty pretty to a floridian. The west is awesome.

calberry wrote:
Not so beautiful scenery through the Nv. desert.
welove2drive
Explorer
Dec 15, 2013
Nice pictures Steve. We took at trip out in that area 3 years ago. We only had a week so we had to do a fly & drive. I hope you have time to post more trip report and pictures!
Marcia
calberry
Explorer
Dec 14, 2013
OK, as promised, here is the first installment of our trip summary;

Day 1; drove from home (Lake Wildwood, Ca., near Grass Valley) to Ely, Nv., approx. 420 miles. Just a long day of driving with minimal stops along the way. Here is a link to a brief (and boring) slideshow of a pretty long and boring day. This then set us up for about a 5 hour drive into Zion the next day when the trip really starts (day one was just a necessary evil :R )

Steve

Not so beautiful scenery through the Nv. desert.
calberry
Explorer
Dec 14, 2013
Hello all! Just an FYI that I have it on my "To Do" list to post a bit of a trip report with pics, but somehow it never seems to rise to the top of that list...and it is now almost 7 mos. later. :o

But now that the weather is VERY cold, and golf and travel are almost at a standstill, maybe I will finally get around to it. ;)

Here's a couple of "teaser" pics;

Bottom line...we had a great trip and are looking forward to going back for more!

Steve
calberry
Explorer
Apr 24, 2013
JaBob wrote:
Sounds like a very tight schedule. I would be exhauted following such a trip. Different strokes different folks.
Enjoy.
Bob

Gee, I thought I had planned LOTS of 'fluff' in there ;)

How hard could it be; take pics at sunrise, take pics at sunset, take pics at sunrise, drive to new location, take pics at sunset, repeat as needed :B

Steve
calberry
Explorer
Apr 24, 2013
Veebyes wrote:
Well Calberry you might as well cancel your trip. Looks like I will be at some of your stops before you & I will be taking all of the pictures. There won't be many left for you.

Dead Horse SP next weekend & early next week. Bryce Canyon after that.

Oh man! Guess we better go on a cruise instead...NOT :)

We can share pics later.

Steve
JaBob
Explorer
Apr 24, 2013
Sounds like a very tight schedule. I would be exhauted following such a trip. Different strokes different folks.
Enjoy.
Bob
Veebyes
Explorer II
Apr 23, 2013
Well Calberry you might as well cancel your trip. Looks like I will be at some of your stops before you & I will be taking all of the pictures. There won't be many left for you.

Dead Horse SP next weekend & early next week. Bryce Canyon after that.