How long in Zion and Bryce

Here are my thoughts .... based on personal experience of being to these places several times.

Rocky Mountain N P - We moved to Estes Park from Minneapolis when I retired (age 55) in Minneapolis. Built a wonderful home there on an acre overlooking Lake Estes to the Cont Divide in the Park. We loved Rocky and spent a lot to time there hiking and snowshoeing and picnicing and picture taking. But Rocky has changed due to massive pine beetle infestation. Do not get me wrong; it is still a beautiful N P; just that a great portion of the Park has become brownish dead trees and not the green ones we loved. Trail Ridge Road (Hwy 34 - toad or t v) is still one of the most spectacular drives you will ever see. I think Old Fall River Road is now open again after the flood damage and it has always been so special as well. We love Rocky; not as much as before, but still love it. Stay on the Estes Park side; 95% of the activity is there.

Glacier N P - We love it almost as much, maybe AS much, as Rocky. I do not think the recent fire will have much impact down the line but I really do not know. Would seem it would only really impact some hiking once all is cleared up. We love the east side better as we are hikers; hey, not like we did at Rocky when we lived there but still do pretty good. Our favorite hikes are Grinnell Glacier (suggest the boat / hike combo though we have done it both ways) & Iceberg Lake. There is also a nice walk around Swiftcurrent Lake. We stay at the KOA on the east side and like it a lot (we are FHU people). The west side is more commercial but the hike to Avalanche Lake is not difficult and recommended.

Capitol Reef. Maybe one of the best kept secrets. Beautiful park. And then you have the Escalante Staircase (Hwy 12 - tv or toad recommended) which is so beautiful. This is a wonderful area and not the crowds. But the beauty!!

Incidentally, we leave on 8/27 for two months and the trip includes a week each in Moab (Arches and Island In The Sky) and Torrey (Capitol Reef) and 5 days in Bryce - not going to Zion but down to Grand Canyon for a week.

Hey, three miles down Bright Angel and back up is testy - it is steep. And you are from FL! Good for you.

I am going to send you a P M on where to look at some of my images.

Enjoy.

Lauren wrote:
Love those and also so many more greater ones I think including Glacier, Rocky Mtn, Grand Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef -- and those are some them in the western U S.

We have hiked down into Bryce and hope to do so again; THAT is really something!

LOVED the hike to the bottom of Bryce. Last September, we made it 3 miles down Bright Angel Trail. Hope to hit the 4.5 mile mark next time. That was really an experience as well.

Out of the parks you mentioned, we have not been to Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Capitol Reef. How would you rank those? All 3 are on our list.

Love those and also so many more greater ones I think including Glacier, Rocky Mtn, Grand Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef -- and those are some them in the western U S.

We have hiked down into Bryce and hope to do so again; THAT is really something!

Lynnmor wrote:

bar_20 wrote:

But I agree, I always wondered why Zion was even a NP. If Zion is your first NP you might like it. However if you've been to Yosemite, Yellowstone or the Teton's you will probably be disappointed.

Huh! You're joking, right?

Probably not .... we have a place about 20 minutes from Zion and do not see any reason to visit there. Now Bryce is a whole different NP with lots to see for a non hiker.

bar_20 wrote:

But I agree, I always wondered why Zion was even a NP. If Zion is your first NP you might like it. However if you've been to Yosemite, Yellowstone or the Teton's you will probably be disappointed.

Huh! You're joking, right?

Lauren wrote:
Great shot !

We are going thru there again and, again, skipping Zion and staying at Bryce.

Unless one is hiking, which you personally say you are not, all you will get is a stiff neck looking up from the bus. Except for the road down from the tunnel to the V C.

We will be spending 5 days at Bryce again.

At Bryce you will get a stiff neck looking down! LOL

But I agree, I always wondered why Zion was even a NP. If Zion is your first NP you might like it. However if you've been to Yosemite, Yellowstone or the Teton's you will probably be disappointed.

Great shot !

We are going thru there again and, again, skipping Zion and staying at Bryce.

Unless one is hiking, which you personally say you are not, all you will get is a stiff neck looking up from the bus. Except for the road down from the tunnel to the V C.

We will be spending 5 days at Bryce again.

profdant139 wrote:
I really agree that if you don't sit outside at night at Zion, you have missed half the show! This was taken in Watchman Campground last November, right outside my trailer:



At night, Bryce can get chilly -- bring a sweater!

Wow!!

profdant139 wrote:
I really agree that if you don't sit outside at night at Zion, you have missed half the show! This was taken in Watchman Campground last November, right outside my trailer:



At night, Bryce can get chilly -- bring a sweater!

And a flashlight -- Great shot, Thanks for sharing,

I really agree that if you don't sit outside at night at Zion, you have missed half the show! This was taken in Watchman Campground last November, right outside my trailer:



At night, Bryce can get chilly -- bring a sweater!