Southern Utah in late June?
We are wondering how brutal southern Utah is in late June? We have been to all of the major parks there at other times of the year, and have family members who really want to see the area. Late June...
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Arches and Canyonlands will just be hot. One can see much of the parks by driving and taking short hikes. Start early in the day, find a cool place for the afternoon, then go back out in the aarly evening. A couple of cooler hikes midday would be up Grandstaff Trail just upriver from US 191. Narrow enough canyon that the sun only hits a lot of it for several hours midday. Or hike up Mill Creek just east of Moab. You can wade in parts of the stream to keep a little cool. But I think I'd limit my days in Moab due to the heat.
As noted, Bryce is a lot higher in elevation and cooler. You can see many of the sites from lookouts along the road. The shuttle bus is convenient.
zion is alos low in elevation. But the Watchman CG in the park has electric hookups and the Virgin River runs right by the CG. Plop your camp chair down at the edge (or in the middle) of the water under the towering cottonwood trees and you can stay reasonably comfortable even in the middle of the day. If you can, hike a ways up the Zion Narrows. A very narrow canyon means little direct sun, even in the middle of the day. Plus, once you're up there a mile, you have to wade the river to continue. Quite refreshing. For other adventures, just plan your walks on the east side of the canyon in the a.m. and the afternoon walks on the west side in the p.m. That way you'll be in the shade of the canyon walls. Sill hot, but not in the direct sun.
Capitol Reef is a pretty hot park in the summer. Personally I'd spend my time elsewhere, although the CG is in the middle of an orchard so there is shade at some of the campsites.
If you want to drive Utah 12, might I suggest staying at Singletree CG It's around 8200' in elevation so quite a bit cooler than down lower. You can explore Calf Creek Falls as a day trip from there. Definitely worth the hike.
Don't know your route, but if you're heading through Vernal to see Dinosaur NM, stay up in the NF CG's south of Flaming Gorge. Around 7500' in elevation. Day trip down to the monument. The Fieldhouse in Vernal has a lot more dinosaur and fossil info right in Vernal and has a/c. It's a great museum and a nice complement to what you'll see at the "bone wall" at Dinosaur.
As noted, Bryce is a lot higher in elevation and cooler. You can see many of the sites from lookouts along the road. The shuttle bus is convenient.
zion is alos low in elevation. But the Watchman CG in the park has electric hookups and the Virgin River runs right by the CG. Plop your camp chair down at the edge (or in the middle) of the water under the towering cottonwood trees and you can stay reasonably comfortable even in the middle of the day. If you can, hike a ways up the Zion Narrows. A very narrow canyon means little direct sun, even in the middle of the day. Plus, once you're up there a mile, you have to wade the river to continue. Quite refreshing. For other adventures, just plan your walks on the east side of the canyon in the a.m. and the afternoon walks on the west side in the p.m. That way you'll be in the shade of the canyon walls. Sill hot, but not in the direct sun.
Capitol Reef is a pretty hot park in the summer. Personally I'd spend my time elsewhere, although the CG is in the middle of an orchard so there is shade at some of the campsites.
If you want to drive Utah 12, might I suggest staying at Singletree CG It's around 8200' in elevation so quite a bit cooler than down lower. You can explore Calf Creek Falls as a day trip from there. Definitely worth the hike.
Don't know your route, but if you're heading through Vernal to see Dinosaur NM, stay up in the NF CG's south of Flaming Gorge. Around 7500' in elevation. Day trip down to the monument. The Fieldhouse in Vernal has a lot more dinosaur and fossil info right in Vernal and has a/c. It's a great museum and a nice complement to what you'll see at the "bone wall" at Dinosaur.
