utah vacation

Depends if you take Hwy 12 (and that has been debated on here many times as to comfort level with dropoffs, sharp turns and grades or go around). When towing we always go around but will drive the Chebby 3500 over by itself.

Lauren wrote:
Depends if you take Hwy 12 (and that has been debated on here many times as to comfort level with dropoffs, sharp turns and grades or go around). When towing we always go around but will drive the Chebby 3500 over by itself.

I should have mentioned I will taking this trip in my toad while at Bauer's RV campground. Yes - I was wanting to use Hwy. 12 and it will be a day or half-day round trip.

If you'd like something different, go see Dinosaur NM up in NE Utah and partly in NW Colorado; include Flaming Gorge and Ashley NF on your visit. Gives you a chance to see Salt Lake City if you desire, but you can also go directly to that part of the state by driving US 191 up to Vernal and then up to southern Wyoming.

Best time to see this great part of the country is May or Sept./October. Arches, Canyonlands, Zion can get very hot in June-Sept. My suggestions coming from the Eastern U.S. would be:
I-70 to Grand Junction, CO (side trip to Colorado National Monument)
Arches National Park (2 days)
Canyonlands NP (1 day)
Monument Valley (1 day)
Canyon DeChelley National Monument (2 days-day trip in canyon )
Antelope Canyon near Page, AZ
North Rim of Grand Canyon (2 days)
Zion NP (2 days)
Bryce NP (2 days)
Drive Utah 12 (Hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls)
Capital Reef NP (2 days) If you can dry camp stay in Fruita CG.
Return home.
Let me know if I can help.

Zion's my favorite.

How much of these parks can you see on easy or less strenuous hikes or by car. I will be close to Zion/Brice/North GC at one stop for 6 nights. I will also be in Moab for 5 nights. We do a lot of walking, but that is in the flatlands of SE Louisiana. I have a bad knee and the DW is scared of heights.

Which trails would you recommend to get the best views of each park?

Zion will be tougher hiking. It is a gorgeous drive in from the tunnel on Hwy 9 down but that is the best part of it....you will have to take a shuttle bus once down in and all you get is a stiff neck looking up; which is one of the reasons it is not high on our list. You will not have an easy hike to get views - particularly with your knee and wife's (not unusual) situation.

Which is one of the reasons we like Bryce so much better. You can drive to lookouts. Hikes there are down and you come back up. Some easier than Zion but still a hike. Beautiful views from the lookouts. And there is not the "edges and ledges" factor for your wife.

I would skip the North Rim of the GC and go to the South Rim. There is no walking much there to oooh and aaah. And you only see about 10% of the Grand Canyon and all viewing is right into the sun. And quite a boring drive to get to. If you really want to SEE the Grand Canyon you have to go to the South Rim. There you will truly see the Grand Canyon and you will have nice walking along the Rim Trail and lots of places to drive to for lookouts as well as a shuttle out to the various spots to the west end.....and the shuttle stops you have places you can take shorter walks to see the vastness.

We will be doing those places once again this Fall - Moab, Bryce and South Rim - been there many times. Have been to Zion and North Rim only twice; second time for each as we wanted to give them a second chance. But not again.

Enjoy. Be safe.

Thanks for the reply back (I apologize to the OP for hijacking his thread). We will be staying 5 nights at the Grand Canyon South rim prior to heading to see Zion/Bryce/etc. After this we head to Moab for 5 nights.

It sounds like we could use one day each for Zion and the North Rim for driving tours. This would give us more time to do some hiking at Bryce. I also want to take a drive in my toad on Hwy. 12 to see those views.