When to go? Spring/Summer/Fall
So the wife and I just finished our last summer trip and on the way home were discussing upcoming trips we'd like to do the next year or 2. We've got 13 and 10 year old girls and the years just seem ...
Forum Discussion
One of my favorite areas in the world. You know, I grew up camping from since I can remember. My dad was a teacher and we took off on 45 day trips in the summers. I didn't play organized sports during the summer, but wanted to, we camped. I didn't do the things my friends were doing we camped. Then we actually brought a couple of my friends at different times. In retrospect 50 years later I feel sorry for all my friends who had to stay home. Take the kids RV it. One of my best memories is driving down the road in southern Utah with my parents "listening" as a family to the radio as Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon. It was better than TV.
I suggest base camps of Moab (hit moon flower canyon all the way one day)for Canyonlands, Arches etc. I highly recommend an NFS campground called Devils Canyon on the road south out of there simply for an overnight. It is an awesome place and from there you can see for a hundred miles including shiprock and the skies are amazing there like you have never seen.
I also recommend Durango for a base camp as you can see all the four corner sights sights and even head south for day trips into New Mexico and then up into the mountains for a day or two. Neat places most don't go are the Aztec Ruins in NM. Go up in the mountains and consider the narrow guage train ride. Depending upon how you plan, hit the great sand dunes as a side trip on the way out or coming back.
Then, I recommend avoiding the south rim of Grand Canyon and hit the north rim. Just as beautiful far fewer people. Stay at Jacob Lake and since it is up high you will have 70's vs 90's a few miles north in Kanab. You can do day trips to Bryce, Zion and the state parks and are only a beautiful 45 minute drive to the N. Rim.
Just my suggestions based upon 20 or thirty trips to the area in my life. And personally, I'd probably do the hot trip. There are ways to avoid people if that is your thing. Going to the North Rim is one example. Dress right bring hats and use airco when available and it is a "dry" heat different than humid let me assure you as a former midwesterner but I must admit 100 plus is 100 plus irrespective but then you just head into the mountains and it's all good. And like the trip from Jacob Lake to Kanab, or Durango up 30 degrees cooler is but a fun drive and an hour or so away.
I suggest base camps of Moab (hit moon flower canyon all the way one day)for Canyonlands, Arches etc. I highly recommend an NFS campground called Devils Canyon on the road south out of there simply for an overnight. It is an awesome place and from there you can see for a hundred miles including shiprock and the skies are amazing there like you have never seen.
I also recommend Durango for a base camp as you can see all the four corner sights sights and even head south for day trips into New Mexico and then up into the mountains for a day or two. Neat places most don't go are the Aztec Ruins in NM. Go up in the mountains and consider the narrow guage train ride. Depending upon how you plan, hit the great sand dunes as a side trip on the way out or coming back.
Then, I recommend avoiding the south rim of Grand Canyon and hit the north rim. Just as beautiful far fewer people. Stay at Jacob Lake and since it is up high you will have 70's vs 90's a few miles north in Kanab. You can do day trips to Bryce, Zion and the state parks and are only a beautiful 45 minute drive to the N. Rim.
Just my suggestions based upon 20 or thirty trips to the area in my life. And personally, I'd probably do the hot trip. There are ways to avoid people if that is your thing. Going to the North Rim is one example. Dress right bring hats and use airco when available and it is a "dry" heat different than humid let me assure you as a former midwesterner but I must admit 100 plus is 100 plus irrespective but then you just head into the mountains and it's all good. And like the trip from Jacob Lake to Kanab, or Durango up 30 degrees cooler is but a fun drive and an hour or so away.
