Zion 7 days????

You might also consider Kodachrome(sp) State Park. Has a bunch of outstanding monuments and isn't that far from Zion. When we stayed at Zion a few years ago, we took one day to Bryce and one to Kodachrome as well as a short trip to St. George.

Lauren wrote:

Unless you are into serious hiking the best part of Zion is the drive down from the tunnel on Hwy 9. Otherwise it is pretty much a Park bus ride getting a sore neck looking up and the canyon walls.

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We are not serious hikers and there are many other trails you can walk through. The Stream hike is the best for "non serious hikers"

You could always take the trail below Watchman tower it's a flat trail. There is of course the most photographed spot in Zion on that trail

tragusa3 wrote:
One of our regrets is NOT taking the horse-ride in Bryce. That would have been the coolest place to be on horseback!

One of the best things we've ever done. Tip, go for the long horse ride. The short one turns around half way and all the best stuff is on the 2nd half.

Both parks are great for hiking, but for shear beauty I would pick Bryce any day. The Red Canyon is a beauty as well.

We have been to Zion and will take a day trip over there from Kanab this summer.

Unless you are into serious hiking the best part of Zion is the drive down from the tunnel on Hwy 9. Otherwise it is pretty much a Park bus ride getting a sore neck looking up and the canyon walls.

We were at Bryce last year for 6 days and will be there 6 days again this year on our way to the Oregon Coast....that might be a little long based on the short time span between visits. But it is a great place and other things around it as well.

At Bryce you are looking down at spectacular beauty; particularly at sunrise. And, as said, getting below the rim is amazing down there hiking.

Enjoy - be safe.

rexlion wrote:
On your way to Bryce and just a few miles west of it, Red Canyon is worth a stop. .

We stopped somewhere in that vicinity on the N side of the highway IIRC and was about as impressed with that scene as I was with Bryce.
bumpy

One of our regrets is NOT taking the horse-ride in Bryce. That would have been the coolest place to be on horseback!

On your way to Bryce and just a few miles west of it, Red Canyon is worth a stop. I really enjoyed hiking the Arches Trail, and I camped at the NF CG there for a night.

In Bryce, hiking back up can be pretty tiring. Consider taking a half-day horse ride down a ways and back. They have riding horses in the park and a bunch of riders get led down the trail together, single file.

Personally, I think you're shortchanging Bryce by only doing a day trip. Seeing Bryce from the top rim is not seeing Bryce. If you get below the rim it's like a fairyland. The hikes are awesome.

Also, if you move over to Bryce you can drive Hwy 12 toward Capitol Reef Nat'l Park - lots of beauty.

If you're staying in Springdale you'll have a long slow drive to get to Bryce.

It's not that difficult to move from campground to campground. That's what I'd recommend.

Thank you everyone for your input!!!! I think we are going to try to hike as much as the wife will do in Zion and one day trip to Brice. I was planning on one day without the wife to do a guided canyoneering trip from Zion Adventure Company. We will need a down day anyway this is just part of a 18 day trip from Sacramento, Grand Canyon, Zion, Brice, Great Basin NP, Reno, Home. Once again thank you all!!!!