Forum Discussion

EnzoColorado's avatar
EnzoColorado
Explorer II
Feb 07, 2018

2 weeks trip through Utah in October

We live in Colorado Springs and decided to participate in the Grand Circle Trailfest in Kanah Utah on the first weekend of October, then decided to expand the trip into a 2 weeks tour of Utah.

We will be towing a 20 ft travel trailer. Here is the plan:

Leg 1: Colorado Springs to Monument Valley: route is down I-25, then take 160 from Walsenburg all the way through southern Colorado through Cortez, then take 162 to Monument Valley. This is going to be an long single day. I know about Wolf Creek pass and have driven it without trailer quite a few times. Thinking about camping at The View Hotel/Campground.

Leg 2: Monument Valley to Grand Canyon North Rim using 98 then 89A, with a stop at Glen Canyon Dam. Staying at Grand Canyon North Rim campground.

Leg 3: Grand Canyon North Rim to Kanab for the race festival.

Leg 4: Kanab to Zion via 89 then 9. Looks this drive will have interesting switchbacks descending into Zion south entrance. Not sure where to stay yet, either at National Park campground at Watchman, or Zion Canyon RV Park in Springdale.

Leg 5: Zion to Bryce: 9 to 89 to 12. Not sure where to stay yet. Could use some recommendations.

Leg 6: Bryce to Moab: 12 to 24 to I-70 then 191 to Moab. I heard along 12/24 is basically the view from the movie Cars. Kids would love to see that view. Thinking about staying in one of the RV parks in Moab, but not sure yet. Again could use recommendations.

Leg 7: Moab to Colorado Springs. Several options on this one. Option 1: take 128 along the Colorado River, then surf I-70 to I-25 home. Option 2: take 191 down to 46 then east until Ridgway, then take 550 to 50 up over Monarch Pass to Buena Vista the 24 home. This is much longer but much more scenic. We towed the trailer to Ridgway last summer and loved that area. I also want to see the Dolores River canyon along 141 but that seems to make the drive home unbearable long.

Would love to hear comments on this route, and recommendations on alternatives, and good camping sites. This will our first time in Utah.
Roads and Routes
  • jolooote's avatar
    jolooote
    Explorer
    Feb 09, 2018
    Day 1...I'd certainly make stops at Durango for THE Worlds best & most famous Steam train ride than on to Mesa Verde, America's best preserved ancient dwellings. I'd certainly Skip North G. Canyon and use that time to stay on Lake Powell near Page at Wa-Weap RV Resort ON THE LAKE! Evidently U'r gonna go down the mountain to see Zion and than back Up to go to Bryce. At or near Bryce, on Rt. 12 is a wonderful water/toilets only campground called Red Canyon. Its just after the very famous short tunnel you've certainly seen pictures of. Than AT Bryce we always stay at Ruby's Inn RV Park. Very nice with EVERYTHING in the world you may need including RV repair. Than just up the Hyway and a turn to the rite is Kodachrome Stat Park. Very interesting place with nice hikes. Going North-East on Rt.12 is a small State Pk. with electric At escalante. Farther along is THE Calf Creek State Pk. We always stay there. A really wonderful, altho water only park. The entrance sign says 27 feet or less but we get our 34 foot class'A' in ok. Farther along is The 'Hogsback' section of Rt.12. Don't let people scare you off it. Not really bad. Still farther is the little 'Village' of Boulder with it Indian ruins but the best thing here is the drive, East, out of town down into Long Canyon on the paved Hyway that used to be the Burr trail cattle route. Back on Rt.12 goes up the east flank of Boulder Mtn. Very nice Nat'l Forest CG's up there.Onwards down into thown of Torrey, 2 nice private full hookup RV parks here. Than eastwards thru Capital Reef Nat'l Pk. This is certainly worth a 2 day stop. Than on to Moab. Moab is a destination all to itself and you should spend at least 10 days exploring just IT's Canyonlands & Arches areas.
  • profdant139's avatar
    profdant139
    Explorer II
    Feb 08, 2018
    This blog post may be of some help -- lots of photos:

    Kodachrome, Bryce, and Zion in November

    I think that the kids would really like the slot canyon hikes described in that blog post -- they are not difficult, and they are spooky but safe, just the kind of thing kids might enjoy.
  • EnzoColorado's avatar
    EnzoColorado
    Explorer II
    Feb 07, 2018
    timandsusan wrote:
    We were in that area last September. We had snow on the North Rim and otherwise very nice weather. A suggestion, in Zion and Bryce--get out and see the stars--the sky is very dark (hope the moon cooperates) and the Milky Way and other stars are just spectacular. Since you live in Colorado Springs, you know that the weather in Oct can change at any moment so bring warm clothes.


    Awesome, I'll add tripod to the packing list, going to try to do some stars photography!
  • EnzoColorado's avatar
    EnzoColorado
    Explorer II
    Feb 07, 2018
    Busskipper wrote:


    Moab info

    Aspen on the drive to Cortez - Aspen

    You will have a Blast - if more time is available think about Page and Antelope Canyon - or/and Canyon de Chelly - Goosenecks/Mexican Hat.

    So much more to see and do along this route don't Miss RT 12 - RT 128 - Goblins - Escalante and Kodachrome SP's.

    Good Camera and Good Boot's - You Lucky Man/woman/kids.......

    Best of Luck,


    Thanks for the info. Totally forgot about Antelope Canyon, I have seen amazing pictures from there.
  • EnzoColorado's avatar
    EnzoColorado
    Explorer II
    Feb 07, 2018
    profdant139 wrote:
    First time in Utah?? You are in for a treat. It is very different from Colorado. Both are great, but not the same.

    How old are your kids? What sorts of things do you like to do -- hiking? mountain biking?

    Can you extend the trip to more than two weeks? On the other hand, no need -- you are so near to Utah that you can come back whenever.

    One more thought -- bring warm clothes. The evenings can be very chilly in October. But the stars are so great that you will just have to sit outside. Bundle up!


    Kids will be 5 years old. It's actually 17 days, we'll leave on Friday and come back on Sunday. They love hiking, fishing, and swimming. They can ride bikes on flat trails but not real mountain biking stuff. Yeah, totally understand the need for warm clothes.
  • Supercharged's avatar
    Supercharged
    Explorer
    Feb 07, 2018
    EnzoColorado wrote:
    We live in Colorado Springs and decided to participate in the Grand Circle Trailfest in Kanah Utah on the first weekend of October, then decided to expand the trip into a 2 weeks tour of Utah.

    We will be towing a 20 ft travel trailer. Here is the plan:

    Leg 1: Colorado Springs to Monument Valley: route is down I-25, then take 160 from Walsenburg all the way through southern Colorado through Cortez, then take 162 to Monument Valley. This is going to be an long single day. I know about Wolf Creek pass and have driven it without trailer quite a few times. Thinking about camping at The View Hotel/Campground.

    Leg 2: Monument Valley to Grand Canyon North Rim using 98 then 89A, with a stop at Glen Canyon Dam. Staying at Grand Canyon North Rim campground.

    Leg 3: Grand Canyon North Rim to Kanab for the race festival.

    Leg 4: Kanab to Zion via 89 then 9. Looks this drive will have interesting switchbacks descending into Zion south entrance. Not sure where to stay yet, either at National Park campground at Watchman, or Zion Canyon RV Park in Springdale.

    Leg 5: Zion to Bryce: 9 to 89 to 12. Not sure where to stay yet. Could use some recommendations.

    Leg 6: Bryce to Moab: 12 to 24 to I-70 then 191 to Moab. I heard along 12/24 is basically the view from the movie Cars. Kids would love to see that view. Thinking about staying in one of the RV parks in Moab, but not sure yet. Again could use recommendations.

    Leg 7: Moab to Colorado Springs. Several options on this one. Option 1: take 128 along the Colorado River, then surf I-70 to I-25 home. Option 2: take 191 down to 46 then east until Ridgway, then take 550 to 50 up over Monarch Pass to Buena Vista the 24 home. This is much longer but much more scenic. We towed the trailer to Ridgway last summer and loved that area. I also want to see the Dolores River canyon along 141 but that seems to make the drive home unbearable long.

    Would love to hear comments on this route, and recommendations on alternatives, and good camping sites. This will our first time in Utah.

    Far to much fun and woundful sites for one trip.
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Feb 07, 2018
    I think you have it nailed down fairly well. I would add Antelope Canyon at Page. The N Rim is my favorite and one evening starting a little before sunset drive to the entrance station and back.

    After Knab I would set up a base camp at Red Canyon USFS CG and day trip to both Zion and Bryce from there. This assumes you have a small generator and know how to dry camp for several days.

    Not sure it's worth taking the TT on 12...do a out and back to Bolder with a side trip to Kodachrome SP in the burn. Instead of 12, I use 22 north from Bryce and would suggest a stop at Capital Reef on your way to Moab. I would take the longer way home from Moab.
  • Busskipper's avatar
    Busskipper
    Explorer
    Feb 07, 2018
    EnzoColorado wrote:
    We live in Colorado Springs and decided to participate in the Grand Circle Trailfest in Kanah Utah on the first weekend of October, then decided to expand the trip into a 2 weeks tour of Utah.

    We will be towing a 20 ft travel trailer. Here is the plan:

    Leg 1: Colorado Springs to Monument Valley: route is down I-25, then take 160 from Walsenburg all the way through southern Colorado through Cortez, then take 162 to Monument Valley. This is going to be an long single day. I know about Wolf Creek pass and have driven it without trailer quite a few times. Thinking about camping at The View Hotel/Campground.

    Leg 2: Monument Valley to Grand Canyon North Rim using 98 then 89A, with a stop at Glen Canyon Dam. Staying at Grand Canyon North Rim campground.

    Leg 3: Grand Canyon North Rim to Kanab for the race festival.

    Leg 4: Kanab to Zion via 89 then 9. Looks this drive will have interesting switchbacks descending into Zion south entrance. Not sure where to stay yet, either at National Park campground at Watchman, or Zion Canyon RV Park in Springdale.

    Leg 5: Zion to Bryce: 9 to 89 to 12. Not sure where to stay yet. Could use some recommendations.

    Leg 6: Bryce to Moab: 12 to 24 to I-70 then 191 to Moab. I heard along 12/24 is basically the view from the movie Cars. Kids would love to see that view. Thinking about staying in one of the RV parks in Moab, but not sure yet. Again could use recommendations.

    Leg 7: Moab to Colorado Springs. Several options on this one. Option 1: take 128 along the Colorado River, then surf I-70 to I-25 home. Option 2: take 191 down to 46 then east until Ridgway, then take 550 to 50 up over Monarch Pass to Buena Vista the 24 home. This is much longer but much more scenic. We towed the trailer to Ridgway last summer and loved that area. I also want to see the Dolores River canyon along 141 but that seems to make the drive home unbearable long.

    Would love to hear comments on this route, and recommendations on alternatives, and good camping sites. This will our first time in Utah.


    Moab info

    Aspen on the drive to Cortez - Aspen

    You will have a Blast - if more time is available think about Page and Antelope Canyon - or/and Canyon de Chelly - Goosenecks/Mexican Hat.

    So much more to see and do along this route don't Miss RT 12 - RT 128 - Goblins - Escalante and Kodachrome SP's.

    Good Camera and Good Boot's - You Lucky Man/woman/kids.......

    Best of Luck,
  • timandsusan's avatar
    timandsusan
    Explorer
    Feb 07, 2018
    We were in that area last September. We had snow on the North Rim and otherwise very nice weather. A suggestion, in Zion and Bryce--get out and see the stars--the sky is very dark (hope the moon cooperates) and the Milky Way and other stars are just spectacular. Since you live in Colorado Springs, you know that the weather in Oct can change at any moment so bring warm clothes.
  • profdant139's avatar
    profdant139
    Explorer II
    Feb 07, 2018
    First time in Utah?? You are in for a treat. It is very different from Colorado. Both are great, but not the same.

    How old are your kids? What sorts of things do you like to do -- hiking? mountain biking?

    Can you extend the trip to more than two weeks? On the other hand, no need -- you are so near to Utah that you can come back whenever.

    One more thought -- bring warm clothes. The evenings can be very chilly in October. But the stars are so great that you will just have to sit outside. Bundle up!

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