It's almost time to head south for some fun on the Colorado Plateau after a good ski season. This will be our 5 th trip in as many years, leaving on Apr. 15, arrive St. George, 17th. We will leave for home on June 4 to be back in Coldstream, BC for a wedding on the 6th.As the title states, we don't want to waste time driving in round about directions to interesting areas. The one problem is waiting until May 15 for the route into the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Following is a rough itinerary of our trip. Feel free to comment on the direction of the route and if there are any interesting places along the way which should not be missed or if there is a more efficient way of seeing these places.We mostly hike and MTB (mountain bike) when on these trips and 100% of our camping is dry or Boondocking. We can hike for 12 minutes or 12 hours doesn't matter and are intermediate MTB riders.Usa trip 2015Apr. 15 Leave south April 17. St.George - Gooseberry Mesa- JEM-Gould Rim- Hurricane Rim- Guacamole-MTB 22 Sedona.- MTB and hike. 25 Grand Canyon- New Hance to Papago Wall- return - day hike 27 Canyon de Chelley 29 Comb Ridge- hikes along both sides of Comb Ridge May 2. Valley of the Gods- hike the buttes 4 Goosenecks 5 Muley point 6-12 Grand Gulch- Colin's Springs- Government trailhead-Slickhorn Canyons 13 Rainbow bridge-hike 14 Buckskin-Paria- hike 16- 20 Grand Canyon North Rim. (North Kaibab, North Bass,Nankoweap) 21 Red Canyon -Thunder Mt-MTB 22 Phipps Arch-hike 23 Horse-Wolverine- Little Death Hollow-hike 25 Lower Muley Twist canyon-hike 27 Robbers Roost canyons-hike 29 Moab -White Rim?-Mag7-Dead Horse Point trails- Klondike Bluffs-MTB June 4 Leave for home 5 HomeComments?ThanksDaveUPS, Moab 2014

Your bike trip won't take long according to the picture.

I, m sure thats the detour route. don,t worry it won,t hurt ,

Different strokes for different folks. I think pedaling my rear end all over the place is a waste of time and energy. For those of you that would like to see a couple of places that are ones of a kind, I'd recommend the Tucson, AZ area and in particular the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Old Tucson. The desert museum specializes in animals that live in the desert. Snakes - sure, but there are several four legged animals that call the desert home. And Old Tucson is a collection of cowboy movie sets. You may spot John Wayne walking around. Here's a partial list of the films shot there.

Looks ambitious. Have a great time.

Just reading your itinerary makes me tired. I'm sure it will be fun but too exhausting for me.

Don't Waste Your Time In Utah/Arizona | Good Sam Community

blackeyed1
Explorer
Apr 04, 2015
Your bike trip won't take long according to the picture.
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Apr 04, 2015
I, m sure thats the detour route. don,t worry it won,t hurt ,
Jim_Shoe
Explorer
Apr 04, 2015
Different strokes for different folks. I think pedaling my rear end all over the place is a waste of time and energy.
For those of you that would like to see a couple of places that are ones of a kind, I'd recommend the Tucson, AZ area and in particular the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Old Tucson.
The desert museum specializes in animals that live in the desert. Snakes - sure, but there are several four legged animals that call the desert home.
And Old Tucson is a collection of cowboy movie sets. You may spot John Wayne walking around.
Here's a partial list of the films shot there.
lbrjet
Explorer
Apr 04, 2015
Looks ambitious. Have a great time.
homefor2
Explorer
Apr 04, 2015
Just reading your itinerary makes me tired. I'm sure it will be fun but too exhausting for me.
tuna_fisher
Explorer
Apr 04, 2015
Last week it was in the upper 80's around VOG area, has cooled this week to freeze warnings. Were loaded for Comb wash, VOG, John's cny,and others in that area. Leaving thursday if temps stay below 80. Typical Spring weather, hot/cold. I doubt it will be below 85 come May. To hot for boondocking with no shade for me. Good luck.
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Apr 05, 2015
When the road or trail is open, go ahead and take it. Or wait..........
SteveAE
Explorer
Apr 05, 2015
crosscheck,

I am glad to hear you had a good ski season up there. Snow here was awful this year, so didn't go out much this year...like only once.

Looks like our paths will again, almost, cross. This year we plan to do some easy canyoneering around Hite, backpack Dark Canyon (look into it if you are looking for a multi-day hike), and maybe poke around on Cedar Mesa again (esp. if it is hot). Will adjust based on the weather. Our time frame is May 2 - 19. Give a shout if you want to hook up....esp. for Dark Cyn. as having another vehicle to do the shuttle with would really help.

Some possible tips:
- Like last year, you are biting off a big chuck of real-estate. But I realize we have different styles.
- Good camping at both ends of Comb Ridge as well as along the road .... for your rig. As you probably know, you could spend a lifetime just in that area (we did three weeks a few years back).
- If you guys like slot canyons, check out Slot Canyons of the American SW
- Paria river is very turbid (it took over a month for the white patches on our dog to become white again), so don't wear anything you want to see clean again for a long time....if ever.
- Death Hollow was an excellent, easy, three day hike (Boulder Mail Trail to Death Hollow, down Death to Escalante, down Escalante to hwy bridge) . Do it if at all possible. The owner of one of the restaurants in Boulder did our shuttle. Great guy. If you are interested, PM me and I will dig out his card.
- Am envious of your getting into L. Death this year. Maybe next year for us....

Steve
bka0721
Explorer II
Apr 05, 2015
Looks exciting for your destinations. Just be prepared for weather events that might interrupt your plans, like in 2014.

VOG was perfectly suitable for me through the end of May in 2014. I doubt this issue of temp will bother crosscheck nor more than it did me. The Paria is indeed very turbid this season and has changed my plans for non-potable uses. Sorry that we will miss each other, and my boondock camp by 3 days, by your current schedule, in the Paria.

Travel safe and don't take short cuts off of cliffs.

b
crosscheck
Explorer II
Apr 05, 2015
tuna fisher wrote:
Last week it was in the upper 80's around VOG area, has cooled this week to freeze warnings. Were loaded for Comb wash, VOG, John's cny,and others in that area. Leaving thursday if temps stay below 80. Typical Spring weather, hot/cold. I doubt it will be below 85 come May. To hot for boondocking with no shade for me. Good luck.

Last year in May, we were planning a hike into Owl and Fish canyons when a storm came through making side roads impassible. 2" of slushy hail at visitors centre in Natural Bridges. Came back a week later and although camping at the trail head(6000') was cool at night, the canyon bottom was quite warm.
We love the heat in this area but because of the elevation, nights are always cool.
Have good trip.

Dave