Looking for the unexpected!

[tandk]

Hi! The hubby and I are headed in October to Great Basin,Capitol Reef, Bryce and Zion. We have been to Zion before, but not the other parks. We are looking for favorites you had visiting any of those parks. You know, the out of the way restaurant with great pie or dinner. The hidden trail you found, something you thought was cool that wasn't on the visitors guide!

[rbtglove]

If you have never been to Great Basin you are in for a really different experience. Last time we stayed at Upper Lehmann at least upper something, no hookups I think. Very steep climb but some nice sites near the stream. Like it better than the lower campground we stayed at before. Very few people, neat cave tour, good hiking trails, and no phone service to bother you. Also road art on the way up is different. Very few places to spend money (there is a cafe and store in the park) nearby so need to take it with you. Also note the shoe tree on route 50. Very different than Bryce and Zion but we like it.

[Lauren]

Some very good thoughts here and can't add too much. I would NOT stay at Virgin River - pretty nice place but some ethics issues; don't need that.

We were to be back in that area right now but had to cancel trip. We love Cap Reef and were going to be there a week again. Hwy 12 - aka Escalante Staircase - is beautiful but I personally would not recommend it for RVers unless they have mountain driving experience - steep grades, curves and severe dropoffs both sides with no shoulder or guard rails ( and people who think their half is out of the middle!). Read about it and make up your own mind.

Been to Best Friends twice - amazing place.

We stay at Thousand Lakes in Torrey - a great place and they have a wonderful gift shop with good, fair prices. We also drove the road along the east side of Cap Reef and it was kinda neat - not many people do it.

Out of Bryce we also like Cedar Breaks and Brian Head.

Enjoy.

[dcason]

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. I tried to volunteer there during our upcoming trip (oct/nov) but it was not to be. We would have been required to have a car to travel the grounds in AND they didn't allow us to boondock there. Their loss...very unfortunate.

[clikrf8]

In Escalante, UT, (highway 12) there is an interagency headquarters where you can find out all kinds of info from BLM, USFS, and others. Very helpful staff when we were there last fall. New, modern building. There are some top notch places to eat in Boulder (highway 12, also), a grill ?, I think that are highly rated.

[tandk]

Great ideas! I hadn't thought about the Forest Service. Asking in local businesses is good, the drives sound fun and the antique store and Pet Cemetery are cool things to do, also!

[padredw]

I will second the recommendation to drive Utah 12 between Bryce and Torrey, UT (Capitol Reef). It remains as a highlight in our memory of visiting that area. We did not consider it a difficult drive at all--pulling a 34' fifth-wheel.

[clikrf8]

State Parks in Utah: Kodachrome, Goblin Valley. Calf Creek falls on Highway 12, highway 12, Burr Trail Road near Boulder, UT through Long Canyon and the Burr Trail switchbacks, second Kolob Rd. drive.

[LindaAnn]

Here are 3 unexpected finds we made while we were in Virgin, UT, just outside Zion Natl Park. We stayed at Zion River RV Resort, which was super nice.

1. The Cactus Room is a combination antique store/restaurant. Bob is very friendly and cooks a nice meal.
2. There is a very un-traveled drive called Kolob Terrace Road within a mile or so of there...it has some beautiful scenery and winds in and out of a section of Zion, without all the crowds.
3. About 50 miles southeast of Virgin is Kanab, UT--lots of things to see there, but the best thing is that it is the location of the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, well worth a drive through...there are sections with dogs, horses, etc., and the pet cemetery is filled with little monuments and wind chimes that you can hear long before you get there.

[Eurocamper]

Stop at the local Forest Service Ranger Stations and BLM Field Offices. These are great sources of maps, advice and local information.

[dahkota]

This is one of my favorite websites for all things in the area: The American Southwest.

[RVnRobin]

I've had the best luck stopping at locally owned independent businesses like a barber shop for a shave or hair cut and conversation. Hardware stores, gas stations, grocery stores, etc. The key is locally owned and not a chain store. The locals have all the best info. Course you have to be there to do that. Pot luck is the best luck. Hit the road and explore with no deadlines or reservations.

[tandk]

Chamber of commerce is a great idea, thanks! I'll check them out tomorrow 🙂

[deleted-2]

NM...

[path1]

I can't help you exactly, but don't over look the local chamber of commerce on line at some of the small towns you'll be going thru. If they are really tiny and don't have a chamber of commerce don't overlook the county chamber of commerce. Some of them have really nice parks and stuff to do, (and keep you in town longer hoping you'll part with more money in some cases). Some don't have big dollars to advertise to compete with bigger places. Our theory is the more off the main road the more neat things that are not tourist dollar generated.

[Ka_Ron]

That looks like a great trip you are going to take.

Would love to do that one also.