Planning for a future trip through the Southwest

[Dave-Sparky]

We are currently doing our early planning for a trip next fall to see the balloon festival in Albuquerque NM. This is in early October and we also have a storytellers festival just south of Salt Lake to go to in late August, so we are looking at things to fill the month between these two "must have" events.

I do expect that we will fit in stops at Brice, Zion, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. But there must be more things to see and do!

We would be looking at things that will not cost a lot or be very strenuous.

Dave

[Opie431]

Go to the Utah information site and you will find lots more things to do.They send a nice information packet out.

[padredw]

Wow! what a great opportunity. Here is the trip I would take with that month:

Salt Lake City to Moab and Arches National Park
Moab to Torrey, UT and Capitol Reef National Park
Torry to Bryce Canyon via Utah Highway 12
Bryce Canyon down to Zion
Zion to Jacob's Lake and North Rim GC
North Rim over to South Rim
South Rim to Mesa Verde, CO
Mesa Verde to Durango
Durango to Santa Fe
Santa Fe to Albuquerque

I actually prefer the North Rim, but no need to worry about that. With a full month, you can do both. All these "legs" are less than 300 miles several less than 50. You can adjust your days to visit each place I have indicated to fit your time between Salt Lake and Albuquerque.

I have made a very similar trip. PM me if I can give details.

Highlights of My Trip 2005

[Lauren]

x2 on Wahpatki. Also Grand Falls from Flagstaff

[VegasBT]

Goosenecks State Park outside of Medicine Hat. Panguitch Lake or the Duck Creek area of Utah. Cedar Breaks National Monument is also cool. And if you have the time and inclination, you should definitely visit Las Vegas!

[4runnerguy]

tragusa3 wrote:
Sunset Crater, Petrified Forest, Walnut Canyon

I'd add Wupatki NM to this list of places to see around Flagstaff.

[Dick_B]

Adventure Caravans has a month long tour of the Western Parks ending just in time for the Balloon Festival.

[Lauren]

Not sure why you are going to the North Rim. Have you been to the Grand Canyon before? If not, I strongly recommend you go to the South Rim and stay at Trailer Village. The North Rim is rustic and nice but your views of the Canyon are very limited. If you really want to SEE the Grand Canyon and not just say you have been there, go to the South Rim, stay there, and spend at least 3 days for the sunrises and sunsets.

Also, Capitol Reef NP in Torrey is one of our favorite spots - we will be there again (3rd time) next fall.

[tragusa3]

Sunset Crater, Petrified Forest, Walnut Canyon

[Bumpyroad]

mesa arch in the canyonlands and the goosenecks.
bumpy

[Janss]

Antelope Slot Canyon and Horseshoe Bend at Page/Lake Powell, Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, Historic Hubbell Trading Post.

[Gonzo42]

Caverns of the Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, Carlsbad Caverns.

[amandasgramma]

Moab, Utah. Fantastic place to visit. The Arches Natl Park and Canyonlands are very interesting......can be seen from the car or hiked into.