Southern Utah

[Paleo_Ron]

Hi everyone. I'm hoping to get out to the Arches-Canyonlands-Zion area next late June and early July. If possible I'd rather "wing it" than make reservations. Would there be any problems accessing the state or national parks for visiting purposes? My hiking ability is not what it used to be, so any particular drives would be appreciated. Also, I would prefer water and electric hookups but can do a day or two without. Any recommendations for campgrounds, private or otherwise? Again, would I need reservations ahead of time?

I'm always grateful for the help you good people so generously provide.

[Busskipper]

ppine wrote:
In April and late October expect snow. I have done 14 trips to southern Utah as a part of a contract for a coal mine. Mostly we went in May and September. We got everything from snow to mid 90s F. Snow creates a whole new set of problems when you are towing an RV.

Ture, but if you park and stare - Oh how Beautiful all those rocks Look with a Coating of White Highlights. 🙂

And by the same Token I've Hiked to the top of Angel's Landing in Shorts and a T shirt in Late December. Luck of the Draw - note a few days Later we were Lucky enough to Catch 8" of snow on/at Bryce, so if you don't like the weather - not to worry it is ever Changing. 🙂

Love Utah in the Winter,

[ppine]

In April and late October expect snow. I have done 14 trips to southern Utah as a part of a contract for a coal mine. Mostly we went in May and September. We got everything from snow to mid 90s F. Snow creates a whole new set of problems when you are towing an RV.

[Busskipper]

4runnerguy wrote:

ppine wrote:
May and Sepetember/October solve a lot of issues.

Not necessarily. Look at the visitation statistics for Arches NP. Go after mid-October and before May, although April is pretty busy on the weekends. We've gotten into 30+ minute backups going from Arches into Moab during mid-October. 😞

Ken,

Trying to bring the chart onto the page - Insert (Width=680)

Great chart!

Guessing the Red Line is similar to the time the Temperature drops to Enjoyable?

Link to Weather

[D_E_Bishop]

South of the turn off for The Needles is Monticello and Blanding. We spent a week including Memorial Day camped at Blanding. NO crowds! Campers yes but no crowds.

Visited Natural Bridges, Needles, Medicine Hat, North Colorado River Area, Muley Point, the Moki Dugway, and Goosenecks. I would add dropping down into the Canyon just before the Visitors Center at Island In the Sky, short drive to the river bend below Dead Horse Point.

Arches is going to be a bear, we have seen lines to get in two or three hundred yards down the highway and some locals told us on one day two years ago all the back to Moab. I don't know if the road work and campground improvements have been completed or not, if not plan for another time.

The inappropriately named Bryce Canyon is best at first snowfall and before Rose's CG closes for the winter. It is inappropriate because it is not a Canyon. Ask a Ranger.

Have fun and nothing I have mentioned requires a 4X4. Been in and out of the canyon several times and never used the 4X, and never had to ride the brakes. Four people in the Sidekick.

[Roy_Lynne]

There are BLM campgrounds in the area that don't take reservations but they fill up quickly.

[4runnerguy]

ppine wrote:
May and Sepetember/October solve a lot of issues.

Not necessarily. Look at the visitation statistics for Arches NP. Go after mid-October and before May, although April is pretty busy on the weekends. We've gotten into 30+ minute backups going from Arches into Moab during mid-October. 😞

[ppine]

May and Sepetember/October solve a lot of issues.

[Paleo_Ron]

Yep, thanks to everyone. 4runnerguy and vermilye, what you say makes a lot of sense. I've learned from making State Park reservations in Florida that I'm not the only human RVing!

[vermilye]

Paleo Ron wrote:
OK everyone; thanks again. Maybe I'll consider a trip in the Fall instead!

I've just been through the area (in late September) and it isn't any better. Almost everything in & around Moab was either reserved or full, although we did find a site in Arch View. Goblin Valley was full, as was Dead Horse Point & Canyonlands. There were one or two sites open at Horsethief. This was during the week - I suspect weekends are worse. Maybe it gets better after October...

While I hate being tied to reservations, Southern Utah is popular enough that I suspect they are necessary.

[4runnerguy]

For information on much of what there is to do and see in and around Moab, Arches and Canyonlands, check out this post:

A Primer on Moab

As for a fall trip, realize that it is often busier then than in the heat of the summer. Many realize that it is the ideal time to visit.

[agesilaus]

BarryG20 wrote:


Not sure what you are driving but if you have a TV or toad in Capital Reef go down the Notom Rd on the east side of the park take it to the Burr Trail go up the Burr trail and you will come out at Boulder on HWY 12 take 12 down into Torrey and back to your starting place. Take a few hours but the Notom/Burr Trail are fairly lightly traveled and scenery is great. Hopefully you will have already or will be taking hwy 12 towards Bryce/Zion as that is a must drive. In Canyon Lands again if you have TV or decent toad you can take the Schaefer trail from Canyonlands Island in the Sky section down into Moab instead of taking the main road back out, high clearance would be good but no need for 4wd. Don't forget to stop at Dead Horse Point while up there. Also south of Moab near the Needles district of Canyonlands is the Rim Recreation Area good road leading out to the rim in 2 or 3 places road all paved iirc.

I see from your tagline you have a pickup, the above are all great suggestions. At CRNP instead of turning onto the Notam road turn on the other side of the highway on the Hartnet Road, depending on your exact rout will take you on a 60-70 mile loop road thru spectacular scenery, the Temples of the moon and sun for one. The road is good western gravel road with a few possible water crossings.

There are a couple of excellent FHU CG in Torrey besides the park CG that require reservations if you expect to get in.

North Rim of the Grand Canyon is another cooler site that you might want to add to your list. It has a number of great backroad drives, talk to the Rangers. There is a FHU CG at Jacob Lake and a NF/BLM ranger station too. A longish drive into the park but scenic with light traffic. Lots of short, often paved trails with great scenery. Light crowds compared to the cattle herd on the South Rim.

Bryce is also cool and has some good short hikes and the loop drive is excellent. Kodachrome SP is near and worth a trip and there is a road running south from there that goes by Grosvenor Arch, you can boondock at the arch and the road continues south to an old movie set.

A word about these Utah and western gravel roads, if rain is predicted stay off the roads. They can become impassable even to 4WD vehicles after a hard rain and stay that way for a day. Gumbo mud. Always talk to the rangers before heading out on one, there could have been a wash out or something else blocking the road.

[southernsky]

We use to wait a couple days before moving to our next destination to make reservations. We are finding it harder and harder to do this anymore. We normally do our traveling in June and into the first of July. This year we had to change our plans because we couldn't find openings in parks

[Paleo_Ron]

OK everyone; thanks again. Maybe I'll consider a trip in the Fall instead!

[trailertraveler]

Paleo Ron wrote:
...My hiking ability is not what it used to be, so any particular drives would be appreciated...

Kane Creek Road
Potash Lower Colorado Byway
Upper Colorado River UT-128 Scenic Byway