Utah National Park tour

[BoLyn]

We are planning a trip to Utah to visit Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Parks. We are not taking our toad so will only have 35 motor home. It looks like Arches and Bryce are okay to drive through but cannot find anything about Zion. Anyone got information on any or all of these parks. We have dogs so we cannot park and leave the RV. Thanks.

[Bigdog]

lfloom wrote:

Bigdog wrote:

lfloom wrote:
If we are being quiet about how wonderful Capitol Reef is, we should probably not mention how wonderful the CG is, right? Fruitas might be my favorite ever CG.

Stayed there for a couple of nites a number of years ago on my way back to Washington from Ghost Ranch during spring break and one night there was an awesome jam session in one of the campsites and everybody brought out their instruments and we had a huge fire and probably more than a third of the campers were there.

I can so see that happening. I must have gotten friendly with at least a dozen other campers. There was this one guy who liked to carve. He gave me a little cowboy boot he carved.

But, when you said Jam Session, I immediately thought people were making jam from the orchard fruit 🙂

Naw, the funny thing was watching some of the deer staggering around after eating some of the apples on the ground that were thawing out and fermenting

[2gypsies1]

The shuttles in national parks are not meant as siteseeing vehicles. They are meant to take you from place to place. You need to get off and explore on your own.

[BubbaChris]

D.E.Bishop wrote:
I hope the shuttle system has improved since we visited several years ago. The shuttle was so jammed we couldn't see anything. The purpose of the shuttles was to allow you to see the canyon without driving your own vehicle so why would they pack them so full there was absolutely no more standing room. IF, BIG if, we ever go back we will get a NP handicapped permit and sc#w the shuttle.

The Zion shuttle is to allow more people to visit/enjoy the canyon than would be possible if everyone was driving and parking cars (because of the limited space). They do what they can to make the trip more enjoyable by having the audio narration, but that's a secondary effort. I've seen photos of the parking issues in the pre-shuttle days and it made the sights even more difficult to see.

It is one of the parks that can be "loved to death" because of its popularity and it sounds like that was your experience that day. To "see" the park you have to get out of the shuttle and walk some. Not always a great distance, but very often worth it.

[APT]

Board the dogs and take a toad.

[zb39]

Hated shuttle in Zion. Will not do again. I will only go if I can drive myself. I guess it is the off season for me.

[CA_Traveler]

Our shuttle experience was much better plus with the narrative we learned about the canyon.

[D_E_Bishop]

I hope the shuttle system has improved since we visited several years ago. The shuttle was so jammed we couldn't see anything. The purpose of the shuttles was to allow you to see the canyon without driving your own vehicle so why would they pack them so full there was absolutely no more standing room. IF, BIG if, we ever go back we will get a NP handicapped permit and sc#w the shuttle.

[StarkNaked]

You don't say when your trip is going to be. In Zion during the off season, the shuttles don't run and the roads are open. When we were there during December, we were able to drive the RV and park in the shuttle bus stops. You can get to most, but not all of the parking lots.

As far as the dogs..... Make sure you understand all of the restrictions.

[lfloom]

Bigdog wrote:

lfloom wrote:
If we are being quiet about how wonderful Capitol Reef is, we should probably not mention how wonderful the CG is, right? Fruitas might be my favorite ever CG.

Stayed there for a couple of nites a number of years ago on my way back to Washington from Ghost Ranch during spring break and one night there was an awesome jam session in one of the campsites and everybody brought out their instruments and we had a huge fire and probably more than a third of the campers were there.

I can so see that happening. I must have gotten friendly with at least a dozen other campers. There was this one guy who liked to carve. He gave me a little cowboy boot he carved.

But, when you said Jam Session, I immediately thought people were making jam from the orchard fruit 🙂

[Bigdog]

lfloom wrote:
If we are being quiet about how wonderful Capitol Reef is, we should probably not mention how wonderful the CG is, right? Fruitas might be my favorite ever CG.

Stayed there for a couple of nites a number of years ago on my way back to Washington from Ghost Ranch during spring break and one night there was an awesome jam session in one of the campsites and everybody brought out their instruments and we had a huge fire and probably more than a third of the campers were there.

[CA_Traveler]

OP, Well you will now have very limited views of Bryce and Zion which are fabulous parks so probably no reason to visit them. Time for another plan.

[Texas_Two_Stepp]

Volunteering in Bryce now. No Motorhomes longer than 24 feet allowed at viewpoints. Shuttle is a great way to see the park.

[4runnerguy]

BoLyn wrote:
It looks like Arches and Bryce are okay to drive through but cannot find anything about Zion.

While you can drive your rig through Arches, there are precious few parking spots where you can park a 35' motorhome at the turnouts. And driving through Arches without being able to stop isn't much of a visit. I also question why you wouldn't bring the toad.

[Lauren]

There ya go - more on Cap Reef! 🙂

Most National Parks - out in the western states at least - do not allow dogs on trails; basically limited to paved area like parking lots, etc. (Grand Canyon you can walk them on the paved sections of the Rim Trail though).

I do not know why you are not bringing your toad. IMHO you are severely limiting yourself in visiting some of the most spectacular areas in the U S. Even just trying to get into parking ares - pulloffs in particular - is going to be a real challenge, if not impossible, with the moho.

You are coming all this way and will miss so much because you are so limited.

I am sure you have a good reason - at least in your mind - not to bring it. And it may be very valid or only kinda.

If in the only kinda - bring the dogs and the toad. Then you can leave them in the moho (even crated if need be) and you will have the freedom to see God's beauty to the fullest.

See www.LaurenBarbara.com and the Wanderings link and Utah and National Parks

We will be in Moab - Arches and Island In The Sky (north) section of Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Bryce again this Fall for the colors. Not going to Zion.