Utah Vacation

[Hamnet]

Headed to Utah in September/October 2017. Here is my travel plans as of now. Please let me know if this sounds good. We will do day trips for our outings once we get to final destinations.
Day 1: Sacramento to Winnemucca,NV RV Park. (Overnight)
Day 2: Winnemucca,NV to Nephi UT. (1 night at High Country RV Park)
Day 3: Nephi,UT. to Moab UT. at Arch RV Park & Campground. (Will stay here for a few days. Maybe 4,5, or 6).
Then from Moab to Virgin UT. Stay at Zion River Resort for balance of trip (4,5 days) before heading back to Sacramento.

How does this sound along with places we plan on staying. Any and all feedback welcome.

Thank you.

[Lauren]

Bryce in one day is like saying you can "see" the Grand Canyon in one day.

In both cases like that you can say you have been there; but you have not really SEEN them.

[dgminer]

We are planning our spring summer trip from the East Bay, going down to Bakersfield, then over to Las Vegas, Zion, Bryce, Moab, up to Grand Tetons, then Yellowstone come home by way of Washington, maybe stop at Lassen depending on the weather then back home. We love the red rock country, and Bryce Canon is the best place

[Hamnet]

Thanks again for responses. Have rv sites selected in the park areas. Now deciding where to stay from Sparks NV to Moab area on way to Moab. Have decided on 3 days Moab, 4 days in Torrey and 5 days in Bryce area. Then back home.

[MPond]

MWJones wrote:
HAMNET,
Don't miss Dead Horse State Park and Canyonlands NP. - not far from Moab on HWY 313. Dead Horse SP has a nice Campground. We saw the most BUTIFULL sunset we have ever seen anywhere at Dead Horse SP.!!!!
The view from Dead Horse Point Lookout is fantastic!!!

I have to second this. We've done all the NP's in Utah, and they're all amazing. But Canyonlands NP and Dead Horse Point SP are 2 of our favorites!

[vermilye]

For some unusual hikes to ruins, check out House on Fire on UT 95 about 15 miles west of Blanding, UT. About one mile down a fairly flat hike in the South Branch of Mule Canyon to the first ruin (House on Fire). Many more if you want to hike the entire length of the canyon. While interesting, the "official" Kiva is a mile or two past the dirt road to the parking for the hike up the canyon.



Another hike to a ruin in the area is south of UT 95 on Cigarette Springs road, which is off UT 261 near milepost 20. Around 3.4 miles down Cigarette Springs Road is an area you can park for the hike. A bit more difficult than the hike to House on Fire, but an interesting ruin. Some useful directions here.



Some photos & descriptions of the area from my 2014 trip start here.

[ppine]

You can't see everything, but Utah has it all.
I would suggest some more time outside of the National Parks. Then it is much easier to get away from the crowds. Take a day hike where you see no one. Have some time for contemplation.

[timandsusan]

We visit Utah regularly to see the G-kids and always get in another visit to a beautiful Nat. Park--just pick one. One suggestion at Bryce is to visit during a dark (no moon night) and take in the Ranger led star viewing with their telescopes. You have so many great recommendations--more than 1 trip will be needed.

[X-OEM]

I think Busskipper had the right question and observations. There is a lot to see in Utah besides Arches and Zion. You length of stay at each place is probably ties to how much you plan on hiking.

Example, Arches is beautiful but if you just take your car in and stop at the viewpoints you can be finished in a day. If you take some of the beautiful hikes, I would imagine three days would be pushing it.

Zion is the same thing, take the shuttle, get off at the stops, look around (with you and a few million of your closest friends!!). However, there are great hikes which would extend you stay MORE than one day.

Canyonlands would be two days minimum without hiking. Staying in Moab is doable, but the south and central parts is one full day and the north viewpoints and Dead Horse SP the second.

Bryce and be done in one day but the drive from Zion TO Bryce (or the other way0 is also the better part of a day as well. Lots of reasons to stop and smell the roses along the road. Forgot the highway number but you can miss it.

As others have mentioned, there are a TON of sites to see. To do it justice, based on your time frame, you would need two more trips to see everything.

We spent 6 weeks in Utah this last fall and it was not even close to being enough. Send away for tourist pamphlets from the state and you will start to see the challenge you have. It is or should a trip that is on everyone's bucket list that is for certain.

[frizzen]

Jealous

[Opie431]

Bryce Canyon is incredible. Zion is more famous but Bryce magnificent.

Get information on things in each area you are going to. Some things that do not make the National Parks are great.

If you have children 4 and up Goblin Valley will be a great stop for one day.

[Hamnet]

Orbiker, thanks for the pictures. A couple pictures reminds me of Eastern Oregon. We spent time in Eugene and Blue River Oregon over the past years as parents lived in Blue River for yesrs. I can deal with the stretches of roads per your pictures. Roads look good to me.

[ORbiker]

DanNJanice wrote:

Hamnet wrote:
HWY 50
oldcat1 and ORbiker. You mention Hwy 50. Possible option.
I don't have any specific reason to go Interstate 80 to Reno, then to Salt Lake City, then to Moab. Going 50 ftom Sacramento to Moab is about 100 miles shorter but no big deal. I may take 50 to Moab and also on way home. Depends what feedback I get and additional research about 50 across Nevada.
Does anyone have info on Hwy 50 from Lake Tahoe across Nevada. How is the road? Two lanes or four, places to get diesel fuel, rv parks, etc. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Traveling with 40' 5th wheel, 2016 3500 Chevy dually, I will be putting a 61 gallon fuel tank in place of the 36 stock tank before leaving.
Thank you

Highway 50 is a good road, mostly 2 lane, but little traffic and usually passing lanes on inclines. However, this is called the loneliest road in the US for a reason. Towns are small and far between. I have never had any issue finding fuel, but if you need repair work (say on a diesel engine) you could find yourself far from a dealer/mechanic capable of doing the work, with no cell phone reception. Personally, I enjoy these out of the way places, but thats just me.

There is a LOT of straight stretches that look like this.

In front


Over the shoulder to the back.


Some stations look like this.


The flat long stretches are 20 to 25 miles or so and then the road goes up for a small strip of hills, then back down to another straight stretch.




Eureka is a very interesting old town.

[oldcat1]

There are RV parks along that route, but they are pretty bare bones. There are several federal and state campgrounds (and of course boondocking) if you don't need hookups. There is a wonderful steam railroad museum in Ely, NV. Great Basin National park is also on that route and has a beautiful campground and an amazing cave tour. Time permitting, you could also consider taking Hwy 24 through Capital Reef instead of I70. Torrey, UT has some nice RV parks and if you enjoy hiking, Capital Reef is hard to beat.

DanNJanice is right on. It is a lonely road with spotty cell service. But it's good surface and mostly flat. With a new truck and a 61 gallon tank I would not hesitate.

[DanNJanice]

Hamnet wrote:
HWY 50
oldcat1 and ORbiker. You mention Hwy 50. Possible option.
I don't have any specific reason to go Interstate 80 to Reno, then to Salt Lake City, then to Moab. Going 50 ftom Sacramento to Moab is about 100 miles shorter but no big deal. I may take 50 to Moab and also on way home. Depends what feedback I get and additional research about 50 across Nevada.
Does anyone have info on Hwy 50 from Lake Tahoe across Nevada. How is the road? Two lanes or four, places to get diesel fuel, rv parks, etc. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Traveling with 40' 5th wheel, 2016 3500 Chevy dually, I will be putting a 61 gallon fuel tank in place of the 36 stock tank before leaving.
Thank you

Highway 50 is a good road, mostly 2 lane, but little traffic and usually passing lanes on inclines. However, this is called the loneliest road in the US for a reason. Towns are small and far between. I have never had any issue finding fuel, but if you need repair work (say on a diesel engine) you could find yourself far from a dealer/mechanic capable of doing the work, with no cell phone reception. Personally, I enjoy these out of the way places, but thats just me.