Bryce/Zion National Parks

[Stavo]

There are a lot in the area. (caches) I went through Mesa Verde to Moab and within 5 miles of the road there were dozens.


Bryce Canyon is beautiful. Most of the park can be seen either from the road or on short trails. Unless things have changed, there aren't a lot of places to stay real close but I think within 1/2 hour drive, there are quite a few places to stay. It's been a few years.

Zion has some incredible rock formations. A lot of the park will require some hiking. If you are going in May, prepare for cool/cold weather and lots of rain.

Moab:
http://goneboating.net/stavo4/index.htm (old pictures)
This past year's: (2004) Days 4,5,6 are Utah
http://goneboating.net/Colorado%202004/colorado%20vacation%202004.htm


Don't have my Zion or Bryce pictures online anymore but in case you haven't already found them:
http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm
http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm

It's about 2-3 hour drive from bryce or Zion.
http://www.nps.gov/care/index.htm
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[drpetje]

Cold weather and lots of rain after a 10 hour flight hmmm?
But i guess we can warm up again somewhere else.
I would like to do some trails as well and have my 300d ready.
The plan is as follows:
start:
San Francisco
Yosemite
Fresno
Kings canyon
Sequoa
Bakersfield
Death valley
Las Vegas
Zion
Bryce
Lake Powell
Canyon the chelle
Flagstaff (Grand Canyon,Meteor Crater)
Sedona
Phoenix
Amsterdam

This would take 18 days.

Are there any tips on lodging discounts ? (hey i am dutch after all)

Thanks all
Peter
NL

[Stavo]

I can give tips on a lot of those.

Grand Canyon North Rim is less traveled/visited and quite nice. Much harder to get to though. South rim is a little more visitor friendly and much easier to get to from Flagstaff. Dress warm b/c it's over 5000 ft elevation at the rim of the canyon. So, could be 60 degrees at the bottom and freezing at the top.

Yosemite is absolutely beautiful. I envy you as you will be there during thaw when the waterfalls are much larger and more beautiful. It does tend to rain quite a bit so I hope you get clear days for photography.
Yosemite, Kings Canyon & Sequoia

Meteor Crater is interesting. It will not occupy a lot of time though. If you get time, petrified forest is in the area too.

Lodging depends on how you want to stay. Most hotel chains have "membership" rewards. Usually you can sign up for them right in the hotel where you check in. In the more popular areas, you may find bed-n-breakfast type places but they are not as popular in the southwest as they are along the east coast. You can usually find a hotel comparable to what we stayed in on the storm trip for about $60/night. With the membership cards, some of the chains have stay 3 nights get 4th free and things like that.

When we go out that way, we own a motorhome (RV) and we camp. So, can't really help you out on good hotel locations in those areas.

Now, it's not cheap, but there is a lodge within Yosemite that is excellent. Nice to wake up to a view of Half Dome.

If WS6DAVE would wake up (I'll give him a kick next week), he could tell you more about Phoenix area.

Keep in mind that you will be doing a lot of elevation changes. Lake Powell may be really warm ~70, where Flagstaff may be getting snow. So bring lots of layered clothing that you can put on/shed throughout the day.
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[Stavo]

For some of the parks, These maps are definitely worth it. Tear resistant and great detail of roads, 4x4 roads, hiking trails, etc...
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[Stavo]

Very nice pictures of Zion. To get most of these, you'll have to do some walking.
http://www.terragalleria.com/parks/np.zion.all.html

Check out the rest of this guys stuff here.
http://www.terragalleria.com/parks/parks.html
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[drpetje]

Thanks for helping me out Stavo!!
Lot of usefull links and nice pics.
It looks real good , the trip is now finalised from the 3rd of may unitl may 24th !
We have enough time to do some hiking so that looks promising.

Hope you have some nice Tornadic Supercells on your trip !
Regards to Jim and Jullie .

Thanks,
Peter
NL

[Stavo]

Post some pictures when you get back.

I won't be back in that area for a year or two.

Looks like New Mexico and maybe Arizona this year.
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[drpetje]

The vacation was the best ever!
Everyday was a beauty.
I was very impressed by dead valley and zion NP, really out of this world.
The helicopter flight over the Grand canyon was trully amazing.
Also 110F was quite a new experience pfff

Thanks again for the tips.

Cu
Peter

[Stavo]

If you liked Zion, you'd love Arches National park and Canyonlands NP in Utah.

However, if you do another trip to the US, I would suggest Yellowstone and Glacier National parks.
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