Bryce NP or Monument Valley

[Cathy_P]

I'm going nuts trying to work out an itinerary for my trip the first week of November. We're flying into Las Vegas and driving to Phoenix. I'm sure someone on this forum has been there.

Oct 30 & 31 Las Vegas, NV
Nov 1 Zion NP, UT
Nov 2 ?
Nov 3 ?
Nov 4 ?
Nov 5 & 6 Sedona, AZ
Nov 7,8,9 Phoenix, AZ (I have a wedding seminar)
Nov 10 home

Choices for the "?" are Bryce NP, Lake Powell, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley or spend another day at Zion.
Monument Valley is kind of out of the way, but I love the pictures that I've seen. Maybe I should just sack it. I don't have any idea of what to expect except for some pictures that I've seen. Am I at a high altitude or sea level? I know it will be cool, but will there be snow? Mapquest puts about 2-3 hours between destinations. I hope they have good roads.
I need some sleep..I'm not making much sense anymore...

[FredG]

We went the Utah loop last summer and took in most of UT NP's. We entered and departed from the Colorado corner. I have a serious fondness for Bryce, but each NP is spectacular in its own way. We left grand canyon for another trip which would include more of the AZ deserts, etc. If you're already at Zion, no reason not to take in Bryce, IMHO. We went in July, and met with temps from 42 to 90+ depending on altitude and time of day. In November, I would expect it to be on the cool side. Not sure when the snow starts in that neck of the woods. All roads between parks were good.

[cox]

I haven't been to Zion, but I've heard that it's beautiful. I'll look forward to your impressions & photos :)

[hnordberg]

I did Las Vegas, Hoover, Grand Canyon (south, day), Glenn Canyon, Zion, Grand Canyon (north, sun set), Bryce, Las Vegas.
Really wanted to go to Monument Valley, but just couldn't justify spending that much time in the car.
Bryce really knocked me out. I would love to go there again and spend at least a full day there. It actually snowed when I was there (late May of '96). Zion on the other hand is "pretty".
Grand Canyon is big. It was fun to hike to the bottom and up again. Got shots of a large lizard (Iguana?) and a mountain goat (at which time a guy claiming "let me through so I can shoot -- I'm a pro" thought my Elan IIe wasn't good enough for goats :/ ).

[agesilaus]

Bryce is about 90 minutes from Zion, we spent a week at Bryce this summer. Kodachrome State Park is close to Bryce and has some spires and buttes that are very photogenic.

However once you get to Bryce you are in a bad position to travel south. The only direct route is a long dirt road with a rather dire warning at the start about the road being impassible if it rains.

Otherwise you have to go north to Capitol Reef NP. Which is well worth the visit and then down the southwest corner of Utah. This will bring you thru the type of landscape found at Mounument Valley.

Or you can go back the way you came from Zion. This will take you thru Lake Powell. That way you also pass Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park which is worth a stop for sand dune photos.

Bryce is at 8000-9000 feet and will be cooler than Zion, you could see snow but it's a bit early for it. Also be prepared to hike down into the canyon at Bryce for the best shots, down to the Queen's Garden and across to Wall Street.





I'm going nuts trying to work out an itinerary for my trip the first week of November. We're flying into Las Vegas and driving to Phoenix. I'm sure someone on this forum has been there.

Oct 30 & 31 Las Vegas, NV
Nov 1 Zion NP, UT
Nov 2 ?
Nov 3 ?
Nov 4 ?
Nov 5 & 6 Sedona, AZ
Nov 7,8,9 Phoenix, AZ (I have a wedding seminar)
Nov 10 home

Choices for the "?" are Bryce NP, Lake Powell, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley or spend another day at Zion.
Monument Valley is kind of out of the way, but I love the pictures that I've seen. Maybe I should just sack it. I don't have any idea of what to expect except for some pictures that I've seen. Am I at a high altitude or sea level? I know it will be cool, but will there be snow? Mapquest puts about 2-3 hours between destinations. I hope they have good roads.
I need some sleep..I'm not making much sense anymore...

[Steve Mitchell]

Sedona...my favorite place in the world. You'll love it, enjoy. Look forward to the pix.

[Cathy_P]

Sounds like everyone agrees that I should scrap Monument Valley and take in Bryce. I'm looking for rooms now. One more silly little thing..does anyone get altitude sickness at Bryce? I'm probably the only person in the world that gets this. Only happened once up above Lake Tahoe. A long time ago some guy was trying to get me romantic way up in the mountains..I just got sick ;-)

[agesilaus]

The low end of Bryce is about 8000 feet and the high end at Rainbow Point about 9200. There is a lodge at Bryce, very nice. The only other lodging close by would be at Ruby's which is at the park entrance. They run shuttle busses into the park from there.

Zion by the way is bus only inside the park.

BK


Sounds like everyone agrees that I should scrap Monument Valley and take in Bryce. I'm looking for rooms now. One more silly little thing..does anyone get altitude sickness at Bryce? I'm probably the only person in the world that gets this. Only happened once up above Lake Tahoe. A long time ago some guy was trying to get me romantic way up in the mountains..I just got sick ;-)