Help me plan

I'm considering sending my wife and son to my folks place in AZ the first week of April. I can then take about a week to drive down there via as many beautiful places as I can. Early April is when I can squeeze a week in. Is that a good time to go? Any chance it will coincide with desert bloom? Where would you go if you had such freedom at that time of year? All suggestions appreciated.

I have occasion to drive from Denver to Phoenix a few times every year and will be going down there again in March to visit my daughter and grandaughter and catch a couple of spring training games. Here's my subject list for the next trip down there in the truck:

About an hour west of Albuquerque on I-40 on the north side of the highway there is a mission that is lit quite nicely at sunrise. There's even a "scenic turnout" to view it. I haven't shot it yet because my wife is a "drive like heck and get there soon" kind of gal. Next time I travel alone though......

On Highway 60 between Show Low and Globe you pass through the Salt River Canyon which is billed on many websites as "a smaller Grand Canyon" and I couldn't agree more. We usually drive the interstate all the way to Flagstaff but when we went down after Christmas we took Hwy 77 south at Holbrook to Show Low and then took 60 through Globe otherwise I'd never have known about the Salt River Canyon. I'm flying down in March but I promise you that at least 1 morning the rental car will be headed towards the canyon.

I always plan my return trip to head north from Flag to Monument Valley and spend the night around there. Depending on the amount of time I have sometimes I plan an extra day and swing about 100 miles out of my way to photograph Antelope Canyon before going on to Monument Valley and if I have another extra day there's always Moab and the stuff around there.

You'll get a lot of info but that's my opinion. Good luck and good shooting.

If I were you, I’d just spend a week in Rocky Mountain National Park and then drive non-stop to AZ, as there’s really nothing to see outside of RMNP

Actually, if I did have that kind of free time (and I clearly don’t, as I’ll be stuck on a 3-4 week cross country photography trip at the time ), I think I’d go to the Great Sand Dunes, then onto Mesa Verde, then Monument Valley to photograph Teardrop Arch and the Mittens. Next would be Page, AZ, where you can photograph Lower and maybe Upper Antelope Canyons, Horseshoe Bend, and maybe try and win a permit to the Wave or head to the White Hoodoos. Then maybe head to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon.

You might also squeeze in the San Juan Mountains if you have time. Or, instead of heading through southern CO, northern NM isn’t a bad option, with places like Bisti Badlands, Rio Grande Gorge, Chaco Canyon, Ship Rock, etc. Ahh, if only I had that kind of free time…

I think it should be a good time for desert wildflowers, but things vary a lot from year to year.

Erik,
I don't know what you have already seen in the 4 corners area. There is so much to do on the way to Phoenix.

If you leave out stops in Colorado (since you can do those anytime), I'd head directly to the Farmington area - full day drive, over Wolf Creek Pass. There you can explore Bisti, Shiprock and Chaco Canyon. From there you can head west to Chaco Canyon, Goose Necks of the San Juan, Mouement Valley and the Page area (Antelope Canyons, Horseshoe Bend, Coyote Buttes, Wahweep Hoodoos, etc.). If you still have any time left, there is always the Grand Canyon, before you turn south to Phoenix.

Great time of year for that trip.
I'm sure you will enjoy any route off the interstates.

Thanks for the great suggestions so far! I really have not seen anything. I've not been to the San Juans, Moab, Bryce, Arches, Monument, Antelope, etc, etc. I have been to the back country of RMNP though. Anything you guys can suggest would be most appreciated.

If it is moist enough this winter is this time period potentially good for flowers?

Grant's suggestions are great, Eric. Here is what I might do if I had your time/luxury:
Go West on 70, go to Hanksville, then spend a day in Capitol Reef. Head south to Boulder and Escalante then west to Bryce (maybe a side trip to Zion?). Then SE towards Page, hitting Coyotte Buttes (I bet there are South Entrance openings, worth checking out) then Antelope Canyon. Maybe next Monument Valley.

FWIW,
Paul

I'd reccomend something similar to what Grant suggests, but instead heading west on 70 first, south to Moab, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend, then Sedona.

I don't really know what's typical, but I was in Moab mid-May in '05 and the wildflowers were about at peak. I passed through Moab again the first week of June this past year and the flowers were totally burnt out. I was in Monument Valley the first week of April last year and there were no flowers to be seen yet.

Yes, it is potentially good that time of year for flowers - key word is potentially. Here's what I'd recommend in a one week trip. Moab - sunset at Delicate Arch even though the sun angle won't be at it's best in April, it's still something to see. Sunrise at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands - same thing, sun angle won't be at it's best but still an incredible spot to see. Drive out to the end of the Island in the Sky road and check out the overlooks. On the way south out of Moab, stop at the waterfall for sunset near Ken's Lake. Head down to Monument Valley - sunset at the visitors center is great as well as teardrop arch (you'll need 4wd to drive to it though). Or, you could hike to it from the school if you know where it is. Be sure to be there hours before sunset due to the ridge blocking the last hour or two of light. Then, over to Page. I wouldn't waste time in upper Antelope - too crowded and not as good as lower antelope. Be in Lower Antelope by 10:00am Denver time and keep walking up and down watching the light (and shooting) until about 3:00pm. Also check out Horseshoe Bend at mid/late morning especially if you have big puffy clouds. If you have access to a 4WD, go out to the Wahweep hoodoos for sunrise. I wouldn't recommend Coyote Buttes unless you're with someone who knows the area. You could waste a LOT of time. From Page, head up to Bryce for sunrise and maybe do a quick side trip into Zion on the way up just to see it. The best glow at Bryce does not happen right at sunrise. Give the sun about 30-45 minutes after sunrise. You'll see what I'm talking about. From Bryce, go to Escalante and check out Devil's garden for sunset. If you have any extra time on the way back, check out Capitol Reef N.P. and the Hanksville area. The area around Hanksville could be incredible with flowers on a good year. This can all easily been done in a full week as I've done it many times. Give me a call if you need exact directions to any areas. Good luck and have fun!

Flower bloom is probably going to be peaking somewhere in middle AZ at that time of year; southern AZ gets its peak season in March, Moab in early to mid-May.

My vote would be: Moab (Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Pt.), down to Monument Valley, then to Page (Lower Antelope), Over to Farmington (Bisti, Shiprock, Chaco), then meander the rest of your way to your destination.

Alternatively, make a beeline for Tucson (to get there when there might still be a flower or two, and it's still verdant) and visit Organ Pipe Cactus NM, Saguaro NP, and the Sonoran Desert Museum (optional), then head up through Petrified Forest and fill time with other locations in the 4 corners area as desired.

Don't know where you're planning on winding up, or I'd be more specific; if the flower forecast is bad, you might consider the latter tour but stopping at White Sands NM along the way.

Also, I believe that Oak Creek Canyon flooded pretty badly in the Fall. Sedona might not be at its best this year...

Doh! didn't read your prior topic. Ignore that bit about Tucson.

First and second weeks of April are usually good times for wildflowers from Phoenix south, esp. Picacho Peak SP right along the interstate halfway to Tucson, also Lost Dutchman SP, just outside of Phoenix should be good as well. It would be about a month too early for wildflowers in Utah. Boyce Thompson Arboretum, east of Phoenix, should be good then as well. The Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix had a butterfly pavilion which afforded good opportunities for butterflies on wildflowers (300f4IS+ext tubes+flash---tripods not allowed).
I haven't been following the winter rains for Arizona, yet, but moisture during Jan and Feb are critical for good wildflowers in April.
Don

Thanks for all the great ideas. Now I just have to decide who's advice to follow. I guess the big decision will be whether to focus on where the bloom is happening (central AZ) or whether I should take advantage of the opportunity to visit places on the way down.

If I were you, I'd take Tony L's advice.