Guys
I am from East coast, so not much familiar with Utah, though I have visited a few times. I have 2-3 days to spend there during this or the next week and could not make up my mind yet. Guy Tal and Bret Edge has given me some excellent information. Guy's advice was to explore trails around Escalante and Bret told me about Arches/Canyonland
As time is very short and I will probably drive from Las Vegas, I am also wondering whether I should just focus on Zion. My interest is mostly in landscapes - both scenic and intimate shots - and I dont mind hiking at all
Any advice/ suggestions will be great. There must be many areas that I have not even heard of - so please feel free to give any tips
Driving from Vegas, Zion is your "easy" choice. Don't know how green it is yet down there, but you might catch Spring budding. It's certainly scenic enough. You can't go wrong with any of the National Parks or Monuments in Utah, IMHO - they're all spectacular.
If you decide to drive Cottonwood Wash or other dirt road normally rated for passenger cars, check with locals and park officials before driving them; I was just out in that area and a lot of the back-country roads were closed due to mud.
Thanks Les. I have choice of making the trip from Salt Lake City too. Does that open any possibilities?
Posted by Kalin Wilson on March 3, 2008 at 2:08 PM
Coming from SLC may not save you a lot of time but offers more direct routes to some areas in central/eastern Utah.
If you take I-15 to Provo/Spanish fork and then Hwy 6 over to Price then down to Green River and down to Moab you get to Arches/Canyonlands more directly. Still that's at least a four hour drive. Capitol Reef/Escalante is probably a wash from both directions once you get off the interstate.
Zion/Bryce can be done in two days if you just hit the highlights/view points (and don't chase the light). It would be easy to spend two days in any one place without getting bored.
In any case, you're bound to have a good time (except for the driving ). Have fun!
I would recommend staying in Moab, and photographing Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, and the surrounding areas. For 2-3 days in Utah, you will have a ton of photo opportunities in very close proximity.
If you decide to fly into Vegas, one other thought would be to take the two-hour drive into Death Valley. You may be able to still catch the wildflower bloom there. The sand dunes, Zabrisky Point, and Badwater areas are all classics. Also, consider going out for the day to Valley of Fire state park. It's pretty nice - especially at sunset.
Amab,,,I've been to all the places mentioned and each has their unique beauty especially during certain times of the year. I would select Arches/Canyonland area and stay in Moab as suggested above. The light is fantastic this time of year and Arches alone would keep you busy for several days.
Posted by Carol Hyman on March 4, 2008 at 12:23 AM
Just be aware that the weather in northern Utah is the pits right now. Another storm is expected in tomorrow.
I would second (or third, etc.) the suggestion of others for the Moab area. In addition to Arches and Canyonlands, there is also a great vista from Deadhorse Point State Park, just north of Moab. A plus is that the entrance is on the same road as the road to the Visitors Centrer at Islands in the Sky portion of Canyonlands NP.
If you fly into SLC, you can more easily reach Moab. It's still a trip, though; 4 hours sounds about right. And as Carol pointed out, if the weather is bad, that trip can get ugly.
Much as I like to promote Moab, at this time of the year I think Zion is a better bet, driving from Las Vegas.
Discussion
11 repliesI am from East coast, so not much familiar with Utah, though I have visited a few times. I have 2-3 days to spend there during this or the next week and could not make up my mind yet. Guy Tal and Bret Edge has given me some excellent information. Guy's advice was to explore trails around Escalante and Bret told me about Arches/Canyonland
As time is very short and I will probably drive from Las Vegas, I am also wondering whether I should just focus on Zion. My interest is mostly in landscapes - both scenic and intimate shots - and I dont mind hiking at all
Any advice/ suggestions will be great. There must be many areas that I have not even heard of - so please feel free to give any tips
Thanks a lot for your time
If you decide to drive Cottonwood Wash or other dirt road normally rated for passenger cars, check with locals and park officials before driving them; I was just out in that area and a lot of the back-country roads were closed due to mud.
If you take I-15 to Provo/Spanish fork and then Hwy 6 over to Price then down to Green River and down to Moab you get to Arches/Canyonlands more directly. Still that's at least a four hour drive. Capitol Reef/Escalante is probably a wash from both directions once you get off the interstate.
Zion/Bryce can be done in two days if you just hit the highlights/view points (and don't chase the light). It would be easy to spend two days in any one place without getting bored.
In any case, you're bound to have a good time (except for the driving
But come back. S. Utah has lots to offer and I'm sure after your first visit that you'll want to come back and see more.
Mel-
If you decide to fly into Vegas, one other thought would be to take the two-hour drive into Death Valley. You may be able to still catch the wildflower bloom there. The sand dunes, Zabrisky Point, and Badwater areas are all classics. Also, consider going out for the day to Valley of Fire state park. It's pretty nice - especially at sunset.
Ken
Ken
So heads up.
Carol
Much as I like to promote Moab, at this time of the year I think Zion is a better bet, driving from Las Vegas.