Any suggestions for Cntrl UT 4-27 to 4-30

Headed into S Cntrl Utah, leaving Sat for Green River then will head south towards Escalante. Plan to hike Neon Canyon but open to comments on other areas of interest in the region. Want to stay north of the Colo River and west of the Green River, had done Arches too many times so headed for new areas. May possibly get to Bryce or Zion, not sure, but wouldnt mind concentrating on the Escalante region... I should be in that area Sun - Wed before headed to Salt Lake City for Noon Thr. BTW, if anyone else in that area those days please let me know, would love to meet up with other photographers! Thanks.

Don't forget the place that everybody else seems to... Capitol Reef and the close surrounding area. On second thought it's alright if you do. No one there but us crickets.

There are enough places worth visiting in the Escalante region alone to keep one busy for 4 days.
Coyote Gulch is a must see place, IMO. Harris Wash is a close second.
Upper and Lower Calf Creek Falls should be high on your list, as well.
Not to mention the Zebra, Peekaboo and Spooky Gulch slot canyons.

Have you got a hiking guide to the area?

I have Laurent Martres Photographing the SW - Utah book! Any other suggestions? I gathered when looking at stuff that between Capital Reef, Escalante and Bryce Ive got more than enough, but kinda want to make relatively good use of my time, like I said, Neon Canyon looks like fun, doable hike with potential for good images at the Cathederal...!!!

Although many of the places I mentioned are in Martres' book, there's no better guide for the entire Colorado Plateau (incl. Escalante) than Michael Kelsey's 'Canyon Hiking Guide to the Colorado Plateau'.
Neon Canyon is a full day 11.5 mile round trip hike, more fatiguing on the return leg. Bring lots of water and some emergency gear in case you have to spend the night.

Thanks a bunch! Will look for that book.

Capitol Reef has a ton of potential. Its a very cool park and not heavily visited. Muley Twist slot canyon looks interesting. Golden Throne looked like a nice longer hike.

Obviously the Escalante-Grand Staircase has lots of slot canyons to visit. My wife and I did Wire Pass last fall and really enjoyed it. It shares its trailhead with "the Wave" of Coyote Buttes, so you might look into getting a permit for that. There is plenty written about the process.

Not sure if it's still open, but when I was at Capitol Reef the other week, I overheard a ranger saying that the Cottonwood Wash slot was dry this year. This could be an uncommon opportunity for exploration of that slot.

Escalante is enough to keep you busy, but if you want to continue your trip with more narrows and slots, or some monuments and bentonite hills, I'd recommend Capitol Reef. Bryce is no bad way to spend an extra day, either.

I can understand your desire to hike to the Golden Cathedral. It was a location that drew me in as well. I hiked it last year, probably in about the same weather, maybe a little hotter. Although the cathedral is quite amaing, the hike is not. If you take the more direct route, across the desert, its still well over 10 miles round trip and most of it is thru sand and sage. Not to mention, its difficult to come up with anything original from there. I'd recommend some other hikes to spend your days. Peek-a-boo/Spooky is a fun day of hiking. Zebra/Tunnel Slot is another. You can spend some time at Devil's Garden, or head to Sunset Arch for and evening shoot. Not to mention Calf Creek Falls is near by, as well as Willis Creek. Not trying to talk you out of Neon, but it makes for one really long tiring day with hardly any shade during the hike.

Good info. I'm heading down to the same area the 2nd. I plan on Neon canyon also. Thanks for the info!

Just to tag onto what Mel suggested about Muley Twist in Capitol Reef. If you choose Lower Muley I suggest to do it do it from 'The Post' parking area, it may be about a mile and a half to the canyon, but it cuts off the more open and less interesting part of Lower Muley, which would require more hiking, and gets right into the big undercuts and high walls relatively quickly. Have a great journey!