I live in Oregon and will be taking a trip to Utah/Northern Arizona next Fall (i.e. 2012). This is only partly a photo trip as it will be 25th anniversary vacation with my partner as well. Nonetheless, I've never been to the Southwest (except Phoenix), so I hope to make the most of it photographically.
We will be staying in Zion, North Rim Grand Canyon, and Bryce, possibly adding in the western sections of Grand Staircase Escalante as well.
Since I hope to book reservations at the national park lodges in the next month or so, my primary question is fine tuning the timing of the trip. We can go any time in September or October 2012, and we would like to avoid extreme temperatures at the various parks (which I realize have very different weather, but avoiding the extremes of sub-freezing and 100 degrees will let us get to our 50th anniversary).
So I'm thinking late September/early October, but I would welcome suggestions on pushing things around in that range to maximize potential for dramatic weather or foliage.
Posted by Jeff Hackett on August 26, 2011 at 11:55 PM
At the North Rim the lodge and services shut down Oct 15th and the road stays open weather pending unitl November 15th at the latest regardless. Foliage around Zion doesn't turn until about the first week of November in the main canyon or the last week of October at the higher elevations. And with the GSNM I'm guessing first week of November for foliage there as well. If I'm mistaken I'm sure others will chime in. Good journeys to you.
Posted by John Mumaw on August 27, 2011 at 9:57 AM
Just bought the one on Southern Utah. I have Vaughan's on Oregon but had forgotten about these. Sounds like I'll have to miss foliage if we are doing all three parks, but that's fine. I just figured it would be worthwhile to adjust the schedule a little if I could get more bang for my buck.
Any suggestions on how many nights per park? I'm thinking 3 at N. Rim, 3 at Zion, 2 at Bryce--or maybe 3 and adding in GSNM. Holler if I'm way off. We'll have about two weeks to do this, but we might drive down from Oregon, which would eat up about 4 days roundtrip.
Posted by John Mumaw on August 27, 2011 at 1:56 PM
This looks pretty good, although 2 nights at the N. Rim would suffice for me, as well as 2 nights at Bryce.
That's splitting hairs, though. At least you've limited your area in a way that makes sense with time to make adjustments on the fly. You wouldn't believe the number of folks who cram in nearly the entire Southwest in 2 weeks, who must then create schedules down to the minute with little room for error.
If you have the time, I would definitely include time at Escalante (GSNM) and Capitol Reef Nat'l. Park,
Thanks, John. I think I'll shift to 2 at N Rim, 3 at Zion, 2 at Bryce, and one in Boulder or Torrey to take a look around in GSNM and Capitol Reef. I think we will fly to SLake and rent a car (pretty cheap flights and rentals from there). Driving was going to be 2300 miles, according to mapquest, and I'd hate to sit so much that I can't hike when I get there!
Thanks for all the help. I'll read Martres' book and holler if I have more questions.
If you're coming in late September, all is not lost in terms of fall foliage if you're coming down from SLC. I won't know any particulars for 2012 (...), but options include the area near Park City, the canyons east of Salt Lake, and the Mount Nebo loop between Payson and Nephi. Possibly the aspens on the Kaibab Plateau on the way to the North Rim, as well. Depends on the season, really.
If you haven't been to the area before, I'd recommend at least one day in GSENM down the Hole-in-the-Rock road to explore some of the slot canyons. Spooky and Brimstone are probably the easiest to get to.
Let us know if you've got more questions as you go...
Thanks, Mark. We plan to drive down 89, enter Zion from the east, then continue down 89 to North Rim, then hopefully cut back up to Bryce by going through GSENM on the Cottonwood canyon route, entering through Kodachrome park and Cannonville, weather and roads permitting. We'll then leave Bryce heading east on 12 through Boulder and Torrey and head north to SLC, possibly taking an alternate route for a section of what looks like a gravel or dirt road along the water pocket fold section of Capitol Reef. Can you tell I'm a map-o-phile?
Assuming we enter Bryce that way (i.e. from Cottonwood Canyon), would we regret missing the westernmost section of 12 (i.e. Red Canyon) or is that just a must do for folks driving by all the parks but not staying in them?
We're saving Arches, Canyonlands for a fly-in to Moab in the future. We're packing a lot in, but not THAT much.
Discussion
7 repliesWe will be staying in Zion, North Rim Grand Canyon, and Bryce, possibly adding in the western sections of Grand Staircase Escalante as well.
Since I hope to book reservations at the national park lodges in the next month or so, my primary question is fine tuning the timing of the trip. We can go any time in September or October 2012, and we would like to avoid extreme temperatures at the various parks (which I realize have very different weather, but avoiding the extremes of sub-freezing and 100 degrees will let us get to our 50th anniversary).
So I'm thinking late September/early October, but I would welcome suggestions on pushing things around in that range to maximize potential for dramatic weather or foliage.
Consider buying Laurent Martres' books 'Photographing the Southwest-So. Utah' and 'Photographing the Southwest-No. Arizona' to help you plan your vacation.
Any suggestions on how many nights per park? I'm thinking 3 at N. Rim, 3 at Zion, 2 at Bryce--or maybe 3 and adding in GSNM. Holler if I'm way off. We'll have about two weeks to do this, but we might drive down from Oregon, which would eat up about 4 days roundtrip.
That's splitting hairs, though. At least you've limited your area in a way that makes sense with time to make adjustments on the fly. You wouldn't believe the number of folks who cram in nearly the entire Southwest in 2 weeks, who must then create schedules down to the minute with little room for error.
If you have the time, I would definitely include time at Escalante (GSNM) and Capitol Reef Nat'l. Park,
Thanks for all the help. I'll read Martres' book and holler if I have more questions.
If you're coming in late September, all is not lost in terms of fall foliage if you're coming down from SLC. I won't know any particulars for 2012 (...), but options include the area near Park City, the canyons east of Salt Lake, and the Mount Nebo loop between Payson and Nephi. Possibly the aspens on the Kaibab Plateau on the way to the North Rim, as well. Depends on the season, really.
If you haven't been to the area before, I'd recommend at least one day in GSENM down the Hole-in-the-Rock road to explore some of the slot canyons. Spooky and Brimstone are probably the easiest to get to.
Let us know if you've got more questions as you go...
Assuming we enter Bryce that way (i.e. from Cottonwood Canyon), would we regret missing the westernmost section of 12 (i.e. Red Canyon) or is that just a must do for folks driving by all the parks but not staying in them?
We're saving Arches, Canyonlands for a fly-in to Moab in the future. We're packing a lot in, but not THAT much.