Any tips touring Grand / Bryce Canyon and Zion
Discussion
Taking a little (4000 mile) road trip at the end of this week (10th June), down from Seattle to Tucson Arizona via San Francisco. Then I intend to visit all the great sites, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion. Also plan to drive along Highway 50, which is supposed to be the loneliest road in America, then back up to Reno.
Just wondering if any one had some tips on places to see in particular. I know there are some stunning rock formations around the area and I can't wait to take some pictures. Will driving a MX-5 and staying in Motels. Not looking to spend 4 hours hiking to get somewhere, more interested in just seeing things that I can find easily by car.
Will be surfing the web myself this week for more info, but I always find that one gets good tips from fellow visitors who have seen something.
Thanks in advance,
Smele.
Just wondering if any one had some tips on places to see in particular. I know there are some stunning rock formations around the area and I can't wait to take some pictures. Will driving a MX-5 and staying in Motels. Not looking to spend 4 hours hiking to get somewhere, more interested in just seeing things that I can find easily by car.
Will be surfing the web myself this week for more info, but I always find that one gets good tips from fellow visitors who have seen something.
Thanks in advance,
Smele.
If you drive out onto the quiet roads don't take it for granted that its quiet for a reason...Its too friggin hot.
Take bottled water, there is a very good chance you won't need it, and a tiny chance you could be screwed without it, I wouldn't take the risk myself.
when i was driving to las Vegas I went through Death Valley, and picked up a 17'ish yr old guy from san francisco who had pulled of the main highway and down some little track just to see where it went....
He Broke down just a few miles from the main road, but it was about 130 degrees and he was still clutching the empty bottle of coke when I saw him waving at me from the side of the road
He was parched to say the least and that was only an hour or so of walking.
Does anyone know if there is mobile phone coverage out there? I don't think i owned a mobile phone back then!
Take bottled water, there is a very good chance you won't need it, and a tiny chance you could be screwed without it, I wouldn't take the risk myself.
when i was driving to las Vegas I went through Death Valley, and picked up a 17'ish yr old guy from san francisco who had pulled of the main highway and down some little track just to see where it went....
He Broke down just a few miles from the main road, but it was about 130 degrees and he was still clutching the empty bottle of coke when I saw him waving at me from the side of the road
He was parched to say the least and that was only an hour or so of walking. Does anyone know if there is mobile phone coverage out there? I don't think i owned a mobile phone back then!
Well I drove half your route the other week!
I went San Francisco to Yosemite (fantastic drive).
I would then go through Yosemite (east) towards Vegas via Death Valley (The pass was still shut due to snow when I went last week so I had to go south through the park instead and missed Death Valley.
I only got as far as Vegas I'm afraid - lost track of time (and money) and headed back home to San Francisco.
I would definitely not recommend the quiet roads as metioned above! The main roads between Vegas and San Francisco are bad enough on their own - there's absolutly bugger all to see except tumbleweed. Its not called the Mauhave desert for nothing.
Good luck and have fun.
I went San Francisco to Yosemite (fantastic drive).
I would then go through Yosemite (east) towards Vegas via Death Valley (The pass was still shut due to snow when I went last week so I had to go south through the park instead and missed Death Valley.
I only got as far as Vegas I'm afraid - lost track of time (and money) and headed back home to San Francisco.
I would definitely not recommend the quiet roads as metioned above! The main roads between Vegas and San Francisco are bad enough on their own - there's absolutly bugger all to see except tumbleweed. Its not called the Mauhave desert for nothing.
Good luck and have fun.
If you can go to Monument Valley, bit of a drive upto the Arizona/Utah border but amazing scenery when you get there. Do the self guided tour and you spend about 2 hours on dirt tracks making a real mess of the hire car
Did a roadtrip back in sept 2001, 3000 miles in just under 3 weeks with my then g/f, we both loved it and would definately go back at the drop of a hat. Started off in San Fran, and went to Monterrey, Bakersfield, Mojave, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon (north rim), Page, Monument Valley, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon (south rim), Meteor crater, Phoenix, Tuscon, Yuma, San Diego and up to LA.
Did a roadtrip back in sept 2001, 3000 miles in just under 3 weeks with my then g/f, we both loved it and would definately go back at the drop of a hat. Started off in San Fran, and went to Monterrey, Bakersfield, Mojave, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon (north rim), Page, Monument Valley, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon (south rim), Meteor crater, Phoenix, Tuscon, Yuma, San Diego and up to LA.
If you do Death Valley......stop at Badwater.....lowest place in the States -282 ft below sea level.......walk as far as you can to avoid fellow tourists.......i swear to god it's the quietest place on earth.....you can hear the sound of your own blood rushing around your veins......
Grand Canyon.....if you can.....do the chopper drop into the canyon/champagne by the Colorado/BBQ at the top of the canyon ....memory will last you a life time........try and catch sunset at the canyon and see the glorious colour changes on the canyon walls.
tune into Hawk FM (do an internet search for freq)for top music
Grand Canyon.....if you can.....do the chopper drop into the canyon/champagne by the Colorado/BBQ at the top of the canyon ....memory will last you a life time........try and catch sunset at the canyon and see the glorious colour changes on the canyon walls.
tune into Hawk FM (do an internet search for freq)for top music
While you are at Bryce Canyon, I would definitely recommend taking one of the trails down into the canyon itself. There are a few and some are fairly short if you do not have much time. Remember reasonable shoes and plenty of water though.
At Zion take the bus [you can only drive up the vally if you are actually staying at the lodge but there are plenty of free buses] to the top of the valley. You then walk about a mile alongside the river and can then walk up the river itself depending how wet you want to get.
Depending on your route, I would also recommend visiting Mesa Verde NP and Canyon de Chelly. At the latter driving even a rental car into the canyon is not recommended but there are tours you can book at the Holiday Inn at Chinle.
Enjoy your trip, it is a lovely part of the world to visit.
James
At Zion take the bus [you can only drive up the vally if you are actually staying at the lodge but there are plenty of free buses] to the top of the valley. You then walk about a mile alongside the river and can then walk up the river itself depending how wet you want to get.
Depending on your route, I would also recommend visiting Mesa Verde NP and Canyon de Chelly. At the latter driving even a rental car into the canyon is not recommended but there are tours you can book at the Holiday Inn at Chinle.
Enjoy your trip, it is a lovely part of the world to visit.
James
Smele, over the years I've found these map books indispensable for my travels in the western U.S.
They show everything including jeep trails and hiking trails and have great suggestions on scenic drives, things to see and do. They run about $17.00 each and can be purchased at R.E.I., and all major book stores.
Have a wonderful trip and wave to me here in Phoenix on your way to Tuscon.
>> Edited by Trooper2 on Tuesday 7th June 09:46
They show everything including jeep trails and hiking trails and have great suggestions on scenic drives, things to see and do. They run about $17.00 each and can be purchased at R.E.I., and all major book stores.
Have a wonderful trip and wave to me here in Phoenix on your way to Tuscon.
>> Edited by Trooper2 on Tuesday 7th June 09:46
I hope the MX5 has aircon? it will be so hot out in the desert that you won't want to be in the sun all day everyday (if not lots of water and very strong suntan cream)! I have done the journey twice from LA out to all the sites then back to San Francisco and it's something I'll never forget, especially the time in a silly red convertible.
The main things I would never want to miss, and I'd do again are...
- monument valley, don't even need to do the drive just go to the visitors centre, would try to make it dusk or dawn if I went again.
- driving out from LA to flagstaff in 1 day 500+miles and all the changes through the desert were amasing.
- as many little backroads you can find with old mining villages etc.
- yosemite, especially the waterfall and el capitan.
- bryce, zion and of course the gran canyon, get the pass at the first one that lets you into all three it's cheaper!
- Mono lake - just plain wierd.
- either the page / glen canyon dam or hover dam, the tours are fantastic!
- alcatraz, need to book at least 7 days before you want to go to the island, you can book from home.
- don't think you'll get chance but the pacific coast highway when it's not really busy is an amasing site.
think that's about it... I'll be off to book my flights now you've reminded me how much I loved it, bugger just realised I can't take anymore holiday for ages! arrrrrggggghhhh.
The main things I would never want to miss, and I'd do again are...
- monument valley, don't even need to do the drive just go to the visitors centre, would try to make it dusk or dawn if I went again.
- driving out from LA to flagstaff in 1 day 500+miles and all the changes through the desert were amasing.
- as many little backroads you can find with old mining villages etc.
- yosemite, especially the waterfall and el capitan.
- bryce, zion and of course the gran canyon, get the pass at the first one that lets you into all three it's cheaper!
- Mono lake - just plain wierd.
- either the page / glen canyon dam or hover dam, the tours are fantastic!
- alcatraz, need to book at least 7 days before you want to go to the island, you can book from home.
- don't think you'll get chance but the pacific coast highway when it's not really busy is an amasing site.
think that's about it... I'll be off to book my flights now you've reminded me how much I loved it, bugger just realised I can't take anymore holiday for ages! arrrrrggggghhhh.
Thanks for the info chaps.
hedders:
Actually that’s a good point about the water. I am not usually a safety conscious person, but I do have an avalanche survival kit in the back of the car which I will take with me, Long life Water, First Aid Kit, Safety Blankets, the whole lot. It’s not the avalanche that kills you, it’s being standard for 72 hours.
Been checking the mobile phone coverage, seems spotty, but worth taking the phone with me. Great in towns, but next to none on the open roads.
knight:
Will definitely look into Monument Valley. Plan to go up into Utah, but it’s my own car not a hire car, but I don’t really care if it gets dirty. Might have to put the top up if it is really dusty.
father ted:
Hmmm, Badwater, now that sounds like a place to visit. Like the sound of that. Good idea on the chopper tour, will fit that in as well. Sunset, great idea. Probably a good place to try out some of my time-lapse photography.
james p:
Thanks for the info on Zion. Perhaps I will book up the lodge. Mesa Verde, will check that out. Does not sound like a place for the MX-5 if a hire car is not recommended. Those hire cars can normally go anywhere.
Trooper2:
Looks like an ace map, will pop into REI and pick one up. Just have a Wal-Mart special in the map department at the moment.
MrsRotty:
Will have a look for that Motel. I really like the old fashioned weird Motels, much better than some horrible manufactured chain.
angrys3owner:
Yes, luckily the MX-5 does have aircon. I will be wearing long sleeves and a baseball hat (don’t tell anyone else that I was wearing a baseball hat).
Good idea on the National Parks Pass.
Mono Lake, just had a look on the web, that is weird, will check it out.
Hoover Dam tour. Hmmm, large-scale engineering.
Did the Pacific Coast Highway last year. That’s that advantage of living in the States, not flights to book.
V6GOT:
Seems like the Helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon is a must.
hedders:
Actually that’s a good point about the water. I am not usually a safety conscious person, but I do have an avalanche survival kit in the back of the car which I will take with me, Long life Water, First Aid Kit, Safety Blankets, the whole lot. It’s not the avalanche that kills you, it’s being standard for 72 hours.
Been checking the mobile phone coverage, seems spotty, but worth taking the phone with me. Great in towns, but next to none on the open roads.
knight:
Will definitely look into Monument Valley. Plan to go up into Utah, but it’s my own car not a hire car, but I don’t really care if it gets dirty. Might have to put the top up if it is really dusty.
father ted:
Hmmm, Badwater, now that sounds like a place to visit. Like the sound of that. Good idea on the chopper tour, will fit that in as well. Sunset, great idea. Probably a good place to try out some of my time-lapse photography.
james p:
Thanks for the info on Zion. Perhaps I will book up the lodge. Mesa Verde, will check that out. Does not sound like a place for the MX-5 if a hire car is not recommended. Those hire cars can normally go anywhere.
Trooper2:
Looks like an ace map, will pop into REI and pick one up. Just have a Wal-Mart special in the map department at the moment.
MrsRotty:
Will have a look for that Motel. I really like the old fashioned weird Motels, much better than some horrible manufactured chain.
angrys3owner:
Yes, luckily the MX-5 does have aircon. I will be wearing long sleeves and a baseball hat (don’t tell anyone else that I was wearing a baseball hat).
Good idea on the National Parks Pass.
Mono Lake, just had a look on the web, that is weird, will check it out.
Hoover Dam tour. Hmmm, large-scale engineering.
Did the Pacific Coast Highway last year. That’s that advantage of living in the States, not flights to book.
V6GOT:
Seems like the Helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon is a must.
so jealous, love that part of the world, think I need to get a job that sends me out there sometime soon!
I forgot to add, some of the places in death valley are very cool, I can't remember what the place is called but it's one of the rest stop places on the main road... just thought a pic might be better see below link below
www.americansouthwest.net/california/death_valley/zabriskie.html - film ain't bad either, soundtrack to film even better for driving music around that part of the world.
Mono lake is near mammoth lakes / mountain which is a good place to stay... ps the only reason we went was because it's a pink floyd album cover and thought it was worth a look
on a similar note, a family member made us stay at the pensivania hotel because of the glen miller song and yes the phone number is 65000! wouldn't recommend it don't think the place has been decorated for about 40 years!
I forgot to add, some of the places in death valley are very cool, I can't remember what the place is called but it's one of the rest stop places on the main road... just thought a pic might be better see below link below
www.americansouthwest.net/california/death_valley/zabriskie.html - film ain't bad either, soundtrack to film even better for driving music around that part of the world.
Mono lake is near mammoth lakes / mountain which is a good place to stay... ps the only reason we went was because it's a pink floyd album cover and thought it was worth a look
on a similar note, a family member made us stay at the pensivania hotel because of the glen miller song and yes the phone number is 65000! wouldn't recommend it don't think the place has been decorated for about 40 years!
I would suggest trying to get at least a day at the Grand Canyon, it's big, impressive, and there are several sites around to look at. They have or had a donkey ride to the bottom of the canyon, although this may be too slow for you.
Bit late mentioning it but make sure your coolant is fresh, keep the bugs cleaned out of the radiator, v-belts and hoses in top shape. PH guys generally do keep these things up but worth mentioning.
I'd also suggest a hat with a brim all the way 'round rather than a ball cap, plenty of sunscreen, the heat and sun in AZ is no joke even now and in August when I was there it was amazing.
The ideas about bringing some drinking water with you are spot on, also consider setting up a "flight plan" with a friend as to where you plan to be every evening, check in so if you do get stranded someone will know to look for you.
Not to be alarmist, but plenty of people have had real problems getting stranded by a breakdown in the middle of the desert...and Death Vally, well why do you think it's called that...
Despite all that, have a great trip!
Bit late mentioning it but make sure your coolant is fresh, keep the bugs cleaned out of the radiator, v-belts and hoses in top shape. PH guys generally do keep these things up but worth mentioning.
I'd also suggest a hat with a brim all the way 'round rather than a ball cap, plenty of sunscreen, the heat and sun in AZ is no joke even now and in August when I was there it was amazing.
The ideas about bringing some drinking water with you are spot on, also consider setting up a "flight plan" with a friend as to where you plan to be every evening, check in so if you do get stranded someone will know to look for you.
Not to be alarmist, but plenty of people have had real problems getting stranded by a breakdown in the middle of the desert...and Death Vally, well why do you think it's called that...
Despite all that, have a great trip!
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