In three weeks my friend and I plan to explore Bryce/Zion. We plan to leave Bakersfield around 6:00AM Friday and return Monday night. If you were us, what recommendations would you have for camping. Primitive camping is ok with us, we will be in my highly modded Tacoma. Would we have time to cruise "Valley of the Gods?" Should we get our ice, food in St. George? We would like to do some good day hiking as well. I wish we had another day or two but time constraints give us Saturday and Sunday for exploring. Thanks!
Bryce/Zion Parks
- Thread starter Haggis
- Start date
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In basicaly two days, you canspend all your time in Zion or Bryce. Valley of the Gods is Monument valley. Which is freaking awesome but not really all that close. North Rim is actually closer and Torroweap is freaking awesome.
There is a lot more to do and see in Zion than in Bryce, in my experience. You can hike to the bottom of Bryce Canyon and back out in a few hours. It's pretty, but you see most of there is to see in pretty short order. Zion is way bigger with way more canyons, trails, different scenery and etc. It's also WAY more crowded so be prepared.
Dixie national forest has dispersed camping all over. Spend your time at Zion. Or, Kaibab national has really nice dispersed camping with some nice fire roads. Then check out north rim.
Just got back form there, we were passing though on the way home from S AZ. 2 Days are NOT ENOUGH really do anymore that just the highlights on a quick drive though. We did just a quick run though of them both to see where we wanted to spend our time on future trips.
I would pick one or the other and spend your time there, ZION was very busy when we were there 3 weeks ago, we have already planed that when we go back it will be in the dead of winter.
I would pick one or the other and spend your time there, ZION was very busy when we were there 3 weeks ago, we have already planed that when we go back it will be in the dead of winter.
Toroweap for sure (campground is right on the rim of the Grand Canyon). If you make it to Zion, definitely hike to Angels Landing. If you make it to Kanab, drive to White Pockets (Google it.... one of the most unique natural rock formations around & you can camp here: Campgrounds - Paria Canyon Permit Area - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - BLM Arizona), also North of Kanab is Peek-a-Boo slot canyon (about a 10 mile drive...very sandy road). If you decide to go to Kaibab one of my favorite view points is Crazy Jug Kaibab National Forest - Crazy Jug Viewpoint. Also on the Kaibab, Timp, North Timp, and Parissawampitts Point Western Kaibab Plateau . Not sure about Kaibab road conditions (might want to call the North Kaibab Ranger station). Have fun. Let me know if you have questions. This area is my "Stompin-Grounds"
North Rim proper opens on May 15, you will be too early. Double check that date, though. Toroweap is AWESOME. Campground reservations needed via NPS website. Otherwise, you will need to backtrack to Forest Service land, which is not a big issue. There is a lot of Reservation land on the way out to Toroweap, on which you are not even supposed to stop. PM me for a bitching side excursion.
That said, "doing" Toroweap might preclude Bryce unless your return on Monday "night" is really Tuesday morning
It is about 6 hours to Saint George from B-field
That said, "doing" Toroweap might preclude Bryce unless your return on Monday "night" is really Tuesday morning
It is about 6 hours to Saint George from B-field
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With only two days skip Bryce. Angels Landing and Hidden Canyon are my two favorite hikes at Zion without heading deeper into the BC.
Get there way early to get a head start on the crowds. You have to ride the shuttle bus in the main canyon. If not not on a tight budget staying at the lodge is pretty cool.
Get there way early to get a head start on the crowds. You have to ride the shuttle bus in the main canyon. If not not on a tight budget staying at the lodge is pretty cool.
try for "day of" north coyote buttes permit if you can swing it. I've been once, and I'd love to go back. I'd much rather spend my time down in the paria than in the national parks.
you could spend a lifetime in Southern Utah and never see it all. Hard to imagine not having a good time regardless where you end up...
you could spend a lifetime in Southern Utah and never see it all. Hard to imagine not having a good time regardless where you end up...
Bryce Canyon Pines was not a bad campground. My brother & I stayed there 3 nites while doing day trips to Bryce/Zion/Grand Canyon(N. Rim). Some of the sites were not that flat(we picked one that wasn't) Fortunately, the rain we got in late Sep of last year merely ran off and didn't impact the site that much. The folks running the place were super-very accomodating(they even evicted a camper who refused to abide by the 10: PM "quiet time" rule and kept running his motorhome generator)
We were very lucky to miss by only one day the flash floods in Zion that claimed the lives of 14 people in the narrows--by all means-do your homework and watch the weather!
We were very lucky to miss by only one day the flash floods in Zion that claimed the lives of 14 people in the narrows--by all means-do your homework and watch the weather!