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southern UT and northern AZ



 
 
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  #1  
Old September 26th, 2003, 07:54 AM
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Default southern UT and northern AZ

Hi,

I am leaving on a loosely planned trip the week after to Utah and
northern AZ and am looking for recommendations on what are the MUST
see locations. I've got 6 days to cover as much as I can. My current
plan is to drive out from Las Vegas.

day 1: Zion NP
day 2: Bryce Canyon NP
day 3: North Rim of Grand Canyon (a whole day ?)

I am told that Monument Valley is a very beautiful and I should try to
plan to visit it. I might be getting a little to ambitious but I also
thought of driving into SW Colorado and visit the Mesa Verde NP and
then get back into Utah to the Arches NP.

I don't expect to do extensive hiking (small 1-2 miles are about what
I am prepared for right now) or camping ; being a creature of comfort
have made motel bookings for days 1&2 near Zion.

Any suggestions on what I do on days 4, 5, 6 would be much
appreciated.

Thanks,
~Srikant
  #2  
Old September 26th, 2003, 11:39 AM
D R Ranch
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Default southern UT and northern AZ

Monument Valley.....what a beautiful place to see and visit.....the Navajo
Nation holds truly one of the crown jewels of the west......this is a Navajo
Nation Park, not a national park, where the Navajo or Dine Nation has done a
fine job to service this area for your visit and tourist traffic......I was
some what leery as to what would be there, we all have seen the countless
pictures of the huge rock formations called the Mittens as well as many
movies or commercials filmed there.....but to actually visit and see this
vast area is truly awesome.....I am not sure of the exact cost of much of
the
things such as park entrance and camping fees, me being Navajo, I didn't get
charged these fees..... but they were very small compared to many National
Parks such as Mesa Verde and such.........

We camped at the Monument Valley camp ground which is right there at the
park
entrance.....from each camp pad you have a fantastic view of the top half of
the main Mitten formations towering above the canyon rim....soft powdery
sand make tent sites feel good for sleeping.....each site has a covered
picnic table and a fire pit or grill.....located within walking distance of
all sites
is a large bath house with hot water, showers and toilets....also
provided is a sink area for cleaning camp dishes with running hot
water too.....as well as tent camping there are RV pads there also, in fact
quite a number of pads are available for all types of camping....the only
problems I found to be is that you must first purchase tokens to work the
showers at the main park gift shop, a quarter machine would have been nicer
for the early riser or late night bather when the park shop is
closed......and it is dark, real dark in the camping area even with moon
light...of course this is excellent to be blanketed with a brilliant star
field above, just don't be tricked into believing this is adequate light to
find your way back from the bathhouse late at night...Gouldings Lodge and
Trading Post has been located about 10 miles west of the park entrance for
more than a century and a half..they offer rooms and pads for RV or tent
camping ..located there also is an old western movie studio from yester
year..the closest city is Keyenta, about 25 miles south of the park...here
are the major hotel chains such as Best Western and Holiday Inn...grocery
stores and gas available here too...this is a good place to fill up you
vehicle due to no other gas stations can be found for hours in either
direction...

Traveling in a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4, we didn't feel we would have any
problems on the roads down in the valley it self.....you drop several
hundred feet down a winding switchback road to a rough, rutted and sometimes
washed out road on the valley floor.. this road which winds thru this valley
can be hard on some low slung cars though I saw some cars and vans down
there navigating quite well.....but for the most part the road is fine, just
dusty.....but don't fear not being able to drive the valley, there are four
wheel drive trucks with seats on back which you can pay a small fee to a
Navajo guide service to travel the beaten path as well as hidden gems
forbidden to the general public traffic.....these guides are truly friendly
guys, joking and laughing with the passengers as well as giving information
on each stop about the formations around them.....there are a lot of sacred
places out there, even the huge Mitton formations are
sacred to the Navajo and that is why you must keep to the road or have a
guide show you other formations deep in the valley.....I wish I could paint
a mental picture to all about the many magnificent sights to be seen, yet
even
photos can't relay the feeling one gets enveloped by this beautiful
valley....

Highlights were stopping at John Ford's Lookout Point where you can gaze out
on the valley with the same perspective that Ford's countless western films
conveyed to the movie goer, even though the screen actors often refered that
they are
in Texas and such.LOL....here they have a couple of Navajo guys that will
help
you up on a horse, place a cowboy hat on your head and a fake rifle to
cradle in your arms so they can take a picture of you with this magnificent
background for a small fee....this is hilarious, European or Japanese
tourist trying to be cowboys
and attempting to climb on a horse....down right entertaining to say the
least.....actually the whole area is a Kodak moment, we shot 4 rolls of film
down there....I ran into a special Navajo photo guide who drove his cliental
around
in a fine new Suburban.....he or others like him are great to hire for the
serious photographer......he was kind enough to give me pointers and
perspectives as well....all in all, everyone goes out of their way to serve
the tourist as I saw it......

The Navajo sell jewelry at many outlooks.....please take time to look over
these beautiful items and know you are purchasing quality items from the
craft's person themselves.....this is important in that the money goes to
them and not to a dealer that pays them pennies on the dollar value.....they
are proud of their work and need this income to continue their craft and
every day living expenses...

All in all, I am proud of my Navajo Nation....they have turned a beautiful
area into a financial resource that supplements many while it serves to
introduce thousands of visitors to our beautiful land and culture......

Just after I had photoed the sun emerging in all its glorious colors and
saying my prayers out on the balcony of the visitor center, one of the
Navajo guides there who had been watching asked me what was I doing there,
acting like a tourist.....I replied " This place is even more beautiful than
my area of the rez outside of Gallup that starts the Painted Desert....I'm
an engineer in Dallas Fort Worth area now, where everything beautiful there
is man made..from the architecture, arts, even the trees that are planted,
everything has man's artificial touch to make something beautiful...I just
had to see with my own eyes the beauty the Holy Ones created for the Dine
people, a place where harmony envelopes all my senses..I have been away from
home too long " ..the guide smiled, a knowing nod of his head told me he
knew exactly what I meant...




wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I am leaving on a loosely planned trip the week after to Utah and
northern AZ and am looking for recommendations on what are the MUST
see locations. I've got 6 days to cover as much as I can. My current
plan is to drive out from Las Vegas.

day 1: Zion NP
day 2: Bryce Canyon NP
day 3: North Rim of Grand Canyon (a whole day ?)

I am told that Monument Valley is a very beautiful and I should try to
plan to visit it. I might be getting a little to ambitious but I also
thought of driving into SW Colorado and visit the Mesa Verde NP and
then get back into Utah to the Arches NP.

I don't expect to do extensive hiking (small 1-2 miles are about what
I am prepared for right now) or camping ; being a creature of comfort
have made motel bookings for days 1&2 near Zion.

Any suggestions on what I do on days 4, 5, 6 would be much
appreciated.

Thanks,
~Srikant



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Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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  #4  
Old September 26th, 2003, 02:22 PM
Rick
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Posts: n/a
Default southern UT and northern AZ

You need to find time to hit Moab and see Arches. It's just incredible, one
of the most beautiful places in the country.


  #5  
Old September 26th, 2003, 03:21 PM
rick++
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Posts: n/a
Default southern UT and northern AZ

Since you prefer driving over hiking, the few extra hours to get the South
Rim will give you more tourist attractions than the North Rim. You
should keep this a contingincy in case bad weather closes the north rim.
The extra drive is beautiful. And you can visit some of the Native American
reservations.

There's a fair number of pretty places next to Vegas, you can fill extra time
on the way back- Valley of Fire, Red Rocks, Lake Powell, Hoover Dam,
and Red Rocks, not to mention the city sights.
Beware, Vegas traffic jams now rival Los Angeles.
  #6  
Old September 26th, 2003, 05:18 PM
Raptor
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Posts: n/a
Default southern UT and northern AZ

wrote:
Hi,

I am leaving on a loosely planned trip the week after to Utah and
northern AZ and am looking for recommendations on what are the MUST
see locations. I've got 6 days to cover as much as I can. My current
plan is to drive out from Las Vegas.

day 1: Zion NP
day 2: Bryce Canyon NP
day 3: North Rim of Grand Canyon (a whole day ?)

I am told that Monument Valley is a very beautiful and I should try to
plan to visit it. I might be getting a little to ambitious but I also
thought of driving into SW Colorado and visit the Mesa Verde NP and
then get back into Utah to the Arches NP.

I don't expect to do extensive hiking (small 1-2 miles are about what
I am prepared for right now) or camping ; being a creature of comfort
have made motel bookings for days 1&2 near Zion.

Any suggestions on what I do on days 4, 5, 6 would be much
appreciated.

Thanks,
~Srikant


Simplest solution is to double or triple your trip duration.:-)

Add Tuweep to your wish-I-had-time list of suggestions, if that's not
what you mean by "North Rim...". It'll take up at least a half day with
120 miles of fairly boring dirt road travelling, but it's a truly fine
way of seeing Grand Canyon.

Canyonlands still ranks as my favorite place on Earth. Island In The
Sky is easily the most accessible part, but you can sample the Needles
on your way to Arizona with a short day hike.

--
--
Lynn Wallace
http://www.xmission.com/~lawall
"I'm not proud. We really haven't done everything we could to protect
our customers. Our products just aren't engineered for security."
--Microsoft VP in charge of Windows OS Development, Brian Valentine.

  #7  
Old September 26th, 2003, 08:06 PM
Brian J
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Posts: n/a
Default southern UT and northern AZ

You have a lot planned here. I would suggest that you scale back the
ambition and take more time to explore the areas that you really want to
see. These sites seem close on a map, but they are not as close as you may
think. You may end up doing more driving then exploring the sights. You
can always add side trips if thing you feel the need.

Brian



wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I am leaving on a loosely planned trip the week after to Utah and
northern AZ and am looking for recommendations on what are the MUST
see locations. I've got 6 days to cover as much as I can. My current
plan is to drive out from Las Vegas.

day 1: Zion NP
day 2: Bryce Canyon NP
day 3: North Rim of Grand Canyon (a whole day ?)

I am told that Monument Valley is a very beautiful and I should try to
plan to visit it. I might be getting a little to ambitious but I also
thought of driving into SW Colorado and visit the Mesa Verde NP and
then get back into Utah to the Arches NP.

I don't expect to do extensive hiking (small 1-2 miles are about what
I am prepared for right now) or camping ; being a creature of comfort
have made motel bookings for days 1&2 near Zion.

Any suggestions on what I do on days 4, 5, 6 would be much
appreciated.

Thanks,
~Srikant



  #8  
Old September 26th, 2003, 08:28 PM
Dale Moore
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Posts: n/a
Default southern UT and northern AZ - Antelope Canyon



No one ever says anything about Antelope Canyon just outside of Page,
Az. Interesting place if you have
never visited a slot canyon. Pay the Navajo's to get on the property and
then pay someone to take you to
the Upper Canyon (about 3 miles). You can walk to Lower Canyon with a
guide. Midday best.
Do search on Google for Antelope Canyon.

  #9  
Old September 27th, 2003, 06:17 PM
Caveat
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default southern UT and northern AZ - Antelope Canyon

On Fri, 26 Sep 2003 19:28:21 GMT, Dale Moore wrote:

No one ever says anything about Antelope Canyon just outside of Page,
Az.


Probably because it costs a lot of money to see a very limited section
of slot canyon. Some people just hate being ripped-off.

Interesting place if you have never visited a slot canyon.


Just one of many. And all the others are free, or cheap.


Caveat


  #10  
Old October 12th, 2003, 06:41 AM
parklover
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Posts: n/a
Default southern UT and northern AZ - full 6 day itinerary

I have many personal experiences in this area. You can do it all in 6 days!
....but you'll need to cancel the hotel reservations you already made. I'll
give you a quick itinerary. I'm going by memory, but most of what share
should be pretty accurate, since I've spent quite a bit of time in these
areas. I highly recommend that you get the "Indian Country" map, published
by AAA (free if you have membership, but you can purchase at many tourist
area stores in the region if you don't have AAA membership).

Here's your schedule:

Day 1

Drive from Las Vegas to Zion (2 hours from Vegas) 8 am - 10 am (time change
11 am)

Zion NP 4 hours (11 am - 3pm)
1.) Visitor Ctr (15 min.)
2.) Zion Museum (1/2 hr.)
3.) Take shuttle (2.5 hrs total) to following: hike weeping rock (1/2 hr.),
trail to narrows (1 hr.)
4.) Drive to east exit & Hwy 89, stopping at Checkerboard Mesa for photo (21
miles, 45 min.)

Drive to Bryce (1.5 hours)(3 pm - 4:30)
Recommend Bryce View Motel, it's new, cheap, and clean and owned by Ruby
Inn, so you can use all of Ruby Inn's facilities, i.e.. pool & hot tub.

1.) Check into motel & eat dinner 4:30 - 6:00
2.) 6:00 - 8:30 Visit Sunrise & Sunset Points in Bryce Canyon NP, take
evening photos (the best time for photos is morning and evening)

Day 2

1.) Return to Sunrise & Sunset Points for morning photos (45 min., 7:45 -
8:30)
2.) Drive to Rainbow Point if you feel the need to see every lookout. I
recommend you take your car rather than the shuttle if they'll let you. The
shuttle takes too long and is only offered once or twice a day for this
route. If you take decide to take this drive, make sure you stop at the
Natural Bridge overlook (3 hrs, 8:30 - 11:30). In my opinion, you really
get a pretty good taste of Bryce without spending the 3 hours driving to
Rainbow Point, by visiting Sunrise & Sunset Point. Others would disagree.
3.) Lunch in town of Bryce (11:30am - noon)
4.) Drive Hwy 12 to Capitol Reefs Nat'. Park. Highway 12 is one of the
most scenic drives in Canyon Country, truly awesome! After you pass the
town of Escalante, between there and Torrey, stop at ALL scenic overlooks!
(3 hrs, 12 - 3pm)
5.) Go to visitor center and hike to the Hickman Bridge (2.5 hrs., 3 -
5:30) Note: the scenic drive in the park is ok, but I'd skip it. There are
better things to see and experience in the time you have. My favorite part
of the park is the Cathedral Valley section, but it requires many, many
miles of dirt roads that are impassable when wet; so save this part for
another trip.
6.) Drive the 2 hrs, 45 minutes to Moab and a motel (via hwys 24, I-70,
191). Moab has a number of hotels at reasonable prices as well as plenty of
fast food joints and good restaurants). (2.75 hrs, 5:30 - 8:15)

Day 3
You will need to get an early start today (7:00 am)!

1.) Drive to Canyonlands NP, Island in the Sky District. Visiting here
takes a lot longer than it seems, so stick to the things I mention he
Mesa Arch (short 1/ 2mile trail), Grandview Point, and Shaffer Trail
overlook on the way back (4 hrs., 7:00 - 11:00am).
2.) Arches National Park - 5 hrs, 11:00 -4pm). I recommend spending about
1 hour walking around The Windows area, about 1.5 hrs in Devils Garden where
you should take the trail to Landscape Arch, It is one of the two longest
natural arch in the world. Also drive to the Delicate Arch overlook and see
Delicate Arch from the distance. This is a "must see", because it is the
icon for the park and also for the state of Utah (it's picture is on their
license plates). It's better if you can take the 3 mile round trip hike to
the base of it, but you don't have the time, and you don't want to hike that
much. Balanced Rock is another famous formation, right near the side of the
road. You should stop and take a photograph of it.
3.) Drive to Cortez, CO and check into a hotel for two nights. The drive
about 3.5 hours (4:00 - 7:30) including the stops I'm about to mention.
Along the way, about 25 miles south of Moab, is giant Wilson Arch. It's
right next to the road on you left. Stop and take a picture of it. If you
feel up to it, take the short scramble up to it. Shortly before Cortez,
stop at Lowery Ruin, an excellent example of an ancient Indian ruin (45
minutes including aprox. 8 mile drive to the site).

Day 4

1.) Spend the whole day in Mesa Verde National Park. Take the Balcony House
and Cliff Palace tours. Depending on how busy it is, they may only let you
take one tour a day, so instead of requesting both tours, request one tour,
walk around the visitor center, get back in line and request the second
tour. Also, drive around the loop roads and stop at most of the stops. I
especially like Square Tower ruin. You can also take the self-guided tour
of Spruce Tree House.
2.) Back in Cortez, I really like the Mexican restaurant on the corner of
Hwys 160 & 145. Spend a 2nd night at your hotel in Cortez.

Day 5
1.) Take Hwy 160 west (south from Cortez) four about 40 minutes to Four
Corners, where you can pay your $5 to the Navajo and then stretch your body
out onto four different states at the same time (20 minute stop at most).
(Cortez to 4 corners - 1 hr., 8am - 9am including stop)
2.) Continue west on Hwy 160 to Kayenta (70 miles, 1.25 hrs) and the north
for 25 mile to the Monument Valley Tribal Park. This park is run by the
Navajo. 3 hours there will allow you to drive around the dirt loop roads
and visit the interesting visitor's center. (9am - 1:30pm)
3.) Take the long, 5 hour, drive via Tuba City to Jacob Lake (spend night
at Jacob Lake Inn, or at Grand Canyon Lodge, there's not a lot of lodging
choices near North Rim. Grand Canyon Lodge is a bit pricey).

Day 6

1.) Spend the day at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Make sure you take
both short walks near Cape Royal and also take the walk to Bright Angel
Point.


Allow 5 hours drive time from North Rim to Las Vegas

You can visit my award-winning website at www.nationalparklover.com for more
information and photos.

______________________________________________
Steve Schmorleitz
888-221-2796
www.wiseplanning.com
______________________________________________
Steve can help you with life insurance, home mortgages,
debt elimination, and financial planning.


wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I am leaving on a loosely planned trip the week after to Utah and
northern AZ and am looking for recommendations on what are the MUST
see locations. I've got 6 days to cover as much as I can. My current
plan is to drive out from Las Vegas.

day 1: Zion NP
day 2: Bryce Canyon NP
day 3: North Rim of Grand Canyon (a whole day ?)

I am told that Monument Valley is a very beautiful and I should try to
plan to visit it. I might be getting a little to ambitious but I also
thought of driving into SW Colorado and visit the Mesa Verde NP and
then get back into Utah to the Arches NP.

I don't expect to do extensive hiking (small 1-2 miles are about what
I am prepared for right now) or camping ; being a creature of comfort
have made motel bookings for days 1&2 near Zion.

Any suggestions on what I do on days 4, 5, 6 would be much
appreciated.

Thanks,
~Srikant


 




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