Utah National Parks
Dec 6, 2019 20:29:05 #
Mldmkr
Loc: Iowa
I’m considering a trip to Utah either between Christmas and New Years or early January. Would appreciate any info regarding access to the parks, suggestions from personal experience on favorite locations, etc. I will be driving 4WD vehicle.
Dec 6, 2019 21:54:23 #
skylinefirepest
Loc: Southern Pines, N.C.
For trails and beauty you can't beat Moab. But be sure to reserve your motel asap. Zion, Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands and more all within a few hours drive. Fabulous country.
Dec 6, 2019 21:55:59 #
Watch the weather as some parks are really impacted by snow. I would suggest early January to miss the Christmas travel. If possible, the Big 5 area always a good bet and easy to get between (Zion, Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef).
Dec 6, 2019 22:10:05 #
Mldmkr
Loc: Iowa
Thank you! My wife and I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning in Moab a few years ago!
Dec 7, 2019 06:20:20 #
steve49
Loc: massachusetts
Ditto the Moab.
You could spend a lifetime in Arches and Canyonlands and they are both right there.
You could spend a lifetime in Arches and Canyonlands and they are both right there.
Dec 7, 2019 06:30:01 #
Dec 7, 2019 06:35:43 #
steve49
Loc: massachusetts
If you can book a room at the Red Cliffs Lodge for a night or 2 you will like it... It's about 10 miles up the Colorado River from Moab and right near Fisher Towers. Beautiful spot on the river.
Dec 7, 2019 07:18:29 #
Unless you have more than "just a 4WD", it will be worth taking the jeep tours - they go into places where a normal 4WD can't go, and there are a lot of back-country roads in Canyonlands and Arches NPs. They are spectacular.
Dec 7, 2019 08:26:36 #
mizzee
Loc: Boston,Ma
Do not rely on your cell phone for driving directions as they are tower based and towers are few and far between. We used a Garmin that is satellite based and had no problems unlike the guy who ran up to us at a scenic lookout asking for directions to Capital Reef. (He wound up using his phone to take a photo of our map.) So do bring a regular roadmap as a backup plan. At Bryce, I did my sunrise photos at Inspiration Point. Do check out Dead Horse Point State Park in your travels. It’s a mini Grand Canyon. I brought a wide angle, a 70-200, 50 prime, and a 16-85. The lens I used 95% of the time was my 16-85.
Dec 7, 2019 09:11:56 #
Dec 7, 2019 09:20:45 #
While down in SE Utah don't forget to stop at Goosenecks of the San Juan River State Park near Mexican Hat, Utah. This is a canyon 1000 ft deep with three gooseneck contortions that look like puzzle pieces. I think this is a particularly spectacular spot that is high on my list of must see things. You will need a wide angle lens to photo it all.
Dec 7, 2019 09:21:20 #
mizzee
Loc: Boston,Ma
Mild to Wild Rafting (not at all limited to rafting BTW) offers wonderful tours that are off the beaten path.Cant recommend them highly enough.
Dec 7, 2019 10:02:15 #
DaveJ
Loc: NE Missouri
Hereford wrote:
While down in SE Utah don't forget to stop at Goosenecks of the San Juan River State Park near Mexican Hat, Utah. This is a canyon 1000 ft deep with three gooseneck contortions that look like puzzle pieces. I think this is a particularly spectacular spot that is high on my list of must see things. You will need a wide angle lens to photo it all.
We went there in October, and I feel you would need a drone to capture it all.
After 7 days in Utah, this state park was a disappointment to me. OK to visit, but many other locations nearby (Valley of the Gods) that are more interesting to me.
But that is the great thing about Utah, something for every taste!
Dec 7, 2019 10:22:58 #
steve49
Loc: massachusetts
There is a goosenecks section of Capitol Reef as well and if there be sure to go to the sunset at sunset point.
It is right next to the goosenecks.
and good tip on the Dead Horse State PArk... definitely a worth stop.
It is right next to the goosenecks.
and good tip on the Dead Horse State PArk... definitely a worth stop.
Dec 7, 2019 10:27:17 #
mizzee wrote:
Do not rely on your cell phone for driving directi... (show quote)
Sorry, you are incorrect. Cell phones can use towers to refine your location, but they primarily use GPS. I often use cellphone mapping with ONLY gps. Most recently at Canyonlands and Arches and 3 miles into Grand Canyon (2,000 ft down). Also at 35,000 ft in airplane.
Oops, almost forgot. The issue is you cannot get access to a detailed map unless you download one first (abs save locally on your phone)while you have internet access.
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