Four Corners Grand Circle Tour

[ghatfield]

Need some advice...
1. We're thinking about going in May. OK month? From the weather data I can find, it looks like the temp, wind and rain are moderate.

2. Here is the tentative plan...
a. Moab,UT, Portal RV Park, 3 days, Arches and Canyonlands NPs
b. Torrey, UT, Thousand Lakes RV Park, 3 days, Captital Reef NP
c. Bryce, UT, Ruby's Inn RV Park, 3 days, Bryce NP
d. Virgin, UT, Zion River Resort, 3 days, Zion NP
e. Page, AZ, 3 days, North Rim Grand Canyon, 2 days
f. Chinle, AZ, Canyon De Chelly campground, 2 days, Canyon De Chelly
Sound OK? Suggestions welcome.

George Hatfield
Las Cruces, NM

P.S. Not sure this is posted in the right place, but I would appreciate some feedback. Thanks in advance.

[uwe]

Originally Posted by ghatfield

Need some advice...
1. We're thinking about going in May. OK month? From the weather data I can find, it looks like the temp, wind and rain are moderate.

2. Here is the tentative plan...
a. Moab,UT, Portal RV Park, 3 days, Arches and Canyonlands NPs
b. Torrey, UT, Thousand Lakes RV Park, 3 days, Captital Reef NP
c. Bryce, UT, Ruby's Inn RV Park, 3 days, Bryce NP
d. Virgin, UT, Zion River Resort, 3 days, Zion NP
e. Page, AZ, 3 days, North Rim Grand Canyon, 2 days
f. Chinle, AZ, Canyon De Chelly campground, 2 days, Canyon De Chelly
Sound OK? Suggestions welcome.

George Hatfield
Las Cruces, NM

P.S. Not sure this is posted in the right place, but I would appreciate some feedback. Thanks in advance.

We did a similar thing in May 2005. Went to Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Page, Zion Canyon. Bryce was still closed due to snow.
It was a nice trip, and anice time of year, but very cold at night, and some of the amenities were closed due to cold weather and snow. Temps dropped to 25F at the Grand Canyon South rim at night, and were just warm enough during the day to be comfortable when bundled up. Good thing we had full hookups everywhere, so we could use heat and lights unlimited.
If you want to go in May, watch the weather closely, or if you can, just go a month later, I think it would be more pleasant all around.
One nice thing was the lack of crowds. The lines for shuttles in the canyons was short, and many people stayed only for a very short while at teh rim of the Grand Canyon due to icy winds.
The nicest place, weather wise, was Lake Powell. It was warmer during the day, with the campground essentially empty if not for our 2 rigs.

[Airstream25]

Hi George,
Sounds like a fun trip!
You asked for comments so here goes;

Suggest early May.

Moab is a great place, lots of opportunity for do it yourself 4WD sightseeing or sign up with an outfitter for a guided jeep tour. Outfitters also offer full and half day Colorado river rafting. Klevan joined us for this in April 2006, see our pictures.
Download tour guides here
Unless you really need full hookups, you might enjoy the beauty and solitude of Dead Horse State Park or perhaps Devil's Garden Campground inside of Arches Nat. Park instead of staying in downtown Moab.

North Rim Campground doesn't open until mid May.
Suggest making campground reservations and dinner reservations at the wonderful North Rim Lodge now. Golden Age Passport will get you both admission and campground discounts. Pictures from 2005 Caravan

Other things of interest in NE AZ are Monument Valley, dinosaur tracks near Tuba City and Hubbell Trading Post near Ganado.

If you travels bring you through ABQ, some of the local Airstreamers and I could join you for lunch.

I am told you can drive your 4WD vehicle into Canyon De Chelly if you take a local tour guide along.

Zion has RV travel restrictions on Hwy 9. See comments from their website;
---

Drivers of large vehicles approaching Zion National Park from the east on UT-9 need to be aware of the large vehicle size restrictions.

Vehicles sized 7'10'' in width or 11'4'' in height, or larger, are required to have an ''escort'' (traffic control) through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Vehicles this size are too large to stay in their lane while traveling through the tunnel. Nearly all RV's, buses, trailers, 5th wheels, and some camper shells will require an escort.

(Note:It is possible to visit Zion with a large vehicle without going through the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. To do this you have to enter and exit through the south entrance of the park, near Springdale).

Visitors requiring an escort must pay a $15 fee per vehicle in addition to the entrance fee. Pay this fee at a park entrance before proceeding to the tunnel. The fee is good for 2-trips through the tunnel for the same vehicle during a 7-day period.

Originally Posted by ghatfield

Need some advice...
1. We're thinking about going in May. OK month? From the weather data I can find, it looks like the temp, wind and rain are moderate.
2. Here is the tentative plan...
a. Moab,UT, Portal RV Park, 3 days, Arches and Canyonlands NPs
b. Torrey, UT, Thousand Lakes RV Park, 3 days, Captital Reef NP
c. Bryce, UT, Ruby's Inn RV Park, 3 days, Bryce NP
d. Virgin, UT, Zion River Resort, 3 days, Zion NP
e. Page, AZ, 3 days, North Rim Grand Canyon, 2 days
f. Chinle, AZ, Canyon De Chelly campground, 2 days, Canyon De Chelly
Sound OK? Suggestions welcome.
George Hatfield Las Cruces, NM

[Titus]

Even if you did a lot of hiking I think you'd have trouble spending 3 days at Zion. You won't be hiking the narrows (walking in the river) in MAy without a wetsuit bottom and booties. If you do Angels Landing it is a long hike but others are only a couple of miles. One long day taking the shuttle to each of its nine stops should about do it I would think. Bryce you could easily spend 3 days - a great time of year for a couple of 8 mile canyon hikes - one Queen Gardens/Peek-A-Boo loop and Wall Street or Navajo bck up. One a hike on the S end - down to some Bridge (Tower) then up some other trail who's name I can't remember then one day seeing the overlooks in the S half of the park.

I'd suggest Navajo National Monument and either a two day (or one real long day) hike to Keet Seel or a short half day hike to Betatakin.

3 days at N Rim also sounds a bit much.

But all of my 'bit much' advice is assuming that you are going just to see the sights. If you want to hang out at campsite for a half day each day then your schedule is fine.

Conversely, 3 days is not enough time at Canyonlands and Arches. Be sure to go in both parts of Canyonland - one entrance S of Moad and 1 N. And probably two days at Arches. Both Arches and Canyonlands have a lot short hikes (1-5 miles). May may be cool/cold and rainy - but maybe you perfer that to hotter than heck.

Best Friends animal sanctuary just N of Kanab is well worth a day visit. (or volunteer there for while). I've always wanted to hike to the Wave at Vermillion Cliffs but you have to be lucky enough to win the hikers lottery and have something other than a Sprinter to drive to the trailhead - unless road conditions are perfect. (The Interstate can go 9 miles down a lousy road if it happens to be in its least-lousy condition.)

[Bk Yd Safari]

Don't miss Monument Valley. Gouldings Lodge is the best place to stay(may be the only place to stay.) Try the Navajo Tacos in the restaurant.
When at the south rim of the Grand Canyon stop at the East Gate and visit the Watch Tower.