Grand Canyon South & North Rim/Zion/Bryce

[Gene]

I don't know about a campground on the North Rim—we were there long before we had a trailer—but we liked the North Rim because it is relatively quiet. Check carefully when campsites open because the North Rim is closed in the winter and being about 1,000' higher than the South Rim, has much more severe winter weather.

The lodge at the North Rim has good food and if you get a seat alongside the window, spectacular views. At the South Rim there are many more historic things to see, but it is crowded and most of the summer season you have to take busses. If there, check out El Tovar, a historic hotel on the rim.

Gene

[eubank]

Oh, I don't mind the crowds at the south rim. If you can walk, you're about five minutes away from no crowds at all.

Lynn

[Travel Bird]

Do you all think three nights in the South Rim is to much or just about right? We wouldn't arrive until late in the afternoon of our arrival date so that would give us two full days in the park. Thanks for all your responses! BTW, I am planning on three nights each in North Rim, Zion and Bryce also! Might have to do only two nights at one of these locations but, not sure which should be shortened??

[Alumaholic]

Three nights is always the right answer, two is the minimum acceptable, one indicates too much time spent driving to and from destinations usually caused by a too ambitious schedule. Trips with a series of one night stops are rarely as enjoyable for us as trips where we allocate three nights to each destination.

[webspinner]

Three nights gives you one full day for exploring and doing stuff and one full day for relaxing and absorbing the feel of the place. Mix and match as you like. Two is the minimum for seeing anything of a place. One nights stops are exhausting.

[Len n Jeanne]

Travel Bird, a lot depends upon what you like to do when you visit a park. If you are not very mobile and won't be doing much walking, then you can "do" a park in less time than if you plan to get out and see things on foot, or by bicycle, &c. Most of the parks also have ranger-guided hikes, films about the parks, evening campground programs, &c. If you don't plan to walk down into the formations in Bryce or up into them at Zion, and stick to the scenic drive, you could probably shorten one of these visits.

[Travel Bird]

Originally Posted by Len n Jeanne

Travel Bird, a lot depends upon what you like to do when you visit a park. If you are not very mobile and won't be doing much walking, then you can "do" a park in less time than if you plan to get out and see things on foot, or by bicycle, &c. Most of the parks also have ranger-guided hikes, films about the parks, evening campground programs, &c. If you don't plan to walk down into the formations in Bryce or up into them at Zion, and stick to the scenic drive, you could probably shorten one of these visits.

Hi, we are avid hikers and I am a wildlife photographer. We are booked three nights in each location. I feel once I have been to the south rim, I will not need to return. I know we will return to Bryce and Zion and they are not to far from Denver! Thank you all so very much for your responses. Helped me tremendously!! Happy Glamping!!

[Len n Jeanne]

Have a wonderful trip! God willing, we'll spend a few days in Zion NP in March. We've been there many times, and always enjoy our repeat visits.

[Gene]

Of the 3 parks, I think Bryce has the least to see. A day wandering around the hoodoos is about it.

Gene

[Alumaholic]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

Of the 3 parks, I think Bryce has the least to see. A day wandering around the hoodoos is about it.
Gene

If there is any good candidate for a drive-by shooting on your list, it's Bryce.

[JDS]

Originally Posted by Alumaholic

If there is any good candidate for a drive-by shooting on your list, it's Bryce.

Tastes certainly differ - Bryce remains one of our all time favorites. We find it spectacular and unique. Horses for courses, as they say!

John S.

[Gene]

Tastes certainly differ John. And I'm sure Bryce has other things besides the hoodoos, but would you agree Zion and GC have many more points of interest?

For what it is worth dep't: Bryce Canyon is not a canyon.

Gene

[Len n Jeanne]

A lot of tourists think that Bryce is the most beautiful of the three, though it is the smallest. For people who don't like steep ups and downs, there is a sort-of-flat rim trail that goes on for miles. Very popular with cross-country skiers. The Park Service also rents snow shoes in the winter season. In summer a guided horseback trip into the formations is a memorable experience.

For hikers, there are a lot of trails of all levels at Zion. Some of them are only for people who are utterly unafraid of falling off of steep cliff faces, like the Angel's Landing trail. Len did it at age 70, however, and is planning to repeat it at age 75. I'm too chicken, but the trail to Scout's Lookout, part way there, is within my comfort zone. One of the easier trails north of the campgrounds in the river basin is even open for dog-walking. For our honeymoon, when we were younger and spryer, we arranged for a shuttle to take us to the north park of the park where there is a small primitive campground. We hiked down to the valley floor on the West Rim Trail, through some spectacular and empty country. Dunno if I could do it now, though.

Sigh. So much to see, so little time.

Jeanne

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Len n Jeanne

Sigh. So much to see, so little time.

Jeanne

Yup.

Gene

[eubank]

Some day we want to make it to Bryce. Spent a week each at Canyonlands/Dead Horse Point, Zion, and GC-S and hiked ourselves silly. And loved all three!

Lynn

[JDS]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

Tastes certainly differ John. And I'm sure Bryce has other things besides the hoodoos, but would you agree Zion and GC have many more points of interest?

For what it is worth dep't: Bryce Canyon is not a canyon.

Gene

Roger on Bryce not being a canyon - always wondered about that name. I agree that Zion & GC are loaded with points of interest but there's just something about Bryce. YMMV.

John S.

[IanPoulin]

Originally Posted by Travel Bird

Hi, we are avid hikers and I am a wildlife photographer. We are booked three nights in each location. I feel once I have been to the south rim, I will not need to return. I know we will return to Bryce and Zion and they are not to far from Denver! Thank you all so very much for your responses. Helped me tremendously!! Happy Glamping!!

Travelbird --

I've spent about 45 "inner-gorge" days within the Grand Canyon during my collegiate days in Arizona. If you are both avid hikers and photographers and find yourself staying on the south rim, and are up for a worthwhile challenge, I would suggest you consider an early morning hike over on the Grandview or Tanner trails. Both require a backcountry permit (or at least did fifteen years ago) if you intend to stay overnight, but nothing ought to keep you from day hiking halfway in and back out.

The trailheads are over at Grandview point and near Lipan Point respectively and the upper portion of Tanner is the original Indian trail paths to the Colorado River and near the spot where the Spanish first stumbled across the canyon; having followed these trails from the south.

No water but what you pack in with you; both trails are unmaintained - and both are VERY steep at the first mile or so in - I nearly lost my footing in a flash snow storm one April would have sent me over the edge. Once both trails level out about halfway into the Canyon; especially Grandview - the scenery in all cardinal directions is worth the effort.

Enjoy the trip! I can't wait to return myself some day.

Ian