Finally had a chance to sit down and go through my notes and pictures. Wife and I visited The Mighty Five National Parks in Utah last week. Flights from Houston to Vegas were stupid cheap on Southwest. $50.00 there and $118.00 for the return. Rented a car in Vegas and hit the road.
First stop: Mt Carmel, UT which was a little crossroads town somewhat in between Zion NP and Bryce Canyon NP.
The drive to Zion NP
Just outside the visitors center Zion
Entrance to the Narrows in Zion. Didn't have the right clothes or equipment for that hike as most of it is wading up river.
I really wanted to do Angel's Landing, but our first two "easy" hikes convinced my I would probably die if I tried it.
Stayed two days in Mt Carmel seeing most of Zion and part of Bryce Canyon. Left and spent one night in Tropic, UT and finished up Bryce the next day.
The big difference between Bryce and Zion, in Zion you're in the bottom of the canyon looking up and in Bryce you're on the rim looking down.
Bryce "hoodoos"
more "hoodoos"
The colors and vastness of Bryce were just incredible and it really was our favorite of the five.
We left Bryce and drove to Torrey, UT for two nights close to Capitol Reef NP. The hidden gem here was the Skyridge B&B in Torrey which was marvelous and the breakfasts were awesome.
An incomplete arch. We decided to return in a couple of million years to see it when it's complete.
Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon. Hard to tell because of perspective, but both are nearly the same size.
Chimney Rock.
Cathedral Valley
Capitol Reef is very long and narrow and can be mostly seen from the car with a few short hikes from pull off areas. Lots of driving on 4WD roads which my rented Ford Edge handled well.
Left Torrey and drove to Moab along scenic Rt 12 which is one of the prettiest drives in the US. Another gem which a couple at breakfast told us about is Goblin Valley State Park. It took about 1.5 hours out of the way but was really one of the most interesting sites we saw. Great place for the kids to get out and run around.
Goblin Valley
3 night in Moab to see Canyonlands NP and Arches NP. Moab is a really cool city that has become very touristy. Lots of eating and shopping to do.
Canyonlands is HUUUUUUUGGE. You can't drive from one end to the other because of the canyon. From Moab the north entrance is 22 miles and then drive back to Moab and the south entrance is 62 miles.
Natural Bridge
Newspaper Rock with native american petroglyphs
an old cowboy campground
The Green River carving out a masterpiece before it merges with the Colorado and creates the Grand Canyon
A natural shelter with many generations of native american artifacts
And now..... Arches NP
The Windows
Double Arch
Delicate Arch, this hike kicked my ass. Remember, my wife and I live almost at sea level. This was around 7,000 feet and lots of climbing.
Too many arches. I forgot this one's name.
Landscape Arch. Part of this one fell in 1998. Look close and you can see how thin it is on the right side.
After the last night we got up early and drove about halfway to Vegas to Cedar City, UT. A cool college town (Utah St). After wonderful weather all week we drove through rain, sleet and some snow on the way back. Found a great pizza place and had a little sumpin' sumpin' as a reward for a great vacation.
10 days, 1700 miles and a well worn Ford Edge. I really thought I had destroyed that car on a very rocky switchback in Canyonlands. All I know, is I rented a grey car and turned in a reddish brown one with a ****load of sand in the carpets.
Some thoughts. My wife and I are both 60 but in good health. Some of the hikes were very strenuous, but the views at the end were well worth it. When driving, and the sign says 60 miles to next service, THEY MEAN IT. Watch your fuel. Carry lots of water. The weather is very mild but dry. I can't imaging some of those hikes in July or August. The crowds weren't bad until we got to Arches. One morning we slept in and got to the park around 9:30 and it took 45 minutes to get in.
Original plan was to continue on the Salt Lake City and fly home from there but the rental car penalty was just stupid so we returned to fly home from Vegas.
I'll probably think of some more stuff tomorrow and maybe post some more.
First stop: Mt Carmel, UT which was a little crossroads town somewhat in between Zion NP and Bryce Canyon NP.
The drive to Zion NP
Just outside the visitors center Zion
Entrance to the Narrows in Zion. Didn't have the right clothes or equipment for that hike as most of it is wading up river.
I really wanted to do Angel's Landing, but our first two "easy" hikes convinced my I would probably die if I tried it.
Stayed two days in Mt Carmel seeing most of Zion and part of Bryce Canyon. Left and spent one night in Tropic, UT and finished up Bryce the next day.
The big difference between Bryce and Zion, in Zion you're in the bottom of the canyon looking up and in Bryce you're on the rim looking down.
Bryce "hoodoos"
more "hoodoos"
The colors and vastness of Bryce were just incredible and it really was our favorite of the five.
We left Bryce and drove to Torrey, UT for two nights close to Capitol Reef NP. The hidden gem here was the Skyridge B&B in Torrey which was marvelous and the breakfasts were awesome.
An incomplete arch. We decided to return in a couple of million years to see it when it's complete.
Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon. Hard to tell because of perspective, but both are nearly the same size.
Chimney Rock.
Cathedral Valley
Capitol Reef is very long and narrow and can be mostly seen from the car with a few short hikes from pull off areas. Lots of driving on 4WD roads which my rented Ford Edge handled well.
Left Torrey and drove to Moab along scenic Rt 12 which is one of the prettiest drives in the US. Another gem which a couple at breakfast told us about is Goblin Valley State Park. It took about 1.5 hours out of the way but was really one of the most interesting sites we saw. Great place for the kids to get out and run around.
Goblin Valley
3 night in Moab to see Canyonlands NP and Arches NP. Moab is a really cool city that has become very touristy. Lots of eating and shopping to do.
Canyonlands is HUUUUUUUGGE. You can't drive from one end to the other because of the canyon. From Moab the north entrance is 22 miles and then drive back to Moab and the south entrance is 62 miles.
Natural Bridge
Newspaper Rock with native american petroglyphs
an old cowboy campground
The Green River carving out a masterpiece before it merges with the Colorado and creates the Grand Canyon
A natural shelter with many generations of native american artifacts
And now..... Arches NP
The Windows
Double Arch
Delicate Arch, this hike kicked my ass. Remember, my wife and I live almost at sea level. This was around 7,000 feet and lots of climbing.
Too many arches. I forgot this one's name.
Landscape Arch. Part of this one fell in 1998. Look close and you can see how thin it is on the right side.
After the last night we got up early and drove about halfway to Vegas to Cedar City, UT. A cool college town (Utah St). After wonderful weather all week we drove through rain, sleet and some snow on the way back. Found a great pizza place and had a little sumpin' sumpin' as a reward for a great vacation.
10 days, 1700 miles and a well worn Ford Edge. I really thought I had destroyed that car on a very rocky switchback in Canyonlands. All I know, is I rented a grey car and turned in a reddish brown one with a ****load of sand in the carpets.
Some thoughts. My wife and I are both 60 but in good health. Some of the hikes were very strenuous, but the views at the end were well worth it. When driving, and the sign says 60 miles to next service, THEY MEAN IT. Watch your fuel. Carry lots of water. The weather is very mild but dry. I can't imaging some of those hikes in July or August. The crowds weren't bad until we got to Arches. One morning we slept in and got to the park around 9:30 and it took 45 minutes to get in.
Original plan was to continue on the Salt Lake City and fly home from there but the rental car penalty was just stupid so we returned to fly home from Vegas.
I'll probably think of some more stuff tomorrow and maybe post some more.
The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But, it's still on the list.
