Planing our 2011 vacation

[Richie]

Hi,

first we thought we would do a combined Oregon/Southwest tour. But now it seems like we will do a Southwest-only tour in May. I already planned a tour but suggestions are always welcome.

This is what the tour looks like now:

Day 1: Arrival in L.V.
Day 2: L.V. -> Kanara Creek -> Red Cliffs -> Kanab
Day 3: Kanab -> Water Pockets of West Clark Bench
Day 4: Kanab -> Middle Reservoir (Sand Hills)
Day 5: Kanab -> Yellow Rock Valley
Day 6: Kanab -> Tank Canyon -> Escalante
Day 7: Escalante -> Broken Bow Arch
Day 8: Escalante -> Zebra Slot
Day 9: Escalante -> Phipps Arch -> Torrey
Day 10: Capitol Reef
Day 11: Capitol Reef (Cathedral Valley)
Day 12: Capitol Reef -> Little Wild Horse Canyon -> Moab
Day 13: Canyonlands
Day 14: Canyonlands
Day 15: Canyonlands -> Page
Day 16: Page -> Zion
Day 17: Zion
Day 18: Zion
Day 19: Zion -> Valley of Fire -> Las Vegas
Day 20: Las Vegas
Day 21: Departure

If anyone has suggestions especially about hikes in the Canyonland area and in Capitol Reef please let me know. We're not into scrambling but we're fine with dayhikes up to 8 miles.

Richie

[Deadeye008]

Make sure you hit Horsehoe Canyon in Canyonlands. The hike is fairly easy and the rock art there is out of this world. Cassidy Arch is a great hike in Capitol Reef and is named after the legendary Butch Cassidy because of a supposed hideout nearby in Grand Wash. It's under 4 miles round trip I believe. There is also a really cool waterfall/swimming hole located just off the main road in Capitol Reef(GPS beta for the parking lot is 38.288151, -111.162989). It might still be chilly in May but you could at least check it out even if you don't go swimming. Capitol Gorge is another easy hike with some petroglyphs and the pioneer register. Also, the old farm house in Fruita sells an awesome black bean and corn salsa. Good luck!

[Richie]

Cassidy Arch I was already thinking about. I'm just not sure which of these hikes is more scenic: Cassidy Arch or Golden Throne.

Horseshoe Canyon is not on our list because we will go to the Needles District.

[Iceaxe]

If anyone has suggestions especially about hikes in the Canyonland area and in Capitol Reef please let me know. We're not into scrambling but we're fine with dayhikes up to 8 miles.

This should give you a lot of ideas and keep you busy for a while. And I assume you know Arches NP is next door to Canyonlands NP.

Canyonlands (http://climb-utah.com/Moab/index.htm)

Capitol Reef (http://climb-utah.com/Capitol/index.htm)

:cool2:

[Scott P]

Day 7: Escalante -> Broken Bow Arch



The best part of Willow Creek is below Broken Bow Arch, so make sure to see it.

You will also pass right by Bryce Canyon, so you might visit it.

IMHO, in May I would take out Canyonlands and add more time in Bryce, Upper Paria and Escalante (especially since you'll already been in the area), though Canyonlands is still great.

Some suggestions in the upper Paria/Escalante area are Round Valley Draw, Bull Valley Gorge, Willis Creek, Boulder Creek, lower Neon, Egypt 3 and Peekaboo/Spooky/Brimstone.

[Richie]

Thank you for your suggestions :clap:


And I assume you know Arches NP is next door to Canyonlands NP.



and add more time in Bryce,

Both are not on our list because we've been there last year and in 2006.
This is also true for: Willis Creek, Coyote Buttes North AND South, Paw Hole, Spooky, Devils Garden, White Pocket, Wahweap Hoodoos and a few others.


lower Neon, Egypt 3

I thought these were technical canyons and not suitable for "normal" hikers?


Bull Valley Gorge

Probably this one fits in that day: Kanab -> Tank Canyon (which is on Skutumpah Road) -> Escalante


The best part of Willow Creek is below Broken Bow Arch, so make sure to see it.

What do you mean with "below"?
Do you have a link or any other informations. Because all the stuff I've found right now is just a description for the hike to the Arch itself.

Still not sure about Capitol Reef: Which of these hikes is more scenic: Cassidy Arch or Golden Throne. Or probably something completly different? One day in Capitol Reef is planned yet. This would be Cathedral Valley.

[asdf]

Cassidy Arch I was already thinking about. I'm just not sure which of these hikes is more scenic: Cassidy Arch or Golden Throne.


I think Cassidy Arch via the Frying pan trail is one of the most scenic hikes in Utah. Sulphur Creek is also amazing and a must anytime I am in Capitol Reef.



Horseshoe Canyon is not on our list because we will go to the Needles District.

Why take Highway 24 when you could do part of the San Rafael Desert Loop? Lots of great stuff along that road aside from Horseshoe ...
Moonshine Wash - best non-tech slot around and far less traffic then Little Wild Horse.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2732/4519411522_1e97f78e43_z.jpg

Colonnade Arch aka five hole arch (my favorite)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3339/4573621254_6c91e3ee48_z.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2203/1972187977_6ee48848b4_z.jpg

The Chaffin Ranch Geyser.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4521655159_771a1ca2ed_z.jpg

ect... ect..

[Deadeye008]

Cassidy Arch I was already thinking about. I'm just not sure which of these hikes is more scenic: Cassidy Arch or Golden Throne.

Horseshoe Canyon is not on our list because we will go to the Needles District.

I have done both Cassidy Arch and Golden Throne and enjoyed the Cassidy Arch hike much more. While the hike is enjoyable, when I got to the end of Golden Throne I was kind of like, "this is it..." Cassidy Arch is very scenic the entire way and being on top of the arch is amazing.

[Richie]

Why take Highway 24 when you could do part of the San Rafael Desert Loop? Lots of great stuff along that road aside from Horseshoe ..

How difficult are the dirt roads out there (we have a rental car)? Or is it easy like Hole in the Rock Road?

[ibenick]

How difficult are the dirt roads out there (we have a rental car)? Or is it easy like Hole in the Rock Road?

The main road is great, you could do it in a car. Some of the spur roads need high clearance but nothing a stock rental SUV or jeep couldn't handle.

[Maya]

Summit ~ Gorgeous pics... makes me want to drop what I'm doing and go.

[tanya]

I like it! Smart leaving lots of Zion days! You will love Bull Valley Gorge to Sheep Creek and out Willis Creek.

[Scott P]

What do you mean with "below"?



The hike down Willow Creek beyond the arch. The hike to the arch is mostly hot and dry and only moderately scenic. The hike down Willow Creek beyond the arch is much better, spendid and extremely scenic. Here is a TR with some photos (you don't have to do the entire loop):

http://www.summitpost.org/adventures-in-escalante-photo-trip-report/637939


I thought these were technical canyons and not suitable for "normal" hikers?


Lower Neon to the Golden Cathedral is just a hike. Egypt 3 is just a hike with some scrambling unless you do the very bottom end. Both are some of the most scenic canyons around.



How difficult are the dirt roads out there (we have a rental car)?


The Cathedral Valley road is pretty rough for a car.

[lofty]

Is cathedral valley ok for a regular SUV with good all terrain tires in May ? It's on my list this year. How often is the road travelled ?



the hike up to yellow rock is quick and the view great !

[Richie]

I made a mistake: Not rental car but rental SUV.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[asdf]

Is cathedral valley ok for a regular SUV with good all terrain tires in May ? It's on my list this year. How often is the road travelled ?

Crossing the Fremont is the biggest challenge, when we did at the end of April last year and the crossing was about 1.5' deep and we had no issues at all (in fact we saw a mini van cross with no problems). The most interesting feature on the west side of the loop was the old abandoned truck with attached drill rig. Once you reach the apex of the loop with the overlooks, campground, and monoliths things get really interesting. IMO the East side is much more interesting then the West side and the entire loop will take less then half day with stops.

Drill Rig 38.338947,-111.119499
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4578814382_972eacf1bd_z.jpg