What are the best 3-5 day backpacking trips within hours of Vegas?

[bennyblues]

Howdy gang! In 2010, my friends and I finally got out of our backyard of Appalacia and took a dream trip to the 4 pass loop trail near the maroon bells in Colorado. We've decided to put together another trip for 2013 (sometime in September). All we have decided so far, is that we are going to fly into Vegas and get a couple of rental cars. There will be 6 or 7 of us. None of us has canyon or desert experience, but we aren't scared. Is there an epic and amazing 3-5 day backpacking trail with canyons, desert, and alpine levels that anyone could recommend? There seems to be a lot near Vegas so I'm kinda overwhelmed. We're also considering several small overnighters as opposed to 1 longer trip, just to try and cover more scenery. Right now, I'm thinking a couple nights in Bryce Canyon, and then a couple in Zion on our way back to catch our flights in Vegas. I'm definitely not opposed to staying away from the major parks (crowds) and hitting up a Wilderness Area either, as long as the scenery is great. I'm hoping someone out there has some good insight on where I should focus my planning. Thanks.

[jman]

Coyote Gulch in Escalante, or Death Hollow are extremely beautiful and unlike anything you've seen in the east. Not too many backpacking in Vegas...well good ones at least...ha ha.

There are numerous TRs on this board if you search for em, and that should give you an idea if you want pursue a trip like that.

[Byron]

How many nights will you be out here for? Is everyone going to stay together the whole time? The amount of time you have will be crucial...knowing those questions and I can give you several recommendations.

Like jman said, Death Hollow will blow you away...Bryce is best, really, as a drive in, look around and take some pictures...a four hour visit, perhaps.

[DesertDuke]

Based on where you seem to be going; for the alpine part I would suggest going on the Boulder. Just look up Bluebell Knoll Utah on Google maps. You will see a collecting of lakes on the map in the area. That is the place. Not a wilderness area so it does have some jeep trails but still has backpacking. High elevation. Not every lake is what I would call a destination but enough are. My T Pimp seems to post about the Boulder quite a bit. Here is a boulder post from someone else that I looked up for packing in:

http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthre...ulder+mountain

[bennyblues]

nice! looking forward to researching them and throwing them out there to the group

[bennyblues]

We're still in the very early planning stages. Ideally I'd like to fly in, get 2 rentals, and drive to a trail head. Spend 4 days backpacking, and then come back to Vegas for 1 or 2 nights before flying back. I'm thinking the group may split up between some of the die hard hikers and some wanting to experience the casinos and night life, so 3 nights for half the group. Personally, I would like to spend all 4 days in one awesome place on a 25-35 mile loop, or two overnighters within a reasonable driving distance of each other. Thanks!

[Byron]

Alright, here's the deal. People in your group are going to be shooting off in different directions, it seems...that's fine, but I think you shouldn't wander to far from Vegas because of this.

Therefore, I would suggest that your concentrate you outdoor adventures in Zion. It's a two hour drive from Vegas and you really don't have the time to venture all the way to Escalante for anything much more than dayhikes.

You may want to visit Death Valley, too. There's the Valley of Fire as well.

In other words...because you'll have one car for the hikers and limited time, I would forget the backpacking and plan on lots of dayhikes...some short, some epic. That way you won't have to fly out with so much gear. If you were out for a week or more, then it would be a different story.

[Scott P]

People in your group are going to be shooting off in different directions, it seems...that's fine, but I think you shouldn't wander to far from Vegas because of this.

Therefore, I would suggest that your concentrate you outdoor adventures in Zion. It's a two hour drive from Vegas and you really don't have the time to venture all the way to Escalante for anything much more than dayhikes.

Agree with Byron. Zion would have some really nice backpacking trips. Ashdown Gorge are makes some good backpacking as well and if you start at Cedar Breaks, you will get your alpine scenery and the rock formations as well (and narrow canyons). Also, consider the Pine Valley Mountains if time is available. Near Las Vegas, Mt Charleston has some good 20-35 mile loops/shuttle hikes.

You may want to visit Death Valley, too

OK for a visit then, but I wouldn't backpack there in September though, at least not in the low elevations. The average high in September is still 107 and it can get a lot hotter than that.

[peakbaggers]

I would suggest doing the Buckskin Gulch to Paria, (Day 1); dayhike from Buckskin/Paria confluence as far as you want & return to confluence (Day 2); Pack out to Whitehouse where second vehicle awaits (Day 3); leaving an additional day to sight see in Zion or elswhere & for driving. Main problem would be getting the permits. You would need to start watching online fairly soon, because I think you apply about 4 months in advance.
http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/arolrsma...te_buttes.html
Go to this link for more details. If you do this at that time of year, the trip is basically non-technical, but if there's been heavy monsoon activity, you will have some wading/potholes &/or mud to deal with. Should still be fairly warm though. This would be an equally outstanding & scenic hike through what may be one of the worlds longest "slot" canyons.

[erial]

Google the Trans Zion hike. There are several route descriptions and trip reports out there. You may want to do just a few sections perhaps starting at Wildcat and heading down to the Grotto as an overnight. If you can't get everyone in one of your two cars, you could arrange for a shuttle from one of the local outfitters. If you liked that west rim descent, you could also follow it up with an east rim hike from the east side entrance station down to weeping rock. And if you run into some really hot weather, block out some time for a hike up the Narrows.

[bennyblues]

As a matter of fact, since I last posted, this is the hike that we are leaning towards. Half of the group is going to try and get permits for the Grand Canyon, and then drive to Zion for a a day or 2. Myself and 2 others are going to Zion. Think we're going to try the traverse...or at least some of it. We'll have from 9/14 to 9/20 on the trail. I've plotted a course, which will rely greatly on the permits which I can't apply for til july 5. Gonna try and do LaVerkin to a campsite near Kolob. Night 2 would take hop valley all the way too the northgate peaks trail. Research has told me there are campsites there, but I don't think they are reservable. Night 3 and 4 would both be on the west rim, giving us time to hopefully take the angels landing trail. Depending on time we may try to add a trip up the narrows as well. Being just the 3 of us and 1 car, we'll have to get a shuttle. We may start at Wildcat Canyon instead and hope to add the east rim. We'll have to see how things play out with the permits in july.

[Mtnseeker1]

Grand Cyn if you can pack the water????

OR Great Basin National.
would be my sugestion. OR Drag your but up to the crowded CAL hills lmao.







NEVADA central works very well with maps.

Nothing like a hot soak in the middle of a trip.

[Mtnseeker1]

Nevada is always overlooked and I hope it stays that way the rest of my life. Head north and west or east does not matter if you want sloitude. NV rocks.
Aint nowbody crazy enough to do it anymore.

[hike2kolob]

As a matter of fact, since I last posted, this is the hike that we are leaning towards. Half of the group is going to try and get permits for the Grand Canyon, and then drive to Zion for a a day or 2. Myself and 2 others are going to Zion. Think we're going to try the traverse...or at least some of it. We'll have from 9/14 to 9/20 on the trail. I've plotted a course, which will rely greatly on the permits which I can't apply for til july 5. Gonna try and do LaVerkin to a campsite near Kolob. Night 2 would take hop valley all the way too the northgate peaks trail. Research has told me there are campsites there, but I don't think they are reservable. Night 3 and 4 would both be on the west rim, giving us time to hopefully take the angels landing trail. Depending on time we may try to add a trip up the narrows as well. Being just the 3 of us and 1 car, we'll have to get a shuttle. We may start at Wildcat Canyon instead and hope to add the east rim. We'll have to see how things play out with the permits in july.

Zion is a great choice. If you are going to be there and you have never been, you need to work in the Narrows. You can do a day hike from the bottom up to the confluence of Orderville Canyon and beyond and then return back to the shuttle easily. The loop with an overnight stay in the canyon would be ideal if you can swing it. You will see many other people, but the Narrows are a must see if you are there. I would cut short a night from one of your other hikes to get in the Narrows. September is a great time. My $0.02.

[bennyblues]

Well, it looks like we're just about all set! Our hiking group split up as some wanted a week of day hikes and some wanted a week of nonstop hiking. The 4 in my group have decided to do the Zion Traverse minus the East Rim, as we will be doing the Narrows on our last day instead. All campsites have been locked down and reserved with the ZNP. I'm beyond psyched. The only issue I have to iron out is the shuttle system as we will only have 1 rental car. We're going to park as close to the grotto as we possibly can and get a shuttle from there to La Verkin Trail. We plan to take the West Rim out to the grotto, shuttle to our car, and finally shuttle from there to Chamberlain Ranch to catch our last night on the Narrows. I'm pretty astounded by the high cost of the shuttles. For the 2 pay shuttles we need to do, it's going to cost each of us $80. That wouldn't be so bad if we didn't have to adhere to the shuttle companies preset schedules. I mean, for the collective $330 we're spending on shuttling alone, we should be able to set pickup times...just saying. The shuttle companies are telling me that we can only catch shuttles from our car near the grotto to chamberlain ranch at 630am and 9:30am. On our 1st day, the shuttle to La Verkin Trail is set at 7am. Doesn't leave much time to hike out of the West Rim. Anyone encounter these issues at Zion or have any insight into this issue? Everyone has been very helpful so far, I would really appreciate any feedback on this matter. I'd love to just stick with 1 rental, but at this point, I'm seriously considering getting 2 rental cars. Also, I know I can't park at the grotto, but I want to park our rental close enough, so that when we come out of the West Rim Trail, we can get the parks free shuttle back to within walking distance of the car, for a short resupply/gear dump before heading back onto a pay shuttle to chamberlain ranch...all by 930am. If anyone knows of a good spot to park our car, that would be great. Thanks gang!
Ben

[J Slate]

I'd recommend death hollow, it's stunningly beautiful and sure to give you a good adventure. Be prepared for anything though, the first time we went through the water reserve was dried and we had no water, most of us throwing up and falling to the ground from dehydration. Second time we went we had to climb up high to avoid the flash flood, which also added a day delay. Third time we went through this year it was beautiful and we finished car to car in a day and a half (we starting hiking at midnight and slept for a few hours once we reached water, then kept non-stop hiking)