This was my first time visiting the parks at the “Grand Circle” as they are fondly called, I only wished we did this sooner. I am completely in awe with its captivating views, picturesque terrain and heart throbbing adventures.
We covered the following landmarks in our 5-day road trip starting from Las Vegas, NV and ending at Phoenix, AZ.
● Zion National Park
● Bryce Canyon
● Upper Antelope Canyon
● Horseshoe Bend
● Grand Canyon South Rim
Pre-Planning tips/recommendation:
1. Book Antelope canyon tours either for Upper or Lower Antelope well in advance as only guided tours are permitted inside.
Try for the 10.30 am slot, so that you are inside the canyon when the peak sunlight beams through the canyon for spectacular colors and pictures.
I would recommend doing both canyons if you are not planning to visit again. We did the Upper Antelope canyon at 1 pm.
Upper Antelope Tour Links.
Lower Antelope Tour Links.
2. Book free-cancellation hotels or Lodges at your earliest and stay near the parks or canyons for easy commute/accessibility.
Make sure to include free breakfast as the options for restaurants are sparse.
Parks like Zion have shuttle service running through all major hotels in Springdale, UT and same goes for Bryce and Grand Canyon.
We have paid $200-$300 per night to stay closer to the parks/canyons.
3. Reserve a rental car for better and cheap rates. Keep in mind additional charges are added for dropping the car at different locations/states.
4. Don’t forget to carry
Sturdy footwear
Sunscreen
Dry fit/quick dry clothing
Cap/ hat
Sunglasses
Waterproof bags or camel-back bag
First aid kit
This is how we did it......
Day 1 (Zion):
We landed in Las Vegas on the previous night and stayed at La Quinta Inn & Suites. The hotel is approx. 1.5 miles away from the airport. The next day, we started our journey to the very first destination “Zion National Park”, which is approximately 164 miles, and takes around 3 hours by road.
We parked at Quality Inn & Suites Montclair in Springdale, UT which was our accommodation for the night.
From there, we took the Red shuttle to the park’s entrance. Left with half a day we decided to do the Narrows River Trail and rented(optional) the Hydro shoes, socks and walking sticks ($24 per person) right outside the park.
We then headed straight towards the Blue shuttle which takes you to different spots within Zion. It was a very unique experience of walking in the Virgin river which cuts through the mountains while surrounding yourself with tall walls of stones. It's a MUST do trail in Zion. Don't forget to come back to the park in the night for stargazing and shooting stars.
Tips/Suggestions:
Utah is in MDT timezone and Vegas is in PDT pl. make sure to consider the time difference before starting your day.
Check out this amazing Mandarin Restaurant - "Bamboo".
Check for flash flood warnings before starting the trail.
Always check for the last shuttle time in the park.
Must See: The Zion Narrows – Bottom Up Trail (Shuttle stop Number 9)
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Distance: 4-6 miles
Location: Begin at the temple of Sinawava and Riverside walk.
Park Entrance: 7 Day Multiple Entry Pass for 2+ Adults for $35.00
Day 2 (Zion - Bryce):
After enjoying the breakfast with canyons in the backdrop, we packed food and left the hotel for Hidden Canyon Trail at Zion around 8.30 am. Hike to this hidden canyon was a breathtaking experience. Thanks to the chains along the trail to keep the balance and boulder obstacles in-between, we could see the beauty of the canyons from the top.
Must See: Hidden Canyon (Shuttle stop Number 7).
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 2-4 miles round-trip depending how further you explore.
Location: Weeping Rock Trail-head
Tips/Suggestions: Do the hike before noon or after 4 pm in the summer.
Hiking shoes are preferred.
After the hike we drove the scenic Mount Carmel Hwy which is about 15 mins by car (5.2 miles) and will take you through a unique experience of nature.
We checked into Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn and headed straight to explore Bryce Park for sunset. The Rim Trail at Bryce has a sunset and a sunrise point and the “landscape is deceptive yet mesmerizing like no other.”
Tips/Suggestions:
After dinner head back to the Sunset point or the Inspiration point to enjoy the splendor of the night sky.
Parking inside Bryce Park was hassle free and the 7 Day Multiple Entry pass is 35$ for 2+ adults.
Day 3 (Bryce - Glen):
Started our morning early around 8.30 am to hike the wonderful Figure 8 loop in Bryce . The hike starts at Sunrise point and combines the Queens Garden Trail, The Peekaboo Loop trail and Navajo Loop trail which is a total of 6.4 miles round-trip. It took us around 5.5 hours to complete the hike but we fell in love with the spectacular Wall Street section and the famous Hoodoos.
We then started driving to Page, AZ for our next destination (Antelope Canyons) which was 151 miles away and takes around 2 hours 40 mins by road. We checked into RodeWay Inn for the night.
Tips/Suggestions:
a. On your way visit the Glen Canyon Recreational Area for an amazing sunset.
b. If time permits do the Rainbow point which is the highest point 9,105 feet at the end of the 18-mile (29 km) scenic drive.
Must See: Figure 8 Hike
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 6.4 miles round-trip
Day 4 (Antelope - Horseshoe Bend):We explored the Glen Canyon Dam, which is a concrete arch shaped dam, located in the city of Page. Post that we boarded an antelope shuttle which takes you to the park’s entrance. I must warn you that you are about to witness a beauty which will let your imaginations go wild. The pictures below don’t really do justice on how beautiful the colors and views of the antelope are but it's a MUST see place in Page, AZ.
Tips/Suggestions:
You cannot carry any personal item inside the canyon except water bottle and a phone or camera.
Antelope tour is for 90 minutes.
Moving on to our next Landmark the gigantic Horseshoe Bend which is just 10 mins drive from the Upper Antelope canyon. The cover picture of this blog defines its beauty, it's a 1 mile walk from the parking lot and we spent our entire evening admiring it.
We headed out to the last stop of the trip “The Grand Canyon South Rim” which is around 132 miles from Horseshoe Bend. We checked into Red Feather Lodge situated in Grand Village, AZ.
Day 5 (Grand Canyon South Rim):
Being the only day in Grand Canyon we decided to do the best viewpoints in the South Rim. The following two viewpoints are most recommended in my opinion.
Mohave Point: This is accessible either by trail or by taking the Hermits Rest Route(Red) West-bound shuttle from Village route transfer near Bright angel Lodge.
Lipan Point: This has good overlook of canyons and the Colorado river.
Few other points to cover are Mather Point, Yaki Point, Grandview Point and Desert View watchtower.
After 5 straight days of adventurous trails, amidst the brown rocks and valleys, this nature road trip is one of the most recommended while your visit to the state of canyons. (if you are catching your flight back home from Phoenix, AZ then the drive to the airport is around 226 miles and takes around 3 hours 40 mins from the South Rim).
"In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks" ~ John Muir
Download this one pager to take along on your next trip to the Canyons
~ Nomadic Traveler ~
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