Utah Travel Forum

Hi:

I'm wondering if this is a reasonable and doable trip and safe (for female doing this trip alone)

1) Leave Vegas (staying on strip) and pick up car at Vegas airport on Thursday around 2p.m.
2) Drive to Zion and get there by 4:30pm(Thursday).
3) Stay overnight in Zion and explore all day Friday.
4) Leave Zion for Bryce by 7:00am (Saturday).
5) Arrive Bryce around 9:30am (Saturday).
6) Explore Bryce and leave by 4pm (Saturday) to catch 11:59pm flight (Saturday) in Las Vegas.

Is this a doable trip? Ideally I would like to get out of the car and do a couple of hikes/other activities in both Zion and Bryce.

Thanks in advance for the input!

Yes, it is more than doable. Make sure you walk the river to the slot canyons in Zion. Bryce is not as large as Zion, so you might even leave a little earlier and rest up in Las Vegas for a few hours.

Agree with travelgourmet - word of caution, be careful you do not end up in 89A getting our of Zion. A very dangerous, hilly, road, even if you would be on the side of the mountain (versus the drop) going south.

As far as hiking alone, I do not know Bryce - Zion seemed fine, but if something does not feel right, head in the opposite direction. I am a little of a scaredy-cat by myself.

I would really skip Bryce - you may be cutting it a little close, or may want to spend some time just in a nice hot shower before your flight - so on #5 I would just head back to Vegas.

Zion is 3 hrs. from Vegas, Bryce is 4.5 hours from Vegas ( your return leg).
Couple tips:
Enter Zion thru the Mt. Carmel, UT 9 entrance ~ so scenic. I think it is 10 miles from the Lodge but SO worth it! You will see the Checkerboard Rock, an arch,
cool tunnel, switchbacks... it is a major pt. of Zion, dont miss it!
Stay at the Lodge, book early. Hike to Lower Falls, really pretty. Have dinner
out on the "deck" at the Lodge, watch for deer, etc.
Hike at least a small part of the Narrows, bring water shoes and a hiking stick.
Go in the Virgin River up to your knees or better yet up to your shoulders.
Welcome to Zion :)

Bryce ~
Do the Navajo Loop Trail. Start at Navajo going down ( steep and switchbacks)
and go up the Queens Garden Trail, much gentler. We did the reverse and felt silly ~ everyone was going the other direction. You will really experience
Bryce on this trail, many Hoodoos! We loved both Parks, very different experiences. You wont regret either.

Good Luck!!

Zion:
an alternative might be: biking into the canyon and on your way you could do some hikes

Bryce:
We started with the Queems Garden Trail into the canyon with its many colorful hoodoos and walked back via the Navajo Trail, take the trail into 'Wall Street'. No problem at all; the walk took about 2 1/2 hours.
Don't forget to stop at Bryce Point: wonderful views of the amphitheater with lots of hoodoos.

happy travels
Jaap

Somewhat doable, as stated. Don't be afraid to be alone, Zion and Bryce are a lot safer than Las Vegas! Check my pages on Zion for a lot of info.

The advise about 89A doesn't apply and it is by no means a bad road, anyway. You'll leave Zion thru the East side and make a left onto 89 in Mt Carmel and a right onto Rt 12 about 60 miles up the hiway.

If there is a way to stay until Sunday you should do it. That will be a lot of driving on Saturday.

Keep in mind that UT is on Mountain time and Vegas is on Pacific time.

Thanks to all for the great advice/tips! Will report back my experience.

Thanks again.