For anyone who knows the 4 Corners area.

[jn]

Just curious if anyone here knows there way around the Four Corners area.  Next Monday I'm head off for a three week vacation there.  Flying in to Vegas, getting an RV and then heading towards Zion National Park then Moab and making a loop back to the Grand Canyon South Rim and Flagstaff/Sedona.

Any places you guys might recommend as "must see"?  For example would it be worth it to see the North Rim instead of or in addition to the South Rim?  Also if anyone knows how easy it is to get around Durango CO this time of year.  

[ziggy]

Just curious if anyone here knows there way around the Four Corners area.  Next Monday I'm head off for a three week vacation there.  Flying in to Vegas, getting an RV and then heading towards Zion National Park then Moab and making a loop back to the Grand Canyon South Rim and Flagstaff/Sedona.

Any places you guys might recommend as "must see"?  For example would it be worth it to see the North Rim instead of or in addition to the South Rim?  Also if anyone knows how easy it is to get around Durango CO this time of year.

Don't know a lot, but do know a little.

I think going to the North Rim is a bit of overkill if you are going to the South Rim.  The South Rim IMO is better, plus easier to get to.

Make sure you take time to go to Mesa Verde, it is outstanding.

I also recommend Bryce Canyon.

Montezuma's Castle between Flagstaff and Sedona is cool, but if you are going to Mesa Verde, it is a let down in comparision.

The Petrified Forest and the Painted Hills are a nice diversion, but don't go out of your way to see them.  The history of the Petrified Forest is really fascinatiing to a lumberman like me, may not be to you.  At the same time, if I needed to choose I would go to the North Rim before this.

I also love the Sonoran Desert.  It is beautiful, so if you get the chance try to figure out how to go see it.

The is Laker Dans stompng grounds, so I would try and get his opinions, I am sure he has some really good insights.

[Ted]

I'll see if I can get Cord from our fantasy league to post on this thread. He's been all over the four corners area. He grew up in northeast Arizona and has seen a lot of cool stuff in that area. I've been once or twice, but I'm definitely not an authority.

[Ted]

If you're going near Moab, I've got a few really cool places for you to see.

Goblin Valley is a nice place to stop for an hour or so. You can see most it in an hour or so.

Right next to Goblin Valley is the San Rafael swell. It is a massive swell of rock, a giant dome that is cut up by slot canyons. Some of the coolest slots I've ever seen. I recommend Little Wildhorse Canyon for a light hike, and Crack Canyon for a little more vigorous hike. Be sure to wear some leather gloves in Crack--sometimes you have to take a few 6- to 8-foot drops to get through. Amazing formations though. At one point the canyon walls literally look like swiss cheese. And of course, Arches Nat'l Park is always cool. Delicate Arch is a nice 2-mile hike, and once you get there, you have a beautiful view. I'll try to think of some other places I've been.

Bryce is definitely a cool place to see. You should take the hike that loops through the canyon, really cool to walk around among the spires.

[Guest_Randy]

jn,

I have been to Zion many times -- pretty neat place.  Great mountain hikes but hiking the "narrows" is my favorite (as long as you don't mind wading in mostly shallow water).  I always wore old tennis shoes but beach shoes would work too(not flip flops) because it is fairly rocky.  You might not have time to hike all the way in but it's a fun hike -- you can actually backpack in and spend the night but you have to have clearance.  The cliffs continue to narrow and it's very beautiful.

Southern Utah is one of my favorite -- have never gotten to spend much time at Lake Powell but it's still on my list to do.  Bryce is by far my favorite -- take your camera as it is absolutely gorgeous.  

Also, go visit the lava beds (wear VERY good shoes) -- it is amazing how far these lava beds go -- simply incredible to see these beds lie 4-5' deep and stretch for miles.

The petrified forest is great to see -- if you can catch the painted desert at the right time it too is beautifuly -- but it needs to be after a decent rain to activate the colors or so it seems to me.

Arches, Canyonlands, are second -- there is actually an area of cliff dwellings down by Sedona as well.  

For me, I would do Bryce (still my favorite) and Zion -- these two are the best (okay, IMO they are the best).

We used to stay in a bed and breakfast near Bryce -- take the kids and hike.  It's awesome.  Zion's lodge is pretty decent and you mind find a good reservation.

If you like to golf (I don't), they have some pretty good courses in St. George, Utah (Vegas courses are WAYYY expensive).

[Guest_Cord]

Just curious if anyone here knows there way around the Four Corners area. Next Monday I'm head off for a three week vacation there. Flying in to Vegas, getting an RV and then heading towards Zion National Park then Moab and making a loop back to the Grand Canyon South Rim and Flagstaff/Sedona.

Yeah, I know my way around the area pretty well. I'll just list a bunch of stuff that I really like (some of them are "touristy" meaning you can just drive to; some might involve getting out, hiking for a few hours, etc.--I'm not sure what you're up to . . .)

Anyway, here goes.

•Zion's is fantastic. Biggest drawback is all the people and shuttles (though i'm not sure how crowded it will be this time of year). Definitely go.

• Kolob Canyons (North of Zion): Basically a mini-Zion, without the people. But has rougher roads, and you really have to hike to get in and see it. But very impressive.

• Grand Canyon: Unlike others, I prefer the North Rim. It's on the Kaibab platuea/forest, so there's pines, it's cooler, etc. But depending on your route and time, maybe it's not feasible. The biggest drawback of the South Rim is the number of tourists. Both, obviously, have spectacular views . . . If you do go to the North Rim, make sure and stop at Jacob Lake. The food is real, and good. It's an old lodge with cabins . . . It's great.

• Bryce is okay (sorry to those who love it). If you're going, I wouldn't plan on spending lots of time. It's cool to look at, do one of the short hikes. But after about twenty minutes, it's basically all the same. Other places have far more variety.

• Rarely mentioned (and sort of out of the way) is Capitol Reef NP. It's fantastic. Few tourists, and tons of scenery to look at, lots of variety, several short and many long hikes . . . or you can just drive through several "scenic" drives . . . It's fairly close to Goblin Valley/Little Wild Horse Canyon that Ted mentioned . . . If I had to choose between it and Bryce--no-brainer, much preferred over Bryce.

• South of Capitol Reef is Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument: Not a lot of developed "tourist" sites. Very rugged, rough country. But beautiful. One of the better hikes (and it's right off the road, well maintained, etc.) is Lower Calf Creek Falls. A great hike, and not too long.
Also the drive over Boulder Mountain (Hway 12, I believe) from Escalante to Capitol Reef is outstanding. Many feel it's one of hte best scenic stretches in the country . . .


• Arches/Moab: Great, really cool. Also there is Canyon Lands, which is very impressive. A couple of the spots are sort of like a mini-Grand Canyon (Dead Horse Point and Island in the Sky--and you can drive to both of these). Also some great hikes (though the best ones are kind of long . . .)

• Natural Bridges Nat. Monument is pretty cool. But I would pass it up if I had time for some of the others (especially if you're going to Arches--it's a smaller, less impressive version).

• Mesa Verde. Yes, go if you can. Very impressive. If you are interested in Native Indian/archaeology stuff, this is it. There are other places around with ruins/petroglyph/pictograph sites: Hovenweep (on your way to Mesa Verde); A museum/archeology site in Blanding, UT on your way to Mesa Verde; Chaco Canyon, which is south of Mesa Verde in New Mexico a few hours (not sure how much time or driving you have--but Chaco, in my opinon, is even better than Mesa Verde--well worth it if you have the time and inclination); also, Bandelier NM is fairly close to Chaco--really cool. Further west is Canyon DeChelly, in Arizona. It's a really great place. Sheer cliffs, huge Anasazi ruins at the bottom. You can hike down and check the ruins out. Again, though might be too far out of the way . . .

• North of Flagstaff is Wupatki Nat. Mon. It's really cool pueblo--really interesting ruins, etc. All maintained and guided by rangers. Also near Flagstaff is Walnut canyon, which is pretty cool.

• Sedona/Oak Creek. Really pretty, has become mostly tourist-ized. You probably know what you want to see there.

If I were you, I would check out/buy a book or two on best "day hikes" or whatever in Utah/Arizona. There are several really good ones available. They'll give you more details, which will help you make decisions as to where to go. In the end, Southern Utah, Northern Az are great. You won't lose no matter where you go.

Or if you want, give me a call and we can talk more. Let me know . . .










 

[jn]

Thanks much everyone!  This is all much appreciated and useful.   With three weeks to do all this we should be able fit in a lot.  Some of this stuff I know we will do but it's good to have a reminder about places like Capital Reef and San Rafael.  Also good to know about the places on the way to Mesa Verde.  Kolob is one I had not even considered.    

From what I've seen all but the most touristy places will not be over crowded this time of year.  In fact Zion doesn't even bother taking reservations after October 29th and the vast majority of sites at Watchmen Campground are not unused right now.  I don't mind having to do some hiking to see a place.  The only concern is whether the roads leading up to the starting point for the hikes are accessible to RV.  If it's logging road leading up to the hike that's not good.

We do have The Lonely Planet Guide Southwest Edition.  That has some good suggestions.  

Thanks again!

 

[guest-koast]

" North of Flagstaff is Wupatki Nat. Mon. It's really cool pueblo--really interesting ruins, etc. All maintained and guided by rangers. Also near Flagstaff is Walnut canyon, which is pretty cool."

Is this the one with the ruins carved out of the side of the plateau??  If so I remember visiting it when I was younger on a family vacation and it was so beautiful.  Even at that age it really made me think twice about how good we have it and to not take the simple utilities we dont think much of for granted.