Every Wish That We Put Into Motion.... (comments welcome!)

[jmasgat]

reservations for the *whole* park? Or just certain hikes within the parks?

I know with Zion you have to make a reservation to hike the Angels Landing trail, but not the park itself.

 

[MissLiss279]

reservations for the *whole* park? Or just certain hikes within the parks?

I know in previous years, during certain times of the year you had to make a reservation to drive into the park (or maybe weren’t allowed to drive in at all??). The valley can only handle so many cars. They had shuttles you could take into the park, though.

 

[The Expert]

reservations for the *whole* park? Or just certain hikes within the parks?

For Arches, they have a timed entry system depending on the day and time you're going: https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/timed-entry-reservation.htm

They've talked about doing the same for Zion, but for now it is just certain trails.

 

[The Expert]

I know in previous years, during certain times of the year you had to make a reservation to drive into the park (or maybe weren’t allowed to drive in at all??). The valley can only handle so many cars. They had shuttles you could take into the park, though.

They run shuttles March through November and over the holidays. Most of the park road is closed to private traffic during that time, but you can still get to certain areas (especially coming from the east side). The shuttle is free and does not require reservations.

https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/zion-canyon-shuttle-system.htm

 

[avondale]

Totally agree with what others have said that all of the parks in Utah are gorgeous and all different (although they are all red!). I'm out of date for what will need reservations, etc. But, keep in mind that while the hugely popular hikes are probably very pretty, there are tons of less popular hikes that are just a smidgen less pretty and much less crowded - if you have limited time, then don't waste it in a conga line of hikers.

As for how many parks to visit...keep in mind that Utah is BIG. You will have some significant travel time between them, unlike park-hopping in Dis. Arches and Canyonlands are pretty close together at one end of each, but depending on where you want to go within them, then that could still be hours apart. Of course, the landscape while driving is gorgeous.

Since a lot of folks have been to the area, maybe someone will know which road this is: we were driving from one base of operations to another in Utah, on a state road (I think). The road itself could have qualified as an amusement park ride. It was two lanes and narrow. Some places had huge grades (like 12%) and some areas were on the top of thin "fin" ridges where there was nothing on either side of the road (who needs guard rails?), and the scenery was amazing. It was a fairly hair-raising drive, however, and we've driven through many, many national parks, etc. This was not in a park - just driving through Utah. But I can't remember which road/route now!

 

[jmasgat]

Since a lot of folks have been to the area, maybe someone will know which road this is: we were driving from one base of operations to another in Utah, on a state road (I think). The road itself could have qualified as an amusement park ride. It was two lanes and narrow. Some places had huge grades (like 12%) and some areas were on the top of thin "fin" ridges where there was nothing on either side of the road (who needs guard rails?), and the scenery was amazing. It was a fairly hair-raising drive, however, and we've driven through many, many national parks, etc. This was not in a park - just driving through Utah. But I can't remember which road/route now!

We drove this as part of our trip. It's Route 12. I was driving and doing fine til we got to the ridge line, where I promptly had a case of the major willies and pulled over so my DH could take over. Of course, the ridge line ended right after that, but he had the joy of then driving the rest of the area near Hell's backbone. Turns out, this is exactly where he had done a cycling trip about 20 years ago.

Also, to be noted, they have a road race there--the Escalante Canyon Marathon.

 

[The Expert]

Yep, Route 12. I believe it is designated a Scenic Byway.