southern bc-yellowstone-utah
Hi I'm back again.... lol... hoping to head out on another road trip mid sept for 2 weeks
leave after work-southern bc>missoula-stay nite motel
missoula>gardinier>mamoth>northern part of yellowstone>cody wy-camp nite
cody>yellowstone>tentons>jackson- camp nite
jackson>rock spring>vernal>fruita co-camp nite(not sure about this-should we add another day to cody>jackson and then just drive to moab area via price. i read that the cisco>dead horse sp 128 route is very scenic???)
fruita>cisco>dead horse sp-camp 2 nites
dead horse sp>monticella>blanding>hovenweep nm>mesa verde-camp 2 nites
mesa verde>4 corners<blanding>natural bridge>hanksville-camp in area
escalante>capital reef area-camp 2 nites in area
bryce canyon-camp rubys inn
bryce canyon>zion-camp nite
zion>cedar city>ely nv-stay nite
ely>wendover>montello>idaho falls>missoula-stay nite
missoula>home to bc
I wanted to go back to monument valley(read a blog about tours and gouldings trading post) we did our own tour and did not go to gouldings for some reason-I think we missed out:( but not sure if I could fit it in. I thought about going thru bluff, gooseneck sp, monument valley after 4 corners but may need another day then and REALLY wanted to do page(antelope canyon)powell lake, but same thing would need prob another day added on also. I guess reasons to come back to this beautiful area.any suggestions you have to tweek my trip... i have been researching for a year and still read about hidden places that I'd like to see.I KNOW sometimes you need to edit things and can't do it all at once.
Something to look forward to !
Oh that's a shame, but hey at least you still have it to look forward too ! :-)
As you want to spend time out of the car and experience these places I would certainly try for an extra couple of days. Your trip is doable but still set at quite an aggressive pace in parts. You might be better off not going all the way to Cody and camp in Yellowstone, giving yourself more time to enjoy the park.
I would not explore Zion NP from Rubys Inn, it can take 2 hours or more to get into Zion and parked up whereas you can walk to the shuttle bus from the Watchman campground in a few minutes. The shuttle bus is the only way to the canyon area, unless you are in lodgings in that area. That's 4 hours both ways and it actually takes slightly longer to Ely from Bryce than it does from Zion according to my mapping program. Between the 2 parks you might want to stop at Red rock state park, Checkaboard Mesa and just before the Mt Carmel tunnel is a popular Zion Hike, the 'Canyon overlook Trail'.
Four corners would be an hour each way from Mesa Verde but only an extra hours detour between Mesa Verde and Torrey. There is not much there but it is the only place in the US to get that photo with each limb in 4 States at the same time ! If you were to take 160 you could continue to US191/163 and take UT261 past Goosenecks State Park and up the rather exciting 'Moki Dugway' to UT95. The thing is, this route would put you within 'touching distance' [well almost] of Monument valley and on it goes ! lol
Ely to Missoula is a very long day on the road and not we would recommend as part of a multi day trip. You could look for somewhere around Wells to stay instead of Ely, or look at stopping around Salmon ID rather than Missoula.
We didn't visit Balcony house, but we did visit Cliff Palace. This involves ladders but did not concern my wife who also has a slight fear of heights. As you have a fear of heights this might be the tour to go for although I am sure a park ranger will be able to talk you through your options. Make sure you buy your tour tickets at the Far View visitor centre as the dwellings are 20 mins further down the road and can't be purchased anywhere other than the visitor centre.
[Not sure how I previously missed this thread!]
Yellowstone 'drive thru' ?
Whereas you need to follow a code of conduct when camping in Bear country, camping in Yellowstone should not over concern you. Tens of thousands of people do it every season without any problems whatsoever. Camp in a designated campground as you should and you will be fine ! With your current plan you will have little time for anything but a 'drive thru' Yellowstone to stop and take a photo [or 2[000] ]
As I mentioned previously, I would consider camping in Zion after Bryce or else 3 to 3.5 hours of your day will be spent in the car as ther main park area is to the west nearer to the town of Springdale. Watchman NP campground is good and you can get the free shuttle bus into the canyon from there.
