Sorry!! I've changed my mind

Hi all,

After doing some research I've tried to put something together that encompasses both Las Vegas and California but I've kind of given up as some of the routes and mileage are crazy!!

I'm still going between 9th and 19th April but going to fly in and out of Vegas with a 3 night stop at the beginning of the hol and a one nighter at the end.

This means that I will be leaving vegas on the 12th and going up through Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon, etc then onto some National Parks before driving back to Vegas.

Anyone recommend a nice little route for a newbie to take??

Any advice would be most appreciated!!

Tim

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mass Tim

I'm looking forward to seeing some sunrise photography from the Grand Canyon.

---

That's well worth doing, it meant a very early start at the time of year I was there but it was well worth it, absolutely astonishing sight. One of my pictures of the sun coming up is here.

The exposures went from around f2.8 ; 1s ; iso 800 , to f45 ; 1/1000th ; iso 100 in a matter of two minutes shooting directly east.

Have fun, I'm itching to get back and fill in some of the blanks from my last trip out west (In particular Death Valley).

Hi Timster!

Quote:

---

This means that I will be leaving vegas on the 12th and going up through Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Grand Canyon, etc then onto some National Parks before driving back to Vegas.

Anyone recommend a nice little route for a newbie to take??

---

From Vegas, I suugest you just go around the Grand Canyon. You can either take 167 or I-15 and 169. Route 169 will get you to Valley of Fire State Park while route 167 rides along Lake Mead. Then you can follow 167 to I-15 north bound. Near St. George, UT, take the Hurricane exit and follow route 9 to Zion National Park. If you'd prefer, from this point you could go north and visit other parks like Bryce and Canyonlands but then I doubt you'd have time to make it around the Grand Canyon and spend much time sight-seeing.

If you prefer to go around GC , here what I'd have to suggest. When you'll get to the intersection of routes 89 and 9, you'll have to choose between US89 and US89A. US89 goes through Grand Staircase Escalante, Glen Canyon and Lake Powell and eventually lead you to Page, AZ while US89A will get you to Jacob Lake -- the gateway to the Grand Canyon North Rim (highway 67) --, the Vermillion Cliffs, the Navajo Bridge and Lee's Ferry.

On highway 98, just a couple of miles east of Page, you can have a guided tour (~ 20$) of Antelope Canyon (a.k.a. as Cork Screw Canyon), a very impressive slot canyon. If you continue east on highway 98, make a left on US 160 and another left on US 163, it will get you right through Monument Valley. Then you can either make a U-turn or drive to 4 corner if that's your thing. Another must see in that area is Canyon De Chelly (pronounce dee-chay) about 2 hours south east of Kayenta on US191.

Then you could either go west towards the Grand Canyon south rim using back roads or join I-40 and visit Petrified Forest NP and stretches of old Route 66 along the way like this one between Oatman and Williams. Finally, don't forget the mighty Hoover Dam on US93 before you reach Vegas.

Of course, depending on a lot of factors (your driving pace, traffic, road work, if you want to spend more time in some places and less in some others, availability of lodging, etc.), you'll have tough choices to make and I doubt you will be able to make it all in one single trip. I think it is not an overstatement to say that most roads in that area (AZ, NV, UT) are scenic anyway so any road you pick might be as beautiful as any other one!

Happy planning!
Gen

So, you're saying that 10 days inc a few nights in Vegas may not be enough if I plan going around the GC inc Hoover Dam and Lake Mead and make it back to LV for a night before flying home??

I'm contemplating booking my flights now as the direct ones are still reasonable prices

Tim

Hi Tim,

Quote:

---

So, you're saying that 10 days inc a few nights in Vegas may not be enough if I plan going around the GC inc Hoover Dam and Lake Mead and make it back to LV for a night before flying home??

---

I am not saying it is not doable, but you probably won't be able to spend as much time in some places as you would've liked and more likely you will have to choose between destinations (ex. : Bryce Canyon and Arches or Canyon De Chelly and Monument Valley). It depends on your interests. For example, if you are a hiker you might not be satisfied by driving around the view points with crowds of tourists. But if you're ok with the idea, you still have the option of doing a speed run and go to all the places I mentionned. Both can be fun in my experience.

I just noticed you are going to travel in April. Just make sure the roads and parks are open before you actually go there because some of them might not be open like the North Rim for instance which usually opens around Mid-May. But don't worry, many parks stay open year-round, like Bryce and Zion and you have more than enough on your plate to keep you busy!:o)

Happy planning!