3 Days in Sept - LV, GC, Bryce

Hello,

I got reservations at Jacob Inn,GC for Oct 6th. Thus that is dictating my itenary now.

Oct 3,4th -- Las Vegas. Reservations done

Oct 5 early AM to BC. Reach BC by afternoon and explore BC till sunset. Stay at BC (no lodge/hotels nearby available, trying for Cannonville or Panguitch)

Oct 6 -sunrise at BC and then leave for GC to reach GC by afternoon. explore GC till sunset. Stay at Jacob Inn

Oct 7 - sunrise at GC and explore till afternoon and then leave for Zion. Would I be I entering Zion from the east entrance when travelling from GC North Rim ? if so will try to do the Canyon overlook . Stay at Springfield.

Oct 8 - explore Zion during day and leave by 3 pm to reach LV by 6PM for evening flight.

Doable or too much rushed ?

The only part that would be a really big concern would be the very end of your trip. If your evening flight is at 7, like you'd mentioned previously, then I think you need to leave Zion quite a bit earlier. Its possible you could make the drive in 3 hours, but you're going to need time to return the rental car, and even worse, you'd be getting to Vegas right during rush hour. I just would want much more margin of error, probably leaving by 1 at the latest. At worst, you get back a little early and have a meal before your flight.

Don't forget, even Jacob Inn is 45 minutes from the Grand Canyon. That shouldn't impact your plans too much, but you will need to factor the commute into your plans.

May I suggest the following route from LV to Bryce? Take I-15 to Cedar City, then take UT-14 to UT-148 and go up through Cedar Breaks. From there, you can take UT-173 to Panguitch. Panguitch has several motels, none of which get very good reviews. You can also check for lodging in Tropic.

From the GC north rim, you can go in to Zion either way - you make your choice at Fredonia. Staying on Alt-89 will bring you back to Kanab to take US-89 to UT-9 to go in the east entrance through the tunnel. AZ-389/UT-59 will take you to UT-9 at Hurricane.

Hi GLC,
Is the route from LV to BC through Cedar Breaks more scenic than I15 ? google shows it takes about 30-40 minutes more to reach Bryce.

Also from GC to Zion I would definitely wish to take US89 then UT9 to go through the east entrance to Zion. I believe that route is more scenic.

Also from Bryce to GC is there any easier/faster route than US-89 through Kanab and then US89A ?

UT-14/UT-148/UT-173 is MUCH more scenic than staying on I-15 to UT-20, and it's actually about 10 miles shorter.

Nothing is faster from Bryce to GC North than US-89/Alt-89 through Fredonia.

Hello All,
The revised itenary is :
3rd Oct : LV
4th Oct : LV
5th Oct AM : LV to Bryce Canyon. Reach BC by 1-2 PM. Trying to go by I-15 through Cedar Breaks. I-15 to UT14 to UT 148 to UT143. Any idea if UT 14 is open now? (read somewhere that it is open selected times of the day).
Start at Rainbow point at BC and work way towards Sunset point. Do the Navajo trail around 4ish. Watch sunset. Night at Ruby's Inn.
6th Oct : Watch sunrise at Bryce. Leave for Grand Canyon on UT 89. Reach Grand Canyon by 1 pm. Not sure which trails are doable in a couple of hours at GC. Check various points at GC. Watch sunset. Night stay at the lodge.
7th Oct : Watch sunrise at GC. Check remaining lookout points and start for Zion by 1-2 PM to enter Zion through the East entrance by 4 PM. Check the Canyon overlook trail before the tunnel and reach Springdale at sunset. Lodge at Springdale.
8th Oct : Zion -weeping rock, emerald pools, is angels landing feasible in a couple of hours ? .Try to leave Zion by 2 PM to reach LV by 6 PM (gain an hour on entering Nevada) to fly out at 7 PM.

Would appreciate if anyone had suggestions on good short trails at Bryce, Grand Canyon and Zion ? Any other advice would help too. I know this is a very short time at each of the places. But that's the best I can with the available time and I would rather cover all 3 than drop any one.\

Thanks again!

Utah 14 is open 24/7 but it's still a construction zone. Shouldn't be a problem.

To do the complete Angels landing hike, I believe it would take 4-5 hours. The ever popular Riverside walk is a very pleasant and rewarding stroll through Zion, as you follow the Virgin River to the Narrows, where you have to walk in the River to continue. Weeping rock is a quick walk and Emerald Pools is very nice and will take an hour or two depending on if you go to the 'upper pool'.

The rim Trail between Sunrise and Sunset point in Bryce is a comfortable stroll with nice views. As you arrive at the parks you will be offered leaflets and Rangers are only to happy to talk about their favourite spots, so really you can leave the final plans until you arrive and see how you feel with the time you have available and decide from there, but I think with the limited time in Zion, Angels Landing could be too much. Like me, you could put it on your 'to do list' and save it for another visit !

When you enter each park, tell the ranger in the booth exactly how much time you have and ask for a recommendation for the best use of your time. They may refer you to the visitor's center but they may be able to tell you directly.

Thanks for the updates glc and dave!
I had done the 'lower Emerald pool' in June this year, but was disappointed as there wasn't much water. Hope the 'upper pool' is better this time. I had done the riverside walk last time and it was good. Hope to go a little further this time to the opening of the narrows (ambitious.. :))