OK, I am looking to go from Sacramento across Nevada on Hwy 50, south on Hwy 93, east through Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon, then back through Vegas, Death Valley and Yosemite on the way home. My questions are these:

1. What's the best way to go through Death Valley? The scenic dots on the map are telling me to take CA 190 the whole way, through Death Valley Junction and Furnace Creek, but I was thinking about taking CA 178 from the south. If it makes any difference, I will probably be driving an ordinary four-door car as opposed to an all-terrain vehicle or something.

2. Is UT 9 through Zion National Park the only vehicular access through Zion? MS Streets and Trips had me believing there was a north entrance but it seems that the road across the southern part is the only one.

3. Is Pipe Spring National Monument worth skipping Zion for? Should I be frightened going through Colorado City, AZ? (Those who've read "Under the Banner of Heaven" will understand that last).

4. Is the North Rim of the Grand Canyon worth the long detour from Jacob Lake? I will have six days of driving time to accomplish this trip.