Is September a good time to take the Utah Grand Circle?
What are we missing in the tentative route?
We tow a 30' 5er with a 2500 CC/LB D/A and if our Golden Retriever can't go, we won't go. (Yes, she is spoiled and will visit several swimming spots on the trip to/from the east.) For National Parks that means we do the scenic rides and the few trails where dogs are allowed.
Here's the tentative itinerary:
Grand Canyon South Rim - 4 days
Zion - 2 or 3 days
Bryce - 2 or 3 days
Moab - 7 days for Arches/Canyonlands
Cortez - 2 or 3 days
Depending on weather/how roads are to travel, we'll either go from Cortez to Albuquerque on 491 or spend a few days in Durango (for dog swimming) then down go to Albuquerque via 550.
Also considering Petrified Forest on the way to the Grand Canyon; the dog can walk on the trails.
Colorado will be a separate trip in the future.
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I don't know what your route is, but maybe take a couple of days from Moab for Capitol Reef. Of course with the dog, you'll be quite limited in what you can do in the NP's. There are some trails around Moab on BLM land where dogs are allowed. Zion will be toughest. Dogs aren't allowed on the shuttle buses and that's the only way up the canyon. The only trail where dogs are allowed is the Pa'rus trail, just under two miles long and it doesn't get you into the canyon. At Bryce, Arches, Mesa Verde and Canyonlands, pets are allowed in the CG and on paved roads and parking lots but not any of the trails.
I don't know, considering how limited your experience will be having the dog along, perhaps doing the Grand Circle Tour isn't your best choice. September can still be quite warm, so leaving the dog in the trailer probably isn't the best choice either.
We were in Utah 6 weeks last Sep and Oct. We have a dog that goes with us everywhere. The weather is good in Sep and the only place we had a problem with the dog was in Zion.
Sept will be warm; were to Cap Reef, Moab, etc but not Zion or Bryce, last fall - have done them all a few times.
We travel with our dog and, as mentioned, limits you with most NP's. That is just one of the reason we won't go back to Zion; other major one is the darn shuttle. Beautiful drive into Zion but the shuttle is a pain in the neck.
We will leave the dog sometimes at places and go on a short time (4-5 miles) but are always concerned.
The dog is always a concern but, as much as we love NP's, we put our dog at a high priority and plan accordingly.
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We have been in Utah in Sept on several ocassions--great weather. Have you considered the North Rim of the Grand Canyon? It is 1000 feet higher than the South Rim and completely different. I would not miss it since you will have driven a long way.
We are heading to Utah in September with our dog, also. We have done Zion, Bryce, and the Grand Canyon (without the dog) so most of our time will be in Grand Staircase and Vermillion Cliffs: BLM lands that allow dogs. There are some great hikes in the monuments - you and your dog might like lower calf creek falls trail for example.
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Also missing Page/Lake Powell if your route takes you near there. Antelope Slot Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, smooth water float trip, dam tour....all in Page. Not sure of what can include dog since I don't have one.
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dahkota wrote: We are heading to Utah in September with our dog, also. We have done Zion, Bryce, and the Grand Canyon (without the dog) so most of our time will be in Grand Staircase and Vermillion Cliffs: BLM lands that allow dogs. There are some great hikes in the monuments - you and your dog might like lower calf creek falls trail for example.
Just hearing the term "Dog" and calf creek falls makes my back and shoulder hurt. We spent a week in the escalante area with the dog a couple years back in the april timeframe, and for three days had a blast. On the 4th day we hiked to calf creek falls, spent a hour or so playing in the water, and headed back only to notice it was much hotter that day than it had been. I ended up carrying a 60 plus pound dog almost 2 thirds of the way back.
September in southern utah in general tends to result in temps ranging from the 80's to low 100's depending on elevation. If your dog is like mine, and doesn't handle heat well you'll want to limit your hiking, but should still have a good time.
I'll try to directly reply to your OP. In about 2002 we started spening two weeks a year playing in UT. Now that we are retired we've upped that to at least 4 weeks a year.
Personally I would try to delay my trip to at least mid October. The average high in Moab is September is 87. Noticed that the record for September in Moab was 108. It is still just too hot for us.
In Moab, you can hike Corona Arch, Jeep Arch, Morning Glory Canyon and Fisher Towers with the dog on BLM land. Lots of other places outside the NP. Those are just our favorites. There is a doggie daycare place in Moab. Haven't used them but they came highly reccommended by one of the rafting companies. Also check out Dead Horse Point State Park.
The last few years we have been exploring the San Rafael Swell. All BLM land. There are some amazing slot canyons. We see lots of dogs having fun. You can stay at Goblin Valley State Park or the Green River KOA.
We second checking out Escalante NM. Lots of hiking and slot canyons. Very dog friendly. The KOA in Cannonville, UT will give you access to Escalante and Bryce. Your proposed 2-3 days for Bryce is a bit long. You can do the major hike in the bottom of the canyon in one day and do the canyon rim drive in a half day. With dog you can do the whole park in less than a day. Suggest look at Red Canyon just south of Bryce. It is in Dixie National Forest. Lots of dogs and horses on the trails. Beautiful hiking.
You have no way of avoiding the dog "problem" at Mesa Verde and Zion. There is some good hiking on BLM land in Canyons of the Ancients outside of Cortez.
There are lots of dog friendly trails on BLM land on Cedar Mesa outside of Blanding Utah. Beautiful canyons and Anasazi cliff dwellings.
The Vermillion Cliffs are beautiful. Lots of hiking opportunities on BLM land.
PM me if you have any specific questions.
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