Looking for advice regarding visiting Bryce and Zion National Parks. We are unable to leave northern Indiana until the 6th of September. Trying to decide if our tenative plans are feasible in regards to weather.
We are fulltimers and don't like to travel more than 250-300 miles in a day. If we don't get to Bryce until the later part of September are we risking icy weather? We're thinking of heading to Las Vegas when we leave Utah. Wouldn't mind seeing the north rim of the Grand Canyon if that is doable that time of year.
Also looking for big rig friendly campgrounds in the area. To give you some idea of what we like in a campground, we are in our 50's, active, like to hike, like our sat TV each night, prefer water and 30 amp electric but will boondock for a week if the setting is right. We don't travel with kids so family friendly isn't required. We rate a campground high if it has level sites big enough to open our 4 slides without touching the rig next to us, and good power. Price wise we like to keep it to $30 or below. Looking on the map it doesn't seem feasible to me to stay at one campground between the two unless we're going to spend a lot of time driving everyday. We travel with two cats so we want to return to the rig each night.
We spent three weeks in Yellowstone last year and still had things on our list to see when we had to leave so we are not the sort of tourist who wants to just drive through the park with a few brief stops next to the road. We will do up to half day hikes but again want to be back at the rig each night so don't want to drive for 90 minutes one way to get to the parks.
Sorry for the long post but I find we get better info when I provide more background about what we are looking for. Thank you.
Dave & Kathy
2007 Monaco Knight 40PDQ towing 2003 Odyssey
Two cats - Kitty & Casey (18 & 15 years old)
Fulltime since October 2007
Before you give someone a piece of your mind, make sure you can get by with what's left.
When we went to Bryce and Zion it was early September for us. Bryce is higher elevation than Zion so the weather was cooler and we had two days of almost down pouring rain. When we left for Zion two days later, it was hot and sunny there due to the lower elevation. The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is higher elevation than the South and has fewer, much fewer crowds. I don't think you'll encounter snow or bad weather in late September but it will definitely be cooler than early Sept. As for big rig RV parks or sites - Ruby's at Bryce is closest and within walking (or driving with your toad) to the shuttle pick up station. Ruby's is spacious and has just about any type of parking spot - from clost to others and out in the open to back in the trees, but most spots are wide enough. At Zion we saw a lot of big rigs at the RV parks in town. A couple were at the Watchman CG which has electricity only - 30 amp. Although the sites are listed as smaller there was a Class A next to us that was 35' and had plenty of room for a longer unit. There's also Mt. Carmel or Mt. Carmel Junction - do a search on that and you will find a very affordably priced RV park along the Virgin River and then you can come in the back way, through the tunnel to Zion with your toad. Almos forgot to mention that at the North Rim of GC we stayed at Jacob Lake at an RV park there, Kaibab Camper Village, the only one that I recall. It's nice and in the pines. There were plenty of big rigs there and at that time of year, you should have plenty of room. There's also forest service CG's at the Junction if you want to dry camp a few days. Hope this helps.
2006 282TS 32' Komfort
1999 Ford F250 4x4 XLT SD Triton V10 with Tow Package
Prodigy Brake Control
Magnaflow Cat Back Exhaust, FIPK, and TransGo Shift Kit
Hensley Arrow
Dave and Renee plus Champ, Molly (in spirit), Missy and now Maggie Along for the Ride!
We stayed at Bauer's Canyon Ranch RV Park in Glendale, UT. It was a nice campground just about halfway between Zion and Bryce Canyon. While you are there don't miss Kodachrome Basin State Park, about 20 or so miles past Bryce Canyon Turnoff on Hwt 12.
Randy
Randy & Patty Shanks
Belle, MO
2008 Carri-Lite 36SBQ, 2008 Chev 3500HD Crew Cab w/ duramax/allison, dual RR
First rig for Us.
If you like to hike and explore back roads, spend some time in Kanab at the RV Corral. Hike to The Wave, Wire Pass slot canyon and drive Skutumpah Rd to hike places like Willis Creek, Lick Wash, Bull Valley Gorge, etc. The country around there is awesome. Drive Cottonwood Rd and Paria Valley Rd.
While at Bryce Canyon, either Ruby's or Cannonville KOA recommended, drive Route 12 to Lower Calf Creek Falls. This hike (5.5 miles RT) leads to the prettiest waterfall and pool you could find.
You might consider staying at the NP campground while at North Rim of Grand Canyon. No hookups, but generator allowed at specified times. Main thing is waking up right at the canyon is a real treat.
You could spend weeks hiking around Zion and nearby areas. There are several (nothing fancy) places to stay on the east side of Zion, or you can drive through the tunnel and stay at Zion Canyon RV Park, just outside the NP gate. You could also drive to Zion from Kanab, about 1 hr drive but you'll never tire of its beauty.
If you can squeeze in Capitol Reef, do it. Page, AZ also has lots of good things to do. Check out my photo gallery for AZ and Utah (link below).
I'll leave the camp grounds to others with big rigs like your rig. I'm small so they're all nice! As to the weather, unless there are some freak storms you won't have any problems with ice and snow. I've been there at different times of the year and it seems like rain is always a possibility.
If you go north on I15 you can swing in for a drive up Kolab canyon. It's just a few miles long and some nice views. Then continue north on I15 to Cedar City. Go out east from Cedar City to Cedar Breaks NP. More beautiful views.
If you can head over to the Grand Canyon I recommend visiting it on the North Rim. It won't be to bad a drive since you're already north of the Grand Canyon. IMHO the North Rim is much nicer then the South Rim but I'd see either one again!
You might want to look at Kanab RV resort for a big rig. It's a haul to the North Rim (80 miles) and about 45 miles to Zion Canyon but you can do both from the one site.
Note that the tunnel on the east side of Zion Canyon is restricted to certain sized vehicles and charges for an escort ($15 ?) to take you thru in the middle of the road. You can check the Zion Canyon NP website.
I haven't stayed there ($$$) but Zion River is supposed to be a good park, handles big rigs near Virgil (west of park).
If you go to the Bryce Canyon area, be sure to have a GOOD surge protector ! Several members of RV.Net have had problems in the area!
Would recommend Zion Canyon in Springdale for Zion (Zion River is a rip-off -- email or PM me if you want details), Kanab RV Corral in Kanab and Ruby's Inn in Bryce. North Rim has no hookups.
Lauren - DW Barbara - "Aussie" Terrier, Sadie
2006 Mobile Suites 32TK3 with TrailAir
2006 Chev 3500 3LT Ext Cab 4x4 360HP Dmax 6 Spd Allie
I have stayed at Zion River twice with no problems. My expectations may be really low, but I enjoyed the pool and hot tub. I don't need their wifi because I have an aircard.
Spend a day or two at Capital Reef NP, there are 2-3 good commercial parks around Torrey, check out "Sunset Point" about 2 hours before sundown. Don't miss the Lower Calf Creek Falls hike along Route 12. We stayed in Bryce NP at an in park CG with our 36' MH and toad. No hook-ups but very nice. Take a hike into the Canyon at Bryce. We like Watchman at Zion (electric only) don't miss the hike to "Angels Landing". Sept-october is perfect for this area.
LOVE Cap Reef! We stayed at Thousand Lakes or something like that - great park.
OK. Zion River - short version. Paid $46 / night GS rate (+ tax). WiFi was extra and not cheap. Pool and hot tub did not work - no reduction in rate. And, if they had been, you had to pay $1 each to shower before entering pools and again if you wanted to shower coming out. Phone calls were $1. No TV. They overcharged my Visa - as compared to their receipt - which I did not realize until I go the statement. They refused to refund me the money. And some staff attitude problems - not all, just some. That is the short version.
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