Zion/Bryce area vs Arches/Canyonland/Moab for 4 day trip

[Brian P Smith]

Possibly able to book a short 4 day 5 night trip in the next few weeks (early November) and if I do choose Utah I am having trouble debating between these two. Flights into Salt Lake are slightly cheaper than Las Vegas, but Zion, I'd likely do two days at Zion and Two at Bryce. Has anyone been to both that can comment?

 

[bflood]

The high volume of tourism to Las Vegas means there are lots of flights to choose from, and prices are generally pretty competitive because so many airlines fly here (I live in Vegas). Hotels are expensive here on Friday and Saturday nights, and a real bargain the rest of the time. My experience staying in and around Salt Lake is that, if you have to fly in on a weekend, Salt Lake would be a better choice. Arriving on a weekday, Vegas may be a better option (add air fare and a hotel cost to compare them).

Zion is about 3 hours of driving from the strip to the entrance in Springdale, UT. Bryce is another 1.5 hour drive through Zion high country.

Early November - there's a good chance you'll have some good quality fall foliage in Zion Canyon the 1st week of November, but the color will be past peak in the high elevations. Bryce isn't a place known for fall color - the vast majority of trees are evergreen. But Bryce is amazing every day of the year.

Be advised that Zion is one of the national parks that has become so overcrowded that it has the park service searching for ways to limit the number of people allowed in. The crowding is at its worst during the summer, of course, but it's a problem in the spring and fall on all weekends. The shuttle system they operate used to work very well, but even it has been overcome with too many visitors. If you have the flexibility, schedule your visit to Zion for weekdays.

Zion has four basic parts - 1) Zion Canyon, where the Virgin River runs, 2) the high country above the tunnel on the east side of the park, 3) Kolob Canyon on the west side (and accessible only through its own entrance from I-15), and the high elevation backcountry accessible only by hiking (with a permit). The first three don't require strenuous hikes, and are all worth seeing. Backcountry hikes are for serious hikers who plan to camp during their hikes. As far as I know, the Kolob Canyon section of the park is still closed due to road renovations - check the park's website to see if it has re-opened during your visit.

At Bryce: the park is mainly an amphitheater where the road into the park provides easy access to the top of the amphitheater - there's a paved trail along the edge for miles in the park. High altitude - you enter the park at about 7,000ft and reach a peak elevation at the south end of the park road at 9,000 ft. Be prepared for that low octane air! There are trails down into the amphitheater and they are excellent hikes. These trails start steep and then ease off down among the hoodoos. This makes for pleasant hiking, but it means the hike back to where you started ends with a steep climb. Carry water - it's a desert out there, and it's a desert all year round. At sunset, the low sun angle, about the time the light is coming horizontally across the top of the plateau, the illumination of the hoodoos makes them look like they are about to turn transparent - This only lasts a minute or two.

 

[martianphoto]

LV is certainly closer for Zion then Bryce (about 250 miles) Whereas from SLC you would more likely do Bryce then Zion - (about 350miles)

In either direction you could use I-15 to speed your trip if you just want a fast route.

Alternatively you could travel from SLC via Hwy 6 and 191 through Spanish Fork, Price, and Green River then across Capitol Reef and Boulder up to Bryce. ( around 400 miles) but arguably offering more scenic opportunities than I-15

The only caveat I would put on Capitol Reef to Bryce at this time of year is the likelihood of snow over Boulder Mountain. Just watch the weather forecast.

The escape route from Capitol reef would be back to I-70 via Torrey and Loa then south on Hwy 89 at Richfield approaching Bryce from Panguitch.

Hope this helps. I have done trips to this area on a number of occasions over the last few years, and will be there myself in November from the West Coast

Best tip - Just watch the weather forecast carefully. Travel safely and enjoy a great trip.

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[mfinley]

Possibly able to book a short 4 day 5 night trip in the next few weeks (early November) and if I do choose Utah I am having trouble debating between these two. Flights into Salt Lake are slightly cheaper than Las Vegas, but Zion, I'd likely do two days at Zion and Two at Bryce. Has anyone been to both that can comment?

What do you plan on doing? Are you a hardcore hiker or going to shoot from 100 feet from the car? What do you want out of your trip? Non stop photography?

Zion & Bryce are pretty much Zion & Bryce and not much else, Moab area is surrounded by dozens upon dozens of different areas within 45 minutes from Moab. You can basically take a map and draw a 45 minute circle around it and close your eyes and put your finger in this circle and you will end up on something that you could go see. Moab has more infrastructure and things going on.

 

[Austinian]

Possibly able to book a short 4 day 5 night trip in the next few weeks (early November) and if I do choose Utah I am having trouble debating between these two. Flights into Salt Lake are slightly cheaper than Las Vegas, but Zion, I'd likely do two days at Zion and Two at Bryce. Has anyone been to both that can comment?

That is a really tough decision. Both choices offer some of the finest scenery I've ever seen.

It's been many years since I visited Zion (discouraged by summer crowds in recent years) but I was in Bryce last year and Moab this year.

I'd have to say that IMO Bryce might have the single most beautiful viewpoints, but there is more variety in Canyonlands/Arches. Words really do fail me here, and I'd have to post a lot of photos to even get close.

My suggestion would be to check out multiple online images from the various places, and decide which offers the better viewing and photography for your taste. You really can't go wrong with either destination.

 

[Brian P Smith]

Possibly able to book a short 4 day 5 night trip in the next few weeks (early November) and if I do choose Utah I am having trouble debating between these two. Flights into Salt Lake are slightly cheaper than Las Vegas, but Zion, I'd likely do two days at Zion and Two at Bryce. Has anyone been to both that can comment?

What do you plan on doing? Are you a hardcore hiker or going to shoot from 100 feet from the car? What do you want out of your trip? Non stop photography?

Zion & Bryce are pretty much Zion & Bryce and not much else, Moab area is surrounded by dozens upon dozens of different areas within 45 minutes from Moab. You can basically take a map and draw a 45 minute circle around it and close your eyes and put your finger in this circle and you will end up on something that you could go see. Moab has more infrastructure and things going on.

I would say I'm somewhere in-between. I don't mind "park the car and shoot" and I enjoy short to moderate hikes, don't mind hiking in the dark to get place etc. but I'm not looking to do hour long hikes to get to a place - the hiking/backpacking only area of Zion would be off my list.

 

[Brian P Smith]

LV is certainly closer for Zion then Bryce (about 250 miles) Whereas from SLC you would more likely do Bryce then Zion - (about 350miles)

In either direction you could use I-15 to speed your trip if you just want a fast route.

Alternatively you could travel from SLC via Hwy 6 and 191 through Spanish Fork, Price, and Green River then across Capitol Reef and Boulder up to Bryce. ( around 400 miles) but arguably offering more scenic opportunities than I-15

The only caveat I would put on Capitol Reef to Bryce at this time of year is the likelihood of snow over Boulder Mountain. Just watch the weather forecast.

The escape route from Capitol reef would be back to I-70 via Torrey and Loa then south on Hwy 89 at Richfield approaching Bryce from Panguitch.

Hope this helps. I have done trips to this area on a number of occasions over the last few years, and will be there myself in November from the West Coast

Best tip - Just watch the weather forecast carefully. Travel safely and enjoy a great trip.

https://martianphotography.smugmug.com/Travel

Thanks; I was a bit worried about crowds but I'll be there Tues-Sat so I would hopefully miss the brunt of it.

 

[mfinley]

Possibly able to book a short 4 day 5 night trip in the next few weeks (early November) and if I do choose Utah I am having trouble debating between these two. Flights into Salt Lake are slightly cheaper than Las Vegas, but Zion, I'd likely do two days at Zion and Two at Bryce. Has anyone been to both that can comment?

What do you plan on doing? Are you a hardcore hiker or going to shoot from 100 feet from the car? What do you want out of your trip? Non stop photography?

Zion & Bryce are pretty much Zion & Bryce and not much else, Moab area is surrounded by dozens upon dozens of different areas within 45 minutes from Moab. You can basically take a map and draw a 45 minute circle around it and close your eyes and put your finger in this circle and you will end up on something that you could go see. Moab has more infrastructure and things going on.

I would say I'm somewhere in-between. I don't mind "park the car and shoot" and I enjoy short to moderate hikes, don't mind hiking in the dark to get place etc. but I'm not looking to do hour long hikes to get to a place - the hiking/backpacking only area of Zion would be off my list.

In my opinion the best reasons to go to Zion are the -the Narrows - 16 miles and Angels Landing 4 miles. Moab area offers up a ton of scenic areas much easier to access if you don't want to do even an hour long hike.

 

[martianphoto]

You're welcome.

bflood gives a pretty good overview of both Zion and Bryce, particularly with regard to numbers of visitors etc. I would certainly echo his observations.

The other suggestions relating to Canyonlands/Moab are also quite apt, particularly with respect to the sheer amount of scenery in close proximity.

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[rick decker]

I would pick one area and stay there the whole time. If you try to blow through a park ina day or two, you will miss a lot. It takes time to get to know a place. Both have plenty of variety. Zion hikes tend to be more up/down than Arches/Canyonlands. Arches is less crowded. Probably Zion Canyon will still be closed to cars. My preference would be for Arches but you won't be going wrong if you decide on Zion.

 

[Morris0]

Each of these are special. For me Bryce is the most unique and stunning. As it's high it's the coldest of the parks on your list and snow could be a challenge. With only 4 days I recommend you chose one and explore it rather than using your time evening between parks. The scenery around these parks is a joy to view as well

Morris

 

[KENTGA]

I agree with Morris. Been to Zion/Bryce and Moab twice and either would be a tossup. I don't hike any longer because of bad knees.

For me an afternoon in Bryce and and a morning the next day with walk to Sunrise Point and then driving to the end of the road and turning around and driving back out and stopping at the pullouts on the right would be great.

Drive down to Zion and go into the East Entrance and stop at the pullouts along the way to the Valley. We were there in June 2017 and Zion Valley shuttle was so crowded we didn't even go to the valley.

Moab/Arches, Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point were great and I would highly recommend it. Will go into more detail about Moab if you decide to go there.

Kent

 

[Chris Wolfgram]

Excellent write up bflood, I went through all of these places last Fall, about this time, and yet I don't think I could have explained it all so well. So yes, I even went through Zion in the Fall, on a weekday, And it was still moderately busy.