Going to Grand Canyon NP and Zion NP. Which RV parks?

[Grizzly]

In about mid October we're planning a trip to the Grand Canyon NP, South Rim, AZ and to Zion NP in SW UT. I'm looking for recommendations for RV parks with electric only to full hook-ups. Besides touring the National Parks, are there any other points of interest worth going to?

 

[NStates]

Page AZ is a neat area to see the slot canyons. There are a lot of campgrounds in the area. We stayed in Page. Camper Village, Jacob Lake, AZ close to North Rim. Hitch-N-Post RV Park, Kanob, UT. is a neat town with a lot of western movie history. Brice Canyon and Zion are out of this world. Need lots of time to take it all in. Spent 5 days in the area was no enough time. Have a great trip

Norm

2008 Dodge RAM 3500 Laramie Quad Cab 4X2 6. 7 Liter Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine,
6 -Speed Automatic 68RFE Transmission, 3. 73 Anti-Spin Differential, Brilliant White, ISSPRO Gauges, Transfer Flow Fuel Tank, PullRite #20,500 Super 5th Hitch, Line-X, XTRA Bed liner , Hayes Genesis brake controller, PML Deep Transmission Pan, Custom Graphics, Pull a Mobile Suites Fifth Wheel.

 

[surfbeetle]

Years ago I went to South side of the Grand Canyon, there was a campground in Tusayan and then there was a Flintstones themed campground as well.

 

[jelag]

Grizzly

I booked us into the RV park that's inside Grand Canyon Village... We wanted to be close, instead of driving 30 miles to and from the park... I looked at several and the rest were many miles away... Years ago we spent some time in the little town just out of the park at the south entrance... as I remember all the water was trucked in... but in the park there is lots of water...

If your interested go the the Grand Canyon NP web sight and follow the link... a private contractor takes care of these RV parks...

We have a national park passport... .

We were at the north entrance of Yellowstone earlier this year in a very nice place...

See you soon.....

 

[pullya]

If your in Page, Az. and you have some extra time I would recommend you go up to Lake Powell and take one of the tour boats to see the Rainbow Bridge. It is well worth your time--beautiful country, huge lake (2,000 miles of shoreline) and looks exactly like the Grand Canyon.

Jay

 

[Grizzly]

Thanks Jim,



I did look at the Grand Canyon NP web site, but found no RV park with hook-ups, which is okay because we can dry camp a few day. We do have a built-in generator.



Thanks for other responses from NStastes, surfbettle and pullya.



george

 

[BarryG]

Griz:

There is a campground with hookups within GCNP. It is in the Village somewhere. Stayed there a few years ago. If I recall it is called Trailer Village and is next to the Mather Campground. If you are up for a bit of easy hiking in GC try taking the shuttle from the Village to Hermits Rest. There are several viewpoints that you can get out at and then catch the next shuttle to the next one. They come frequently. IF you want a bit of solitude there try hiking back to the Village from Hermits Rest. It is 6 or 7 miles (or pick any of the shuttle stops to return from to shorten it. If you get tired you can just catch the next shuttle at the next view point you hike too. The trail pretty much follows the rim and is flat and the last mile or so is even paved for wheelchair access. Also make sure and take a look at Mary Colters buildings one is the Hopi House in the Village and the other is the Watchtower at Desert View on the east side of the park. Not the stores that are inside but the buildings themselves the architecture inside and out is pretty cool.

If more adventurous try hiking down the Bright Angel or South Kaibab trail. South Kaibab has less people but is a bit steeper. Once down in the canyon a bit it does take on a different feel.



Zion NP has electric hookups in the Watchman Electric sites but no water hookups though it is available. There are also several campgrounds on the west side of the park in Springdale. Some look good but I have not stayed in them. Carmel Junction on the east side has a couple as well but it is a bit of haul to the main canyon from there. Make sure and at least walk down the Virgin River trail to the river (1 mile). If adventurous continue on up the river. Once up river a bit the walls close in and it is 2000'+ feet up and at points only 20' wide. It may very well be too cold to walk in in October but there are a couple places in Springdale that will rent you the gear to keep you from getting wet and cold. Angels Landing is another great one no water, great views a bit steep but worth the climb.



Page AZ Horseshoe Bend Overlook

Horseshoe Bend - Imprints Of Light Gallery - A portfolio of images by Anand Muralidharan



Also in Page Antelope Canyon both upper and lower are a couple of the best slots in the country and are worth seeing and are very easy particularly the upper canyon

Antelope Canyon - Imprints Of Light Gallery - A portfolio of images by Anand Muralidharan



Waterholes Canyon in Page is a bit more adventurous but is not difficult if going up canyon. Downcanyon is not difficult either until you get to the dryfalls at which point it will be obvious

Slot Canyons of the American Southwest - Water Holes Canyon, near Page, Arizona; photographs



Glen Canyon Dam tour is interesting if you have never been inside a dam before



Bryce Canyon is almost a must see if you are that close to it in Zion. IIRC it is about 90 miles from Zion and if needed could just be a day trip there and back.

 

[HBarlow]

Grizzly,

Try "RV Park Reviews" in your google search engine. I found this link on the internet somewhere in the last year or so and saved it. I've found it very helpful for locating RV parks.

It is free to users and the entries and writeups are all voluntary. Some fellow RVers with laptops write about the campgrounds and RV parks they stay in as they travel. It is not necessarily complete or even accurate but will often list a park that you might not find through other sources.

 

[Radshooter]

Good advice so far. If you are pressed for time and have to choose between Zion and Bryce, I personally think Bryce is much more scenic than Zion. Both are worth the trip if you have time though.

If you are coming through Tuba City, drop me a line and I will buy you a cup of coffee if you have time. There is an RV park here, but it is not taking any new tenants due to electrical problems. Maybe by October though they may have everything re-wired. We are 50 miles from the South Rim.

 

[Grizzly]

Thanks Harvey for the "RV Parks Reviews" web site. I spent a bit of time reviewing National Parks. It's awesome. I added it to my favorites.



Great information BarryG. Now we also want to go to Bryce Canyon in addition to Zion NP.



Radshooter, if we go by Tuba City, I send you a PM and take you up on that coffee. We always take the laptop as well as the GPS, ipod with device to hook up to the truck's FM radio and other electronic goodies with us.

 

[Grizzly]

We're thinking of adding Yosemite NP to our itinerary. What's the weather conditions in Yosemite NP, California in mid October? I know the Sierra Nevadas can get a good amounts of snow about that time.

 

[Superdawg]

Weather conditions in Yosemite? Take a look. We just pulled out of there.

Just kidding, Grizzly! This was taken on January 2 this year.

Tom

 

[Superdawg]

Ya know, when you are trying to be funny, it helps when the picture actually attaches to the message. Sorry, that one didn't work.

 

[Grizzly]

TBees, I hope you're not trying to tell me that Yosemite's October weather is like January's weather.



We crossed the Sierra Nevadas, (not Yosemite), from Northern California two years ago in mid October and went through a big snow storm and blizzard. I don't know if thats typical for that area for that time of the year.

 

[Superdawg]

I'm not sure about the October weather. This is what it looked like over New Year's weekend.

Tom

 

[GW208]

Snow is certainly a possibility in October, but there is a much better chance that you will have good weather. Kind of cold at night, but very pleasant during the day. You just have to watch the weather reports and be prepared to alter your plans if need be. Tioga pass is the eastern entrance to Yosemite and it has only closed for the winter in mid October once since 1980. My wife and I will actually be passing thru Yosemite in a couple of weeks on our way to the the Lone Pine film festival.
Good luck and enjoy your trip Grizzly.

 

[Grizzly]

WOW, Nice pics TBees. Looks like a winter wonderland.



Thanks RYoung, we will watch the weather.



george

 

[THoltz]

Might be out of your way, but Fool Hollow State Park is very nice, located in Show Low Arizona.

 

[Grizzly]

Might be out of your way, but Fool Hollow State Park is very nice, located in Show Low Arizona.

I've never heard of it, but I'll do a little research. Do they have an RV park? Might be a good place to spend a night.

 

[Regcabguy]

We loved staying in Watchman Campground in Zion last April. The sites are reasonably spacious and afford some privacy with trees and misc. foliage. The sites by the Virgin River are pull throughs also and the river provides a nice background white noise. The campers were especially quiet and respectable there.