Utah travel

[jeepit]

What can I expect for weather traveling to Bryce, Arches, Moab, Zion and so forth this time of year?

 

[BarryG]

Bryce is at 8-9k elevation so you may very well run into snow on the ground there but once out you drop quickly if heading east. If heading west you drop but it is slower. The others it will mainly just depend on whether or not there is a storm system passing through. The later in March it is the less chance of snow for sure and might be unusual at that. The weather may very well be awesome maybe on the cool side but not cold with the exception of Bryce it may be cold at 9k. What is your route? Hopefully you are going to take Utah HWY 12 to get to/from Bryce to/from Moab (bryce- hwy 12 to Escalante, Boulder, Torrey pick up US 24 east there on to/through Capital Reef NP and on to Hanksville on 24 to I-70 west to Green River then on to Moab) even better to head south at Hanksville on 95 and circle around the southern side but it is quite a bit further but the scenery is great. Moab could be in the 50s-60s -70s but again depending on the weather could be the 40s. Arches NP , Canyonlands NP, Dead Horse Point SP, Moab area is usually great this time of year as long as you dont get hit by the stray weather system. Zion should be same. IF heading east out of Moab make sure and take HWY 128 it hooks up with I-70 about 20-30 miles east of the Moab exit. It follows the river and is quite scenic for most of it and is worth it. The time is about the same as you save about 15 miles heading north out of Moab to I-70 and then east. Or if you are heading in from the east just look for the HWY 128 Cisco exit. 128 will put you right at the CO river in Moab.

 

[Grizzly]

This not a good time of the year to gp to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. Call the National Parks and ask when would be the best time to go.

In my opinion Zion is by far the best of all the NP's in Utah. Almost as good as the Grand Canyon in Arizona, which is not far from Zion.

The best RV Park is in Mount Carmel Junction. It's called Mount Carmal RV Park. It's located right between Bryce and Zion on Junction Hwy 89 and Hwy 9.

Hope this helps, george

 

[BIGNASTY]

It will be COLD to VERY COLD at night and maybe during the day also. Hiking in Zion now could be life threatening all of the hiking is pretty much UP and water and cold make for slick footing. But if you go DONT forget to think about one of the places that the wife and I have been and just fell in love with



Monument valley



We have always sought out the more obscure places to visit, Monument Valley is so vast and so,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, MONUMENT VALLEY!!!! for a lack of better words. As Grizz said Grand Canyon is well worth the time so is Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Mesa Verde Nat Park all in the general area that you are thinking about.

 

[BarryG]

Looks like some others have replied as well took me a while to get back to this had to get going this morning. Here are some links to the weather at the National Parks if scroll down the page you can see webcams, 7 day forecast, monthly avgs etc on some of them
zion- http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/weather-and-climate.htm
bryce- http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/weatheroutlook.htm
arches-http://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/weather.htm
moab 10 day - http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Moab+UT+USUT0165

 

[Tractorat]

The best RV Park is in Mount Carmel Junction. It's called Mount Carmal RV Park. It's located right between Bryce and Zion on Junction Hwy 89 and Hwy 9.

I would second that advice. If it is the park Im thinking of (Im sure it is), at least a couple of years ago it was only $15/night in the summer. The park itself really isnt that much to look at. But if you walk to the street (which isnt very far) the view is spectacular.

 

[Grizzly]

I would second that advice. If it is the park Im thinking of (Im sure it is), at least a couple of years ago it was only $15/night in the summer. The park itself really isnt that much to look at. But if you walk to the street (which isnt very far) the view is spectacular.

That's it. It's the same RV Park. Your right, they only charge $15 per night with full hook-ups, but no internet. Sure is convenient right between the two National Parks.

george

 

[RVTRKN]

I rode by that park on my Harley in 2009 on a 2000 mile trip in mid June with the wife, it was a 100* in Saint George Utah and the 70* temps riding through there was very welcomed, I imagine you would be in the 40's at best. BTW, bring your chains.

 

[Regcabguy]

We traveled to that region in late April. Temps ranged from 19* on the south rim of Grand Canyon to 85* at Monument Valley. Bryce was 28* at night same trip. Some spots were relatively warm. Weather was all over the place that trip. Southern UT is beautiful!

 

[Superdawg]

We went up to Duck Creek Village, Zion and Bryce in late February. Duck Creek is at about 8500' and was about 35-45 degrees during the day and about 20 or so at night. We rented a cabin so we got to leave the trailer at home. I like the trailer but it was nice having a extra space and a wood burning stove. There was about 2' of snow on the ground and we received about 6" new snow when some clouds went by. Rented snowmobiles for the first time which was fun. The roads were clear. The kids had a blast sledding and did not want to come home.
I can't say how beautiful southern Utah is. Extra special with a coat of snow. Zion and Bryce were very cold. We just hit the scenic overlooks.

 

[nunya]

its now 30 at 7:43 AM, supposed to be 57 here today, calling for 60`s late week, then back into 40`s, so who knows!! Come on down to Moab anyhow, you will love it! Almost Easter Jeep Safari

 

[jeepit]

Been on the road for a week in Utah. Not in the Dodge though. We flew in and to SLC and rented a 4 door Jeep Wrangler.
Started out taking in Arches Natl Park and then to Moab. Stayed in Hanksville Utah and then on to Capitol Reef. Took a scenic ride into the Canyon. This was one of my favorites. Then on to Bryce Canyon to hike the Queens Garden trail. Awesome park but you must hike it to take it all in. Then over to Zion for 2 days. Incredible hiking through the park!! Grand Canyon was next. Very nice park but too commercialized for us plus we have been there before.
In Phoenix for wedding then back to Utah for more hiking.
Our son is holding down the fort for us back home has been doing the snow removal,for usI told him I would fly him to Utah go hiking to compensate him!!

 

[Grizzly]

Good for you Jeeit. Glad you're having fun.



george

 

[EricBu12]

Jeepit,
Looks like by tuesday, Saint George will be into the mid 70's. . good weather down there. . I live up here in SLC so we had snow up here today. . Hope you have a fun rest of your trip

 

[mgonske]

It was beautiful here in Moab today! OK, cold and windy, but still mostly sunny and another great day out on the trails! Looking forward to warmer weather as the week goes on (let's not talk about next weekend's forecast).

 

[Grizzly]

Been on the road for a week in Utah. Not in the Dodge though. We flew in and to SLC and rented a 4 door Jeep Wrangler.

Started out taking in Arches Natl Park and then to Moab. Stayed in Hanksville Utah and then on to Capitol Reef. Took a scenic ride into the Canyon. This was one of my favorites. Then on to Bryce Canyon to hike the Queens Garden trail. Awesome park but you must hike it to take it all in. Then over to Zion for 2 days. Incredible hiking through the park!! Grand Canyon was next. Very nice park but too commercialized for us plus we have been there before.

In Phoenix for wedding then back to Utah for more hiking.

Our son is holding down the fort for us back home has been doing the snow removal,for usI told him I would fly him to Utah go hiking to compensate him!!

jeepit, if you like hiking consider La Luz Trail on Albuquerque's Eastside going up to the top of the Sandia Mountains. The trail starts at 7,050 elevation and ends near the top of the mountain. It's about 7. 2 long each way. Here's a link to it. La Luz Trail



george

 

[jeepit]

Hey George,
Flew back home yesterday. Put 2303 miles on our rented Jeep!
Had a great time in the Southwest and will be back soon!

 

[jeepit]

Hey George,

Flew back home yesterday. Put 2303 miles on our rented Jeep!

Had a great time in the Southwest and will be back soon!

 

[EricBu12]

Glad you had fun Jeepit. These red rock play areas are a lot of fun. . If you come out this way with a trailer and toys, to the west of SLC is Knolls Rec. Area. A flat dry lake and dunes and rocky hills... . and there is also down by Delta, ut "Little Sahara" a great place for dune running and outskirts trails. See Utah's ad campaign about the "Mighty 5" http://www.visitutah.com/parks-monuments/mighty5/ Visit all the national parks and have fun here this summer!! (shouting out to all)...