Heading West to CO, NM, AZ, AND UT

[bevcraven]

Looking for advice on visiting the Grand Canyon (north and south rim) mid-September.  We are planning to take the train out of Williams, AZ for a day and then a bus tour at the canyon. I have had major back surgery so multiple-miles hikes are out of the question. Also we will be heading for Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, Arches, and Monument Valley after that so any fun things to do besides hiking or unique places to visit and dine would be helpful!

We travel in a 33ft Newmar class A and pull a Jeep Wrangler.

Many thanks!

[aztec7fan]

From your post, I am assuming you are looking for scenery you can enjoy from your coach or with limited walking.  Your ideas of going to Bryce, Zion, etc, is good because there is alot to enjoy in these areas right from your window.

You didn't say what type of coach you are driving, but be aware that the main road through Zion has a restricted tunnel where some larger vehicles cannot pass.  Our 32' motorhome went through ok, but we had to follow a pilot car.

You will also be in the area of Lake Powell.  You might look into spending a day here and taking a boat tour.  Very scenic!

Also, not sure what your route is, but Glennwood Canyon in Colorado (I-70) is incredible, and you will want to take photos while driving down the highway.  

Chris G.

F3508s

[rsbilledwards]

Ok this is a good one and quite the drive. We made it on the way back from Arizona to Colorado which is home. Since you are at Zion and maybe in a big coach you will have to go to Cedar City to go and visit Bryce Canyon and you would be foolish not to as you are so close. The drive from Cedar City is just the beginning of a spectacular drive. At Bryce continue on 12 to Capital Reef National Park and then a right East on 24 through the park and on to Green River, Utah. I70 heading East is nice and very pretty views to Grand Junction. Since you want to go to Monument Valley and the other parks go south on 50 and then south on Colorado 141 until it intersects with 145 just past Naturita. Follow 145 to Delores and then Cortez. This route from Grand Junction is one of Colorado's best kept secrets. The route takes you over Lizard head pass one of Colorado's most spectacular sights.  

You are now officially in the four corners area and Mesa Verde National Park beacons with abundant ancient history. From there take 160 south to Colorado 41 or continue on 160. 41/Utah 162-163 is a real dream drive and it loops back to 160 at Kayenta, AZ

 

good luck and have a great time.

[Strats]

We are heading West also. Is Route 66 worth the additional drive time.  Driving a 38' HR Endeavor DP with a toad.  15 days to make the drive.  Already went through Yellowstone a few years ago so we want to stay around the Grand Canyon and Brice Canyon area as mentioned above.  Does anyone have an itinerary they used with good RV parks along the way and at the GC.  I can boondock for 3-4 days if necessary but overnight is preferred between stays at the RV parks.  Any must see's and stays.  I too have some back issues, 3-5 mile hikes at the most.

[tbutler]

In Williams, AZ, the Canyon Motel and RV Park is a good place to stay.  There are others but we didn't make advance reservations and it was the closest we could get to the Grand Canyon. The town of Williams is small but has nice tourist stops, bars, restaurants, shops, etc.  It is about an hour drive from there to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  Park at huge parking lot at HQ and ride the bus from one place to another along the South Rim of the Canyon. 

From South Rim to North Rim is a long scenic drive.  If you can't get reservations in the park on the North Rim, there is a nice National Forest Campground at Jacob Lake.  You don't have any hook-ups but can use the generator.  Weather is high altitude, cool at night.  You are about an hour from the North Rim but it's a scenic drive.  The North Rim is beautiful.  It is also much less visited.  You can drive to the lookout points and walk out to see the canyon.  Those who are limited in hiking should find this an easy explore.  We got advice from the campground hosts, take the first left to the Canyon sights (can't remember the name).  There are a dozen or so stops along the rim.  There are nice overlooks at the North Rim HQ.  We ate dinner early one evening.  We got a table at the window overlooking the Canyon.  WOW, it was a spectacular meal and view.  You will never get this on the South Rim. 

From the North Rim (Jacob Lake Campground) we drove north to Zion.  We stayed in Sand Hollow Reservoir State Park near Hurricane UT.  Nice facilities, full hookups, about an hour from Zion.  Zion itself is another park and ride National Park.  You can enjoy the ride into and out of the park but the heart of the Canyon is a bus ride.  Stop, get off, walk about.  There are great hikes for those who are able.  Otherwise, just ride the bus from stop to stop.  Enjoy the view at each place, perhaps walk a bit to the canyon walls.  The scenery from inside the canyon is Awesome.  The road from the east has the tunnel which has restrictions for large vehicles (RV's included).  You pay a fee and are escorted through the tunnel which is closed to traffic so you can drive the center of the road where the tunnel is high enough to allow your passage.  Check the Zion Canyon National Park website for details and schedule.

[punxsyjumper]

While in Cedar City Utah, we also visited Kolob Canyon and saw the pectrogliphs at Parawan Gap. Great stuff

[boltz]

If you head South out of Moab, there is a small town called Bluff.  It has a nice little park with a great lady that runs it.  We were only going to stay their over night and ended up staying several days.  She can tell you many things to see in the area including Gooseneck State Park and also you are close to Monument Valley so we just took a day trip there.   If you stay in Flagstaff the KOA is nice, but if you want a cheaper deal with no frills, Black Barts is fine and make sure you go have dinner and watch the melodrama that the college kids put on there in the summer....really fun!  Flagstaff has a lot to see too. You can ride the ski lift up to snow bowl or just walk around downtown and visit the quaint shops.  The weather in Flagstaff in the summer is amazing!

[Strats]

Thanks for the responses, sounds great!

[wildebill308]

On 7/31/2017 at 0:22 PM, bevcraven said:

Looking for advice on visiting the Grand Canyon (north and south rim) mid-September.  We are planning to take the train out of Williams, AZ for a day and then a bus tour at the canyon. I have had major back surgery so multiple-miles hikes are out of the question. Also we will be heading for Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, Arches, and Monument Valley after that so any fun things to do besides hiking or unique places to visit and dine would be helpful!

We travel in a 33ft Newmar class A and pull a Jeep Wrangler.

Many thanks!

Welcome to the forum. If you can, try to get into Trailer Village, 100 Trailer Village Rd, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023,Located in: Grand Canyon National Park, visitgrandcanyon.com, (928) 638-1006. There is a shuttle that comes into the park and takes you around. You can go places on the shuttles you can't go in your car.

I have stayed at Williams before and ridden the train. We have stayed at Grand Canyon Railway RV Park a couple of times when we couldn't get into the park. 601 W Franklin Ave, Williams, AZ 86046, thetrain.com, (800) 843-8724. 

For Canyonlands, Arches, I stayed at OK RV Park,3310 Spanish Valley Dr, Moab, UT 84532, okrvpark.com, (435) 259-1400 This park is just outside Moab.

When in Moab check out Pasta Jay's, 4 S Main St, Moab, UT 84532, pastajay.com,(435) 259-2900. It has been 11 months and I am ready to go back.

You might also like Desert Bistro, 36 S 100 W, Moab, UT 84532
desertbistro.com, (435) 259-0756.

When visiting Zion area we stayed at Leeds RV Park & Motel, 97 Valley Rd, Leeds, UT 84746
leedsrvpark.com, (435) 879-2450

Have fun.

Bill

 

 

[Strats]

Thanks Bill

[Harley06]

Wow! Great information for this newbie!

[wildebill308]

43 minutes ago, Harley06 said:

Wow! Great information for this newbie!

Welcome to the forum.

Bill

[rpelatt]

Just make sure you have reservations! RV Parks anywhere near the Grand Canyon are reporting record business.