Hello,

I would like to ask for some suggestions in planning the trip by rented car in South West of USA . I will have 12 days and I would like to see Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grosvenor Arch, Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, Santa Fe, Taos Pueblo, Mesa Verde and Colorado. Where should I start and end the trip (I will fly from New York), what else it would be worth seeing,while being in that area?

thank you!

Hi, Well I've done most of this trip (it's called the Golden Circle and you can pick up a guide at a tourist info)and was going back this year to do New Mexico but have had to cancel (should actually be there now!).

Starting in Las vegas drive North to Zion and stay the night in either Springdale at Zion or the Ruby Inn Best Western at Bryce. Next stop will be Bryce Canyon and north up the Grand Escelante/Grand staircase to Torre for the night ready for Capitol reef next morning.At Capitol reef ( Fruita) go down the scenic drive and have a look down a couple of the unpaved canyons (the wash). Onwards to Canyonlands, take the drive to Island in the Sky. Stay at Moab. If you're brave and into 4 wheel driving go along the potash road and up the switchbacks to the Island in the Sky, not for the faint hearted though, very scary drop offs. Next morning drive north a couple of miles back up to Arches national park then take the drive along the Colorado river towards Grand junction then south into Colorado into the rockies stopping the night at Ouray. Continue up into the mountains to Silverton then on to Durango. After Durango drive to Mesa Verde. Stay the night at Cortez before Monument valley then stay at Chinle for the night ready for Canyon De Chelly in the morning. (don't bother with the four corners monument). Now you can head back to Vegas via the Grand canyon.

We did the Grand canyon, Bryce, Capitol reef, Canyonlands, Arches, Ouray/Silverton/Durango, Mesa Verde, Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly and back to the Grand canyon in 9 days so I think you might be able to pop into New Mexico for a couple of days, just make sure you have enought time to see the Grand Canyon (and take a flight over in a plane, not a helicopter) I guarantee you will have a fantastic time. The scenery is simply stunning and the best holiday I have ever had and one I'm constantly recommending. If you need road numbers let me know. Have a great trip!

[This message was edited by Mork on March 19, 2006 at 05:00 PM.]

Hi dear Mork,

I really appreciate your answer. I would be very happy if you would send me the rout numbers.

Thank you

Regina

I have just got back from spending a few days in the canyonlands and the arches. the weather was fantastic the scenry was simply stunning, if you go to the canyonlands national park I can highly recomend the big springs canyon trail, its about 11 miles round trip and the highlight of it is when you reach the mid point and you are 1,000 feet up on top of a canyon looking down on the colorado and green rivers meeting which a perfect view of the join because of the two different colours of the rivers, I have some amazing pictures of it. I travelled there from denver where some friends took me, but we followed the I70 from denver to grand junction then south to moab and then the canyonlands national park is 75 miles south of there. You can get a camping pitch for $15 a night and we had two tents there. It was stunning and the most amazing time I have had my only regret was I didnt have time to explore any more. I was my first trip to the states and it was great. I do plan to go back and see more.

Hi Regina,

Well here goes:

From Vegas take the 15 north to Zion. North on the 89 then take the 12 to Bryce canyon. Continue along the 12 as far as Torre, then right on the 24 to Capitol reef. Continue on the 24 to Hanksville then north on the 24 to join the i70 east towards Green river. Follow the i70 until Crescent junction and take the 191 south to Moab. After visiting Canyonlands and Arches take the scenic route on the 128 along the Colorado river and rejoin 70 east to Grand junction. Take the 50 south to Delta/Montrose and join the 550 south to Ouray. Continue up into the mountains to Silverton, the Durango. (from here if you think you have the time you can go into New Mexico) After Durango take the 160 west to Cortez for Mesa Verde then continue on the 160 into Arizona to Mexican water, then the 191 south to Chinle and the Canyon de Chelly. Back north up the 191 then cut across country (you'll know what I mean when you see it on a map) to Keyenta. Take the 163 north to Monument valley. After Monument valley get back onto the 160 to Tuba city then the 89 south then onto the 64 to the Grand Canyon, returning to Vegas via Lake mead and Hoover dam on the 93.