Just got back from Sedona, Arizona WOW.

[Sir Richard F. Burton]

I don't know what I was expecting but man that was one amazing place. We took the Pink jeep tour and I highly recommend it even though I thought it was overpriced $280 for me my wife and two kids for an hour and 45 minutes.
I would recommend it for anyone who like the classic western "view".

[Tbird]

I moved back to Ohio after 4 yrs in Scottsdale. We made the trip to Sedona several times and it is one of my wife's favorite places. We just went back for a vacation this Summer and spent a few days in Sedona.

Pink Jeep is a little overpriced but, a good experience. Slide Rock is another great one if you have kids. Not sure where you stayed but Junipine resort has nice "cabins" and backs up to Oak Creek, has some great climbing for kids.

[Dawood Khan]

Pictures!!! Please?

Never mind. I googled it. That is some incredible scenery out there. I might have to get out there someday.

My little bro lives out in NM. Maybe on a visit to him.

[gerntz]

I concluded that if not so many people lived there it would be a national park. It is something.

[Dawood Khan]

I've always wondered about Sedona. It is mentioned in many a song.

[The Old School JPS]

Sedona is an incredible place. We went there last September. I loved the hiking, and the kids loved Slide Rock. With the time difference I was able to wake up before sunrise. I loved going out in the dark and watching the sky and rocks light up slowly as their colors emerged from the darkness.

I also enjoyed visiting Tuzigoot National Monument nearby. It is a hilltop ruin from a tribe who had a town there hundreds of years ago, in the middle of a vast valley. It was very picturesque and mysterious as it is not really known why these people, who were able to build stone structures still there today, just disappeared.

The only time I spent indoors while in Sedona was to sleep and to watch the UK vs. UL game last year . . . it would've been a great trip anyway but my brother in law and I had a fantastic time watching that game, too.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

I have camped and hiked in Oak Creek Canyon and it is amazingly beautiful...as mentioned, Tuzigoot is a hoot as is Montezuma Well and Montezuma Castle National Monument...I have also hiked in the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness near Cottonwood.

[WILD1]

I don't know what I was expecting but man that was one amazing place. We took the Pink jeep tour and I highly recommend it even though I thought it was overpriced $280 for me my wife and two kids for an hour and 45 minutes.
I would recommend it for anyone who like the classic western "view".

We've been on a couple of occasions...it is very pretty but a bit too commercial/touristy/overpriced for my taste...try Moab for jeeping...if you should go West again, rent a Farabee jeep, the hubby's company (Performance Off Road) up-fits the Farabee's (they're usually red and offer self-guided tours) so, of course, they're vastly superior! ;)

[gerntz]

We've been on a couple of occasions...it is very pretty but a bit too commercial/touristy/overpriced for my taste...try Moab for jeeping...if you should go West again, rent a Farabee jeep, the hubby's company (Performance Off Road) up-fits the Farabee's (they're usually red and offer self-guided tours) so, of course, they're vastly superior! ;)

Didn't jeep the time we were at Moab, but would in Canyonlands next time.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

Have any of you hiked in The Needles district of Canyonlands NP?

[WILD1]

Have any of you hiked in The Needles district of Canyonlands NP?

No, not yet but I read a news story last week about one of the arches that had fallen within Arches Nat'l Park...Window Arch, maybe? I think we might even have a picture of it from the time we toured the park while visiting Moab. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to thoroughly examine Canyonlands...next trip, for sure.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

No, not yet but I read a news story last week about one of the arches that had fallen within Arches Nat'l Park...Window Arch, maybe? I think we might even have a picture of it from the time we toured the park while visiting Moab. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to thoroughly examine Canyonlands...next trip, for sure.

It was Wall Arch...The Needles area has one of my favorite campgrounds and it is located at a major trailhead...nearby is plenty of four-wheeling opportunities (Elephant Hill trailhead).

[The Old School JPS]

I would love to hear some more first hand accounts of great places to visit out west. In addition to Sedona I've visited the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest and Santa Fe. I'd love to see some of the parks in southern Utah, and of course Yellowstone. I'd love to hear about some other places, too.

[WILD1]

I would love to hear some more first hand accounts of great places to visit out west. In addition to Sedona I've visited the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest and Santa Fe. I'd love to see some of the parks in southern Utah, and of course Yellowstone. I'd love to hear about some other places, too.
Zion and Bryce are amazing...stayed in the lodges and hiked at both. I think I preferred Zion, although not by much.
Arches and Canyonlands ("Terry L." is much more familiar) were also beautiful, offering a bit different terrain than Zion/Bryce. Moab is nestled near Arches/Canyonlands and is a cool, quaint little town...also a rock-crawling/mountain biking mecca.
Don't know exactly your destination but we really enjoyed hiking/touring Canyon De Chelley (pro: de shay) in AZ and, of course, Monument Valley...looks just like it did in those old, Wayne/Ford westerns...awe inspiring. :thumbup:

[gerntz]

I would love to hear some more first hand accounts of great places to visit out west. In addition to Sedona I've visited the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest and Santa Fe. I'd love to see some of the parks in southern Utah, and of course Yellowstone. I'd love to hear about some other places, too.


You can spend weeks & in the southern 1/2 of UT. Not a bad place there. I haven't done this as I always wanted to see more than I've had for in-depth visits, but here's my time I'd lke to spend rating based on number of things to do at each if I had the time (Terry's surely a better judge of these.). Shorter time doesn't mean lesser sight other than size. For comparison, we spend 4 days in Yellowstone & 2 days at G. Tetons & thought those were about right & 1.5-2 at Grand Canyon & felt we shorted that.

- Zion: 3-4
- Bryce: 2+
- Cap Reef: ~3, including Waterfold
- Arches: 3
- Canyonlands ex-Needles: 2

And that doesn't include Cedar Breaks, Monument Valley, Glen Canyon, Sedona, & Meas Verde which are nearby - relatively speaking. UT-12 is a great scenic drive.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

In September ColoradoWildcat, Uncle Dirty and six other best friends from northern Kentucky will gather in St. George, Utah for a trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce Canyon. In St. George we will meet up with Tom and Lisa Brewer (KY Blue in Carolina) for several days.

I love all five of Utah's national parks and each is different. Arches can be visited in one day if time is short but you must hike to Delicate Arch.

Canyonlands is in three parts: Island in the Sky, The Needles and The Maze. I haven't been to The Maze but can highly recommend the other two and each has a neat campground and many hiking trails...stargazing is amazing as you would imagine. As campgounds go The Needles is my favorite and located near two major trailheads with many loop hikes as possibilites...the Joint Trail near Chessler Park is a personal favorite.

Capitol Reef is in central Utah and The Waterpocket Fold area and road are a must...then take The Burr Trail (paved road) west to Utah 12...one of my favorite roads is Utah 12 from Utah 24 through Boulder and Escalante into Bryce Canyon National Park...while in Bryce we are staying in the small town of Tropic.

Bryce has a wonderful trail network and I love the Fairyland Loop Trail.

Zion is overwhelming and one of my favorite Naitonal Parks...hiking from the valley floor to canyon overlooks can involve over 3,000' of elevation gain but it's worth the sweat and effort and does the beer ever taste good once you are finished.

Three other neat places are Natural Bridges National Monument, Grand Gulch Primitive Area and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

I'd be happy to answer any questions if I can.

[oruacat2]

Don't forget Cedar Breaks!

[Terry L. Wildcat]

Don't forget Cedar Breaks!

Thanks Kenny as I did mean to put it on the list.

[oruacat2]

Don't get me wrong, I love Canyonlands, Arches, Zion, and Bryce - but they're all redrock desert features within a redrock desert landscape. Cedar Breaks is a small piece of redrock desert plopped-down within an alpine landscape, and thus the contrast just leaps out at you. Or, as my girlfriend at the time so succinctly put it: "you've got snow on my hoodoos!" lol

KD

[Terry L. Wildcat]

Don't get me wrong, I love Canyonlands, Arches, Zion, and Bryce - but they're all redrock desert features within a redrock desert landscape. Cedar Breaks is a small piece of redrock desert plopped-down within an alpine landscape, and thus the contrast just leaps out at you. Or, as my girlfriend at the time so succinctly put it: "you've got snow on my hoodoos!" lol

KD

lol