Me and my wife had an opportunity to go to the States in November, but because of different time limitations we decided to quit. This trip was planned with our friends, so I wanted to help them and prepared short plan for a week trip over the Utah/Arizona based on start/end point in Las Vegas. I think other people can also use this plan and that's why I'm publishing it below. It has two options:
Option IDay 1 - Arrival to Las Vegas, Night in hotel in Las Vegas
Day 2 - In the morning head to Grand Canyon South Rim visiting Hoover Dam and
SkyWalk on your way. I recommend sleeping in
Grand Canyon Caverns Inn just to have good starting point for Day 3.
Day 3 - Use Indian Rd to get to Hilltop Parking, then take helicopter and in 10 minutes land in Supai Village. Later take 2 miles walk to famous Navajo Falls and Havasu Falls and if still have time and energy, you can also make another mile to Mooney Falls. It's not very hard trail, but watching Navajo requires to get through the water, so water shoes are recommended. After day full of exotic views get to the village and take the flight back to Hilltop Parking. Get back to
Grand Canyon Caverns Inn for a night. This excursion requires to reserve flight ahead. You can do it only by calling Havasupai Office directly - all the details you'll find on their
webpage.
Day 4 - On that thay you'll finally reach
Grand Canyon South Rim. I recommend to take the shuttle to visit the whole west side of the park and later your own car to go east visiting all the vista points on your way. Later head to Page for a night - I recommend
Best Western at Lake Powell Blvd.
Day 5 - In the morning visit Lower Antelope Canyon and later Upper Antelope Canyon. If you want to have more time for taking pictures in Upper Canyon, definitely make a reservation through "
Antelope Canyon Tours" - you'll have 1.5h time in the canyon. It's perfect to choose a trip at 11:30 or about it depending on the season. Tripod is recommended, because to take a good picture you need to have times about 30s. Later you should go to the vista point of Powell Dam and to Horseshoe Bend for sunset. It's good idea to spend another night in Page.
Day 6 - Go to
Bryce Canyon NP through Kanab. Take the whole day to see this very interesting park and spend night in
Ruby's Inn. They have cheaper and more expensive options, so you can easily find something for you.
Day 7 - Go to
Zion NP. On your way to Zion you will pass Bisons on your left. There's good restaurant next to the Bisons and you can eat bisonburgers! In Zion NP I recommend to see Emerald Pools, Angels Landing (if you've enough time and energy), Temple of Shinava and Wheeping Rock - just a basic set. Later you can spend a night in Springdale or Hurricane.
Day 8 - Get back to Las Vegas.
View Larger MapOption II
Day 1 - Arrival to Las Vegas, Night in hotel in Las Vegas
Day 2 - Go to
Zion NP. In Zion NP I recommend to see Emerald Pools, Angels Landing (if you've enough time and energy), Temple of Shinava and Wheeping Rock - just a basic set. Later you can spend a night in Hatch on your way to
Bryce Canyon NP.
Day 3 - Go to
Bryce Canyon NP through Kanab. Take the whole day to see this very interesting park and spend night in
Ruby's Inn. They have cheaper and more expensive options, so you can easily find something for you.
Day 4 - You'll spend this day driving to Moab. It will take less or more depending on the road chosen. Off season I recommend to take roundabout road. Spend a night in any hotel in Moab - you can have problem to find a vacant room during weekends, so be prepared. Prices are also different in different seasons. And I recommend eating in one of local breweries - they've good food and good beer.
Day 5 - You can visit
Canyonlands NP and
Arches NP - I assume you're time limited, so have to choose carefully. In
Canyonlands NP you must see Green River Overlook and in Arches it's obligatory to see Delicate Arch (sunset time is perfect), Balanced Rock and Landscape Arch. If you've more time, I recommend Double'O Arch, but it requires some hiking. Spend another night in Moab.
Day 6 - Go south, visiting Monument Valley on your way to Page for a night - I recommend
Best Western at Lake Powell Blvd.
Day 7 - In the morning visit Lower Antelope Canyon and later Upper Antelope Canyon. If you want to have more time for taking pictures in Upper Canyon, definitely make a reservation through "
Antelope Canyon Tours" - you'll have 1.5h time in the canyon. It's perfect to choose a trip at 11:30 or about it depending on the season. Tripod is recommended, because to take a good picture you need to have times about 30s. Later you should go to the vista point of Powell Dam and to Horseshoe Bend for sunset. It's good idea to spend another night in Page.
Day 8 - Head to Las Vegas visiting
Grand Canyon South Rim on your way. Just stick to points you can visit by your own car, because you'll have no time for shuttle. You should reach LV late evening.
View Larger MapThese two simple plans are based mostly on my own experience gathered during few recent trips to Southwest and they depend on season - in summer time you'll have more options, in autumn you've to stick to the plan and drive during evenings.
If you've another questions, do not hesitate to ask me.
Good luck!
