National Park Opinions

[jsglow]

Last spring we did Arizona. Flew into Phoenix, borrowed a friend's car, drove up to the Grand Canyon, drove along the South Rim Road to the east, did a very small amount of hiking, watched the sunset from Desert View Watchtower (totally worth it). Then we drove up to Page to crash, woke up to watch the sunrise over Horseshoe Bend (absolutely worth the early morning), and did Antelope Canyon. Then we drove back, watched the sun set on the Grand Canyon again (actually twice more, because we saw it set then went a lookout to the west that was higher elevation and saw it happen again). Then back to Phoenix for Spring Training and a hike of Camelback Mountain.

That was one of the best trips of my life, we need to get into shape and take a couple days hiking down into the Canyon, which we didn't get a chance to do because of the fast pace of the trip. Make you hit Grandview Point and Desert View Watchtower if you're on the South Rim.

Antelope Canyon was awesome, but crowded. You need to buy tour tickets ahead and depending on what time you go you may not see the "sunbeams" that are so famously pictured.

Horseshoe Bend was spectacular. I put my front foot and the front foot of a tripod on the edge of a cliff that was a 100% fatality of we fell, the pictures are spectacular.

Camelback was great too. Some crazy people run it, like at a jog. That's a great way for me to fall off the mountain.

Love it.  I've been to Phantom twice in my life on the mules and have hiked both Plateau Point and Skeleton Point off the south rim. Fewer than 10% set foot below the rim.  Fewer than 1% ever get to the river.  Count our family in both groups.

[warriorchick]

Love it.  I've been to Phantom twice in my life on the mules and have hiked both Plateau Point and Skeleton Point off the south rim. Fewer than 10% set foot below the rim.  Fewer than 1% ever get to the river.  Count our family in both groups.

Absolutely. For the love of God, don't make the effort to go all the way to the Grand Canyon, only to give it the Clark Griswold treatment.

[brandx]

Last summer did Colorado,

Drove the main road through Rocky Mountain National Park. Didn't have time to do any hiking though. Highly recommend it and I want to get back to do some hiking there.

We drove to the top of Pike's Peak, which was pretty neat. I feel bad for my rental car, which was definitely not the finest mountain-driving vehicle ever made.

Keefe, we stopped by USAFA, which is absolutely breathtaking. I have no children at the moment, and besides MU, USAFA is where I want them to go. The Cathedral is show stopping. The area is gorgeous. We watched a promotional video about students there, and it seems like the finest education to be had. It's a 100% must see spot.

We drove through the Garden of the Gods, which was pretty neat too. Got some great barbecue around there too, but I can't remember the place's name. It was a total dive. Delicious.

Rocky Mountain is a great place for hiking. Plus you get the added tingle on some of the trails knowing you are in prime cougar country.

Southwest Colorado is also fantastic. Black Canyon is outstanding and the Million Dollar Highway is maybe the most stunning road in the country.

My favorite, though, is the Moab area of Utah. National Parks and plenty of empty roads to drive on. Plenty of unmarked indian ruins to explore if you keep you eyes open.

[jficke13]

Love it.  I've been to Phantom twice in my life on the mules and have hiked both Plateau Point and Skeleton Point off the south rim. Fewer than 10% set foot below the rim.  Fewer than 1% ever get to the river.  Count our family in both groups.

A friend of ours just posted something along the lines of saying that hiking out of the canyon was harder than a marathon (she's done both), which means I've got some work to do. I'm in okay shape, but nowhere near what I need to be.

[jficke13]

...

My favorite, though, is the Moab area of Utah. National Parks and plenty of empty roads to drive on. Plenty of unmarked indian ruins to explore if you keep you eyes open.

I may need to hit you up for suggestions; Utah is on our short list. I really want to hike Angel's Landing in Zion, but the fiance is balking at the heights. I've heard nothing but good things about all of the Utah parks.

[4everwarriors]

Our daughter lives in Seattle. Next summer, we hope to fly into San Fran and drive up the coast to her. Redwoods, Oregon Coast, etc. If that trip actually is gonna happen, I might be right back here asking for advice!

LXXXII, just ax Crash, hey?

[martyconlonontherun]

A friend of ours just posted something along the lines of saying that hiking out of the canyon was harder than a marathon (she's done both), which means I've got some work to do. I'm in okay shape, but nowhere near what I need to be.

Is she a runner though? Walking hiking 26 miles is way harder for me than running 26 miles. The time on your feet and the constant change of footing is rough. I'm built for distance on flat services, where other people are just better at hiking.

[martyconlonontherun]

Absolutely. For the love of God, don't make the effort to go all the way to the Grand Canyon, only to give it the Clark Griswold treatment.

Funny you should post that because I'm renting a car a day before the rest of my friends get to Vegas and plan on driving down there and coming back in one day. I know its going to be 4+ hours each way and then you have to add time since the map is just to the park and probably not the area you ultimately want to get at. I would probably only have 3 hours at most down there. Is it worth it or should I just do a shorter trip to red rock/hoover dam, etc

[Spotcheck Billy]

Rocky Mountain is a great place for hiking. Plus you get the added tingle on some of the trails knowing you are in prime cougar country.

Southwest Colorado is also fantastic. Black Canyon is outstanding and the Million Dollar Highway is maybe the most stunning road in the country.

My favorite, though, is the Moab area of Utah. National Parks and plenty of empty roads to drive on. Plenty of unmarked indian ruins to explore if you keep you eyes open.

We accidentally almost hiked our dogs to death on the Bear Creek trail outside of Ouray. Ridgway state park is fantastic pace for camping in that area. Have also driven up Pikes Peak only to find a blizzard (in July) and power outage up at the top.

[jsglow]

A friend of ours just posted something along the lines of saying that hiking out of the canyon was harder than a marathon (she's done both), which means I've got some work to do. I'm in okay shape, but nowhere near what I need to be.

It's extremely hard but incredibly satisfying.  Plateau Point is the longest day hike the rangers will allow you to do.  It took me 12 hours round trip in 2008.  I was 47 at the time.

The best part is slowing coming up on the folks from below that have come short distances down from the rim.  Many ask how far you went and congratulate you on the accomplishment.  Some walk along with you for a short while.  It's a special feeling in a very special place.  My next goal is to do some overnight backpacking on a multi-day trek down there.  Better get to it.  Not getting any younger.

For another 'must' hike that difficult but far from an ordeal I'd recommend the hike up the slickrock to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.  A religious experience. 

[jsglow]

I may need to hit you up for suggestions; Utah is on our short list. I really want to hike Angel's Landing in Zion, but the fiance is balking at the heights. I've heard nothing but good things about all of the Utah parks.

Did it this winter baby.  Well, up to Scout's Landing at the start of the chains.  There was snow and ice up there and going further would have been a deadly mistake, even with crampons.  But I'll be back and finish.

Also hit Canyonlands this year in the Needles section.  Would have liked to hike to the Green/Colorado confluence but my schedule prevented it.  That would be a very cool backpack overnight trip.  I did hike a mile down the trail to get a little taste.

[jsglow]

Funny you should post that because I'm renting a car a day before the rest of my friends get to Vegas and plan on driving down there and coming back in one day. I know its going to be 4+ hours each way and then you have to add time since the map is just to the park and probably not the area you ultimately want to get at. I would probably only have 3 hours at most down there. Is it worth it or should I just do a shorter trip to red rock/hoover dam, etc

You can certainly go the the native american glass overlook thing.  Maybe that's an option (although expensive.)

Grand Canyon Village is 275 miles from downtown Vegas, about 4.5 hours.  If you were to leave at 7a and plan to get back in the evening it is possible, but not recommended.  One night in either Williams or Tusayan at a modest motel makes it an enjoyable trip.

[brandx]

For another 'must' hike that difficult but far from an ordeal I'd recommend the hike up the slickrock to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.  A religious experience.

A great hike in either early morning or dusk. There is a really silky feeling to the air even when it is in the 90s in the early evening.

[brandx]

Also hit Canyonlands this year in the Needles section.  Would have liked to hike to the Green/Colorado confluence but my schedule prevented it.  That would be a very cool backpack overnight trip.  I did hike a mile down the trail to get a little taste.

That is a great area. Most of the tourists are concentrated in the northern section of the park and don't want the long drive to get to the southern part.

Some great rafting in the area as well - especially if you go before summer.

[jsglow]

That is a great area. Most of the tourists are concentrated in the northern section of the park and don't want the long drive to get to the southern part.

Some great rafting in the area as well - especially if you go before summer.

Or the even most remote southwest side.  That's where that guy had to cut his arm off with a penknife just to free himself and survive.  Now THAT's crazy.  I like solitude more than most but to not be within 75-100 miles of another human being separated by extremely rough terrain?  Um, no.

[jficke13]

While we're throwing bucket list things out there:

https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/tuweep.htm



You've got to earn the view at Toroweap Point.

But realistically, I'll do a lot of other things long before I get out there.

[jficke13]

My old RA (and best man) who is the best traveler of anyone I know responded to me when I got back from my Arizona trip all excited "Arizona? Utah laughs at Arizona. Think Horsehoe Bend was cool? Try Goosnecks, it's two Horseshoe Bends."



I really want to do a few weeks in Utah.

[brandx]

My old RA (and best man) who is the best traveler of anyone I know responded to me when I got back from my Arizona trip all excited "Arizona? Utah laughs at Arizona. Think Horsehoe Bend was cool? Try Goosnecks, it's two Horseshoe Bends."



I really want to do a few weeks in Utah.

My favorite state to vacation in.

[Benny B]

My favorite state to vacation in.

Please don't go and do anything rash, but I agree with you 100%.  Where else can you fly into a major airport and be on the slopes of one of six world-class ski areas within 45 minutes.  Then there's summer... holy crap (pun intended), is summer great in Utah for anyone who loves the outdoors.  Hiking, biking, climbing, kayaking, cow tipping, monogamous Mormon watching.

And what other state in the nation can make a grown man feel like a teenager again and enjoy the thrill of having to sneak around just to have a few beers.

[jsglow]

Please don't go and do anything rash, but I agree with you 100%.  Where else can you fly into a major airport and be on the slopes of one of six world-class ski areas within 45 minutes.  Then there's summer... holy crap (pun intended), is summer great in Utah for anyone who loves the outdoors.  Hiking, biking, climbing, kayaking, cow tipping, monogamous Mormon watching.

And what other state in the nation can make a grown man feel like a teenager again and enjoy the thrill of having to sneak around just to have a few beers.

Agreed.  Utah rocks.  And one doesn't have to be Les Stroud to be able to enjoy it.  Each of the Big 5 offers something different.  And in winter, God created Alta and let mere mortals think up the rest.

[muwarrior69]

We did not do either Ranier or Hood when we were out there.  We couldn't even see Hood when we were in Portland, but had an awesome view of Ranier from our hotel.

We did the hike up to the top of Multnomah Falls as well.  We weren't planning on it (we got into Portland mid afternoon and were only staying the night before continuing on our drive to San Francisco), but the signs said something like up to the bridge was 0.5 mile and to the top of the falls was 1 mile or something, so we went to the bridge and it took very little time, so we thought, "Hey, the sign said it's only twice that far to the top of the falls, we might as well continue on!"  We definitely did not pace ourselves like most people did going up the falls, and were definitely winded when we got to the top.

Never heard of Bridal Veil.  Will have to look into that.  Thanks.

Bridal Veil falls is on the right of this photo of Yosemite Valley. I took this picture 42 years ago on our honeymoon.

[jficke13]

Bridal Veil falls is on the right of this photo of Yosemite Valley. I took this picture 42 years ago on our honeymoon.

I think there's more than one "Bridal Veil Falls." The one I was referring to is in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon state, east of Portland, near Multnomah Falls.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

decided to retire in Tahoe area. 30 minute drive from Reno and  great skiing. summertime is a gas. free concerts at resorts like Squaw on Tuesday,Wednesdays  concerts in Truckee and Thursday is Truckee Days . days spent hiking and fishing the river for cutthroat . too many trails to count and all include phenomenal views of the Sierras. all in a couple hours drive to Napa or SF. Had a steak dinner at a casino and my martini was $4! 

[wadesworld]

decided to retire in Tahoe area. 30 minute drive from Reno and  great skiing. summertime is a gas. free concerts at resorts like Squaw on Tuesday,Wednesdays  concerts in Truckee and Thursday is Truckee Days . days spent hiking and fishing the river for cutthroat . too many trails to count and all include phenomenal views of the Sierras. all in a couple hours drive to Napa or SF. Had a steak dinner at a casino and my martini was $4!

Nationals was in Reno one year when I was coaching and everyone was complaining about it going into the week.  I thought it'd be a bad city to host, but it was awesome.  Went to Tahoe 2 or 3 days.  Know some people who flew into San Francisco early and saw that area for a day.

[Benny B]

Nationals was in Reno one year when I was coaching and everyone was complaining about it going into the week.  I thought it'd be a bad city to host, but it was awesome.  Went to Tahoe 2 or 3 days.  Know some people who flew into San Francisco early and saw that area for a day.

It's no secret here that Benny loves Reno.  Even took my wife there on my last trip, drove up to Tahoe on a Friday afternoon, had some great meals, no lines at the airport.  Sure, downtown gets a little scummy in places, but the same can be said about any major city.  The metro area is much nicer than one expects, and it's the perfect launching pad to just about anywhere on the west coast.

Also, it's the only place I've ever seen a pregnant lady - not just a bump, her water could have broken at any moment) who, judging by her skin-tight, hot pink, one piece (with titanium coated lycra, apparently), appeared to be a stripper or dame de la soiree and was holding a "Lost my job, please help" sign on the freeway offramp.  I didn't know whether to feel bad or laugh, because it was actually so ludicrous that it seemed like it was being staged.  If not for the fact that Reno 911 is no longer being filmed, I would have sworn they were filming a cut-away scene for the show.