Hiking Arches National Park
Hiking Arches National Park
Bryce Canyon vs. Arches?
This summer i will be going to a national park in Utah for a week. It's between these two currently. Which has more things to do, since I'll be there for a whole 7 days (hiking, swimming, biking, etc)? Which has better scenery? Does either have somewhere to swim in it or nearby like a river or lake? Which is generally the better of the two? Any answers are greatly appreciated.
Given the choice between Bryce Canyon and Arches I would choose Arches in Spring, Fall and Winter. In the summer I would choose Bryce Canyon because Arches gets too hot.
Arches is good for hiking and biking is excellent in nearby Moab where you'll probably be staying. The only water that I'm aware of near Arches is the Colorado River which is good for rafting and kayaking but not swimming. Canyonlands National Park is in the same area as Arches which expands the possibilities for hiking and biking or 4-wheeling.
If you're going in the summer I recommend Bryce Canyon which is way cooler (temp wise) than Arches. Zion National Park is only 80 miles to the west of Arches and greatly expands your options. You can spend a couple of days in Bryce Canyon hiking and biking (no water) then drive to Zion to spend the rest of your time there. In Zion I recommend you do a top down (2 days) or bottom up (1 day) hike into the Narrows. The Narrows is the grand daddy of slot canyons and the Virgin River is the trail through it. This is a must do. To plan a hike into the Narrows contact Zion Adventures. This one activity may be the highlight of your trip.
http://www.zionadventures.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=194&Itemid=326
Also recommended is a hike to Angel's Landing. You'll find more trails along the Kolob Terrace Road and the Kolob Canyons Road in the northern end of the park. Rock climbing is also a possibility if you want to give that a try.
The southwest is a great place to visit with much to see and do. Enjoy...
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Amid dramatic red rock, wild desert and bizarre hoodoo formations lie Zion and Bryce Canyon. Whether you want to zigzag up the Angels Landing trail, snap a photo under a towering arch at sunset or have a road-trip adventure, gear up with this top-selling guide to southern Utah 's national parks... |
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Exploring Canyonlands and Arches National Parks List Price: $14.95 Sale Price: $113.99 Used From: $33.87 |
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The sedimentary cross-section views and eerie rock formations of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks can give visitors the impression that they've missed their turn and ended up on Mars. Bill Schneider gives a guided tour of this surreal land with descriptions of 63 hikes for Arches and the three regions of Canyonlands: the Maze, the Needles, and Island in the Sky... |
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Amid dramatic red rock, wild desert and bizarre hoodoo formations lie Zion and Bryce Canyon. Whether you want to zigzag up the Angels Landing trail, snap a photo under a towering arch at sunset or have a road-trip adventure, gear up with this top-selling guide to southern Utah 's national parks... |
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Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park offers an unparalleled playpen for parents and their kids. But in order to enjoy this spectacular area to the fullest, parents should know how and where to recreate with their children... |
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Best Easy Day Hikes Canyonlands and Arches, 2nd (Best Easy Day Hikes Series) List Price: $9.95 Sale Price: $13.14 Used From: $27.50 |
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Fully updated and revised, this edition includes trail descriptions and maps of the author's favorite short hikes in the two parks. All hikes included in this little book, with one exception, do not have steep hills, are on well-defined, easy-to-follow trails, and take hikers into some of the most scenic sections of the park. |
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Wolf Stalker (Mysteries in Our National Park) List Price: $5.95 Sale Price: $1.94 Used From: $0.01 |
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The first National Parks Mystery combines science and survival techniques in a thrilling tale of suspense set amidst the natural wonders of Yellowstone National Park. It's off to a fast-paced start when someone shoots and wounds Silver, one of the wolves recently reintroduced into the park... |
