Local Info on Western Trails

[PastorLarryT]

I know this is AlaTrails, but I thought I would see if I could get some Alabama perspective/info on some Western trails.  We are planning a huge "road trip" this June to include Yellowstone, Arches, Zion, Yosemite, Sequoia, Grand Canyon, and Petrified Forest NPs.  I would be interested in "hearing" from any of you about your personal experiences and perspectives on any of these National Parks.

Thanks in advance.

[Pointman]

I have been to all of the parks you mentioned and each of them are great in their own way. I have to say I like Sequoia the best. You have easy access there to the big trees and they are truly amazing. General Sherman Tree is tremendous sight to behold at 275 feet. There are several trails that will get you above the tree line and into some great views. Walking to Bearpaw meadow (there is a back country camp there now) and then up through Valhalla is amazing.

Yosemite is special and getting to see views you see on post cards is great but I found there were too many people for me there.

Yellowstone is great because of all the animals you get to see close up. Seeing bears, elk, and buffalo there were the most fun. Arches and Zion are interesting and I recommend you consider Bryce Canyon National Park also since you will be close. I was amazed stumbling into Byrce without realizing how special it was. The Petrified Forest was pretty but I only got to see it from road side.

Putting all of these into one trip would be very special but difficult to see all of them even in a month. It does sound like a great road trip though. Are you planning on backpacking at each, road touring, day hiking or what?

[Mountain Dog]

Zion is a must to drive through.  You will always remember the tunnel and its windows.  The west side of Zion is a town named "Hurricane" because of the wind that sweeps through.  It was calm the night I checked in and I wonder about the name.  The next morning gave me the answer.  I stood with a cup of coffee and watched the wind blow across the top so hard that the coffee was actually being sucked up and out of the cup.   There are some good hiking trails in Zion IF you are not vertically challenged.   You'll need ropes and different skills if you want to go very far.
  
Grand Canyon is beautiful but unless you plan to do more, you will be boared after a few hours.  But, if you want to stay and do some hiking, try the unimproved "Hermit's Rest" trail to Santa Maria Spring Shelter (my favorite).  A wider and smother trail would be the South Kaibab Trail down about an hour to some wonderful look outs.  FYI, it is about 350 miles from the south rim to the north rim by car.  I thought southern Utah was much prettier than the south side of the canyon.

Yellowstone for its formation and wildlife is a must.  But, I favor the Teatons for their absolute beauty.  I took a horseback ride just outside the Teaton Park.  We went a good ways back into the woods, not a circle following a lot of horse tails.  It was fun basically hiking but being carried.

Do not assume that if you have seen one canyon you have seen what all of them look like.  Bryce is unique to anything I have ever seen, the Badlands are scarry looking if you even think about hiking in them, nothing looks like Yellowstone, and Zion is just one big up or down. 

You'll have a chance to eat at diners on the old Route 66.

Don't plan too much.  Take time to enjoy each place visited.

[PastorLarryT]

Putting all of these into one trip would be very special but difficult to see all of them even in a month. It does sound like a great road trip though. Are you planning on backpacking at each, road touring, day hiking or what?

Honestly, I'm a little concerned about trying to get all of these "in" on even a month-long road trip.  My wife is not much into hiking so we will using our pop-up camper and I'll be mostly day-hiking different areas.  She will probably do some, less-strenuous, trails and we will see some things from road-side (like Petrified Forest).

My main emphasis is Sequoia (I've just got to see a Sequoia and Redwood up close), Yellowstone, and parks in southern Utah.  I've already been to the Grand Canyon, but DW has not. 

[Joshua Szulecki]

Cut the number of locations down by at least 50%. These parks are separated by long distances, and some are too big to really enjoy in less than a week.

This is the best advice I can offer...I'd consider a solid plan for hitting only one or two parks per week for three of the weeks, with the extra week being travel time. Don't over plan. Put in a good travel buffer between parks, so detours can be taken desired. Spend as much time in one place as you can bear. Don't plan your days, just where you'll be sleeping.

Watch where you step, too. Road trips can be destroyed by curb-related ankle injuries. Ask me how I know.

[Nalgene Ninja]

Cut the number of locations down by at least 50%. These parks are separated by long distances, and some are too big to really enjoy in less than a week.

I agree. Either do Grand Canyon and Utah, or Eastern CA (I'd do all 4  units there, (add in Death Valley and Mojave, just the higher elevations though)). Yellowstone I'd save for a Pacific NW trip (w/ Glacier, Olympic, etc)

[WolfVanZandt]

Although I rarely have heart problems in Alabama altitudes, I noticed that Breckenridge was a definite strain on the worn out old ticker. Conclusion: there is definitely a difference between 2407 feet and 10,000 feet. Pace youself accordingly.