On Apr 24, 2007, at 6:53 PM, honemastert wrote:

> Jim,
>
> Zion NP is not to be missed.. it's a sandstone version of
> Yosemite National Park.  You have to park and shuttle in, which
> sucks a bit, but its not too bad really.

Yep, it is a tourist wonderland.

>
> Do the "Angels Landing" hike, very cool..!
>
> I've been to Bryce, if youre already at Zion, it's
> worth the detour.  There's a cool hike you can do that
> takes you in/around the hoodoos.
>
> If you're headng up to the north, by way of Cayonlands/Arches
> then by all means hit those.

Take highway 12 past Bryce thru Grand Staircase National Monument,
another huge incredible area which only has Monument status, but is
as spectacular as the other NP's in the area. You can get to Moab,
Arches, & Canyonlands from Boulder, Utah over the Burr Trail if you
want to get off the paved road.

>
> The 'big ditch' er uh the Grand Canyon, is a bit of a sidetrip
> from Utah.  North Rim is nice and less touristy that the
> South Rim, but it's a ways off the main road from Jacob's
> Lake, to get there.
Check to see if the North Rim is open when you go in May, as it is
alot higher than the south rim & doesn't open till the snow is gone
in late spring.

>
> A week (plus driving time) will be hard to choose. I'd pick
> Bryce/Zion over Canyonlands/Arches myself, but really depends
> upon your route.

They are closer to your eventual destination, SLC, but much more
commercial & crowded than Canyonlands.  In any event practice your
German, French, Japanese, etc. as many folks visiting those areas are
European or Asian, & seem to appreciate the areas more than the locals.

Tom B.- May can be peak time down there