National Parks in the West ???

We are planning our anniversary trip and we both really want to see some of the national parks in the west. I need some opinions as to which ones are the "must sees" and if you have any advice that would be great. The ones that are on our list (in no particular order) are:

Pertified Forest NP(AZ)
Red Rock Park (AZ)
Grand Canyon NP (AZ)
Zion NP (UT)
Bryce Canyon NP (UT)
Canyonlands NP (UT)
Arches NP (UT)
Rocky Mtn NP (CO)
Grand Teton NP (WY)
Yellowstone NP (WY)

So obviously we won't be able to see all of these which is why I need help narrowing it down and decideing which area to focus on. My brother lives in Denver so we will likely be in that area during the trip at some point. I think we'll be going for about 3 weeks.

Also, does anyone have any experience renting an RV? This is a possibility that we're looking into also.

Thanks in advance for your help!!

Re: National Parks in the West ???

I have been to the Grand Canyon very briefly, but also to Zion and Bryce Canyon and Yellwstone and the Grand Tetons.

Zion and Bryce are very close together and you could do them on the same trip. They are spectacular, especially Bryce - like nothing I have ever seen before. We camped a few nights in Zion and stayed at a motel outside of Bryce.

If I had to choose one to return to though, it would be Yellowstone. The park is quite large and there is a lot to see there. I loved the geysers and the wildlife there. Again, we stayed in a motel outside of the park, I think in West Yellowstone, which was a decent driiving distance from the park entrance. On the way to the park, we stayed in Cody, WY, which was a cool old western town.

The Grand Tetons are fairly close to Yellowstone and you could see both parks in one trip if you had a car.

Message edited 12/30/2006 4:53:39 PM.

Re: National Parks in the West ???

Re: National Parks in the West ???

we did a trip this past may where we started in vegas then went to zion, bryce, capitol reef, canyonlands/arches (they are very close together and both accessible from the town of moab), monument valley, grand canyon north rim, and lake powell. it was an awesome trip. i'm not sure how far denver is so this might not work for you, but i highly recommend this trip. it's pretty much a big loop and we did it in 17 days. fm me if you want more details.

Re: National Parks in the West ???

I LOVE WYOMING!!!! Yellowstone just put me in awe! DH and I can't wait to go backl.

We stayed in Jackson Hole (Snake River Lodge) which is right outside the Tetons. We visited Teton Ntl Pk, Yellowstone and went horseback riding through the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

If you're interested in Yellowstone, check out lodging in Mammoth, WY. It's a quaint little town in north Yellowstone. Jackson Hole rocks too! Lots going on in that town (check out the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.)

I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved Wyoming. I miss it so much!!!!!!

Re: National Parks in the West ???

Re: National Parks in the West ???

Re: National Parks in the West ???

I have been to Grand Canyon, Red Rock Bryce, Canyonlands and Arches. They were all beautiful. I really enjoyed UT. I am dying to go to Yellowstone.

You can't go wrong with any of them!

Re: National Parks in the West ???

Re: National Parks in the West ???

I have never been...
but I just read in the Travel section of Newsday today that there is a parksa pass that is going up in price by a lot beginning tomorrow... so if you are definitely going you may want to try to buy it today.

Re: National Parks in the West ???

by far i enjoyed zion the most. it's absolutely gorgeous and there are many hikes that are easily accessible from the different shuttle stops. if you have the money i highly recommend staying at the lodge in the park. it's very nice and makes visiting the park really easy.

a close 2nd would be bryce. also gorgeous, but smaller and not as many hikes. the lodge there is also quite nice, but the zion one has a huge lawn in front where people can relax, read etc. and there's nothing like that at bryce.

if i did the trip again, the only thing i would do different is skip monument valley. it's cool to see once, but there's not much to do there.

good luck choosing! honestly i think any combination of the parks in the west will make an awesome trip, so you really can't go wrong.

Re: National Parks in the West ???

Re: National Parks in the West ???

Thanks so much for all the input. I think we are going to split it into two trips, one this fall to Wyoming/Colorado and then one in Spring 08 to Arizona/Utah. I'm so excited!! I think I'll look into the park passes today!!!

Re: National Parks in the West ???

Any other Wyoming suggestions? It looks like that's where we are leaning on going

Re: National Parks in the West ???

If you'll be in the area, I recommend Glacier, in Montana.
Yellowstone was nice. Mammoth was my favorite part.

Re: National Parks in the West ???

Re: National Parks in the West ???

I LOVED LOVED LOVED Yellowstone and cant wait to go back!

i fell in love with the park and all its beauty!!

Enjoy your trip!!

Re: National Parks in the West ???

Re: National Parks in the West ???

I loved Bryce Canyon!!! It is one of the most uniquely beautiful places I've ever seen!

Re: National Parks in the West ???

DH and I took a cross country trip, and my FAVORITE spot by FAR was Yellowstone/Grand Tetons etc . Wyoming is just so beautiful!