Need suggestions for vacation

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Herr Kutz

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2009
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I have 17 days off starting this coming Friday and I need suggestions for places to visit out west. I went to Zion and Bryce Canyon last summer and while it was really fun I'm trying not to do repeat visits of places I've been. I'm looking for places to hike and would prefer to stick to places without bears but so far everything on my list has loads of them. I'll be driving from Louisiana (unless someone can confirm bear spray can be placed in checked baggage) and I don't mind making several stops along the way so long as they make sense so please recommend multiple locations as I can probably hit several in this time period.

A few parks I'm thinking of:
Yosemite
Sequoia
Redwood
White Sands
Sierra Nevadas
Glacer (might not be able to to squeeze this in if I go the California route and it's probably better if I combine this with a visit to Banff when I get my passport).
I really like desert-y hikes (a la Zion/Bryce Canyon) but need suggestions.

I'm looking at renting a vehicle instead of bringing the trusty Versa this time around so no off roading. =(
 
IronWing

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
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For desert hikes: Grand Staircase - Escalante Nat. Mon; Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Arches, Goosenecks of the San Juan, and Monument Valley are all close together.

Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, Durango, Ouray, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Marble, Leadville, CO make a nice loop.

Flagstaff area: Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest (my personal favorite hiking spot), Lava River Cave, San Francisco Peaks, Wupatki and Sunset Crater

White Sands is worth a solid half hour. The Organ Peaks between White Sands and Las Cruces are nice. Cloudcroft to the east of White Sands is nice. Going west of Las Cruces cut up to Silver City and walk the Cat Walk at Glenwood, NM.

Glacier: You will see bears. The trail to Grinnell Glacier is one of the most spectacular hikes anywhere. Secret Lake hike is also nice. You can rent/check out bear spray at the park.

Sequoia has great hikes.

You might want to check your possible destinations for wild fires: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

You can buy bear spray after you land.
 
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Exterous

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Jun 20, 2006
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Not sure the type of difficulty you're looking for but Arizona has that desert-y type hiking. Sedona (or Flagstaff) might be a place to look into. We did some of the light - moderate trails and really enjoyed them
 
IronWing

IronWing

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Jul 20, 2001
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More desert hiking: Tucson area will still be in the monsoon season so humidity will be up but there is endless hiking from lower desert hikes at Saguaro Nat Park and Tucson Mountain Park to higher elevation hikes in the Catalina Mtns, Santa Rita Mtns, Chiricahua Mtns. Huachuca Mtns, and Atascosa Mtns. The only drawback is that there is a city of a million people in the middle of it all. On the other hand, you'll save three-four additional days of driving you'd need to get to/from Glacier or California.
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

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Feb 24, 2000
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Exterous said:
Not sure the type of difficulty you're looking for but Arizona has that desert-y type hiking. Sedona (or Flagstaff) might be a place to look into. We did some of the light - moderate trails and really enjoyed them
Click to expand...

Another vote for Sedona, Arizona.
 
H

Herr Kutz

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2009
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Ns1 said:
desert hiking? In late August? what the fuck.
Click to expand...

Tilley_LTM6_Airflo_Hat_600x476.png
 
Ns1

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
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I can't see the link because I'm behind a company firewall (I assume that's why it's not loading), so in my head it loads like this:

desert-death_fe.jpg
 
Ns1

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
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I actually like desert camping a lot - I recommend death valley to anyone that'll listen.


but not in summer, what the fuck.
 
dullard

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
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I think you should consider going through Colorado. It'll add several hours to your driving time, but Colorado hiking is best in late August. It is the time of year that you are most likely to be able to reach 14,000+ feet without ice or lightning to worry about (although lightning can occur any day it is a lot more rare in August). Mountain hiking wasn't on your list, but it is certainly worth considering. If you go through Rocky Mountain National park, I can probably describe 75%+ of the trails there (there are some small black bears, but I never bring bear spray for that region as I've only seen one and it was in the town along the sidewalks). Western Colorado has a lot of great hiking too, but I'm not that familiar with that area.

Then I would suggest going through Arches, Canyonlands, etc on your way to Escalante National Monument. While Escalante will be scorching in August, you can find many slot canyons to keep you in the shade for most of your hike (and if you bring waterproof clothing, you can wade in water to go much deeper through the slots). Pretty much any stop along Hole in the Rock road just outside of Escalante is unbelievable (think Martian landscape). A regular car will get you at least 1/2 way down that road if not more, a high clearance vehicle will get you most to all of the way, but a 4-wheel drive vehicle is often needed to do all of the stops or to the closest parking lot to the trailheads (you can rent one in Escalante or get a guide).

If you still have time, then you can continue on to California. But I would say that Glacier is just too far away for your desert hiking trip. Either that, or skip the desert in August and start in Colorado and make your way up.
 
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Carson Dyle

Carson Dyle

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Jul 2, 2012
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dullard said:
I think you should consider going through Colorado. It'll add several hours to your driving time, but Colorado hiking is best in late August. It is the time of year that you are most likely to be able to reach 14,000+ feet without ice or lightning to worry about (although lightning can occur any day it is a lot more rare in August). Mountain hiking wasn't on your list, but it is certainly worth considering. If you go through Rocky Mountain National park, I can probably describe 75%+ of the trails there (there are some small black bears, but I never bring bear spray for that region as I've only seen one and it was in the town along the sidewalks). Western Colorado has a lot of great hiking too, but I'm not that familiar with that area.

Then I would suggest going through Arches, Canyonlands, etc on your way to Escalante National Monument. While Escalante will be scorching in August, you can find many slot canyons to keep you in the shade for most of your hike (and if you bring waterproof clothing, you can wade in water to go much deeper through the slots). Pretty much any stop along Hole in the Rock road just outside of Escalante is unbelievable (think Martian landscape). A regular car will get you at least 1/2 way down that road if not more, a high clearance vehicle will get you most to all of the way, but a 4-wheel drive vehicle is often needed to do all of the stops or to the closest parking lot to the trailheads (you can rent one in Escalante or get a guide).

If you still have time, then you can continue on to California. But I would say that Glacier is just too far away for your desert hiking trip. Either that, or skip the desert in August and start in Colorado and make your way up.
Click to expand...

Some good advice, but if coming to Colorado I'd stay out of Rocky Mountain NP and anything else in the front range, like Pikes or the Indian Peaks wilderness. Some of the most crowded areas in the state. There are incredible mountains and trails to be found in the southwest part of the state around Telluride in the San Juans, and it will be much closer to Canyonlands and Arches if you also want to hit those spots.
 
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Herr Kutz

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2009
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Just finished the first day of driving and spending the night in Tucumcari, NM. I drove 979.4 miles and could have gone further, but it's probably a good idea to give the poor versa a break.
 
Chaotic42

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
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I did the same thing two years ago, coming from south Mississippi. My trip was:

Carlsbad Caverns
Santa Fe National Park
Meteor Crater
Walnut Canyon
Grand Canyon
Rainy day of nothing in Utah
Two days in Glenwood Springs hiking around Aspen
Denver Gem and Mineral show

I left at about the same time as you are and it took me about 17 days.
 
IronWing

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
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Herr Kutz said:
Just finished the first day of driving and spending the night in Tucumcari, NM. I drove 979.4 miles and could have gone further, but it's probably a good idea to give the poor versa a break.
Click to expand...
Tucumcari, NM is on the way to everywhere, so where did you decide to go? Or are you still deciding? :)
 
shortylickens

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
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Shorty only has two suggestions.

If you want peace and quiet, St Maarten is paradise.

If you want culture, Edinburgh is gold.
 
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