Las Vegas for exploration

I've come to think of Las Vegas as not only a great hanging out haven to kick back, enjoy, gamble, relax whatever, but also for exploring the desert Southwest area. Why not, rentals are fair, and so are hotel rates for the most part. The flights to Vegas always seem doable. We've never been stuck there and there seems to always be a wide open flight. Caifornia, Nevada, Arizona, Utah all close by with interesting geographical parks, with interesting desert fauna, rock formations and wildlife. I have yet to hit he Grand Canyon, even though I see it from the air everytime fly into Vegas. I understand its about 4 hours to there. Somebody at work was telling me about VALLEY OF FIRE outside of Las Vegas, heading on I-15 north about 58 miles. I was checking it out online and on the map, I know where I'll go next time I head out to Vegas. Anyone check out surroundings of Las Vegas? Any tips?

Here's an under- estimated tune that doesn't get much respect anymore in the radio world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZU-9KoGp8w

Here is a very forgotten tune. Here take this. Get some culture brought to you in courtesy of JACKSON BROWN.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMjLK7bhgQw

I lived in Vegas for about 7 months back when National Airlines was operating (not the original National, but the one that flew all 757's). I can recommend Valley of Fire for sure! The outlet mall at the south end of the strip, past McCarran, is pretty good. I still go there when I need to restock the work clothing lol. Also in other news, I hear Bill's Gaming Hall closed (used to be Barbary Coast). Some other swanky joint is going in there now.

What about UTAH? I see on the map, its only a short drive to ZION NATIONAL PARK. Have you gone there? I'm thinking of doing that run next trip, stopping by the Valley of Fire.

That outlet mall is pretty nice. They have some cheap shirts there, I picked up about three shirts for under 8 bucks a piece. I think the mall is called the PREMIUM OUTLETS. It's ok. Not really a big deal. I hate malls but in Vegas, its a bit different for the moment.

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Originally Posted by 29palms

What about UTAH? I see on the map, its only a short drive to ZION NATIONAL PARK. Have you gone there? I'm thinking of doing that run next trip, stopping by the Valley of Fire.

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I visited Zion a couple of years ago. It’s about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Vegas,
We stayed in Springdale at the Desert Pearl Inn, (riverside room) right outside the park.
I had a comfy bed, a nice warm shower, fridge, microwave, internet and every morning I walked down the road and had a very nice breakfast at Oscar‘s Café.^_^ There’s a free shuttle right outside the door that takes you down to the park’s entrance.
Our traveling buddies “the Daniel Boone Brigade”, pitched a tent in the park- no hookups, no showers.
They slept in sleeping bags, ate lots of fig bars, vanilla wafers, instant potatoes and something in silver pouches that nobody every talked about.:D
They also had a nice bottle of wine!
We all went hiking everyday - I brought sandwiches, which by the third day the “brigade” were most grateful for.
Great hiking, I really liked the Emerald Pool (middle) trail. Daniel Boone, minus the brigade, really liked hiking the trail to Angels Landing (about 5 miles round trip) a 1,500 foot ascent with huge drops-offs, there are chain railing sections -serious stuff.
Tip- stop in Vegas on the way back ( steam rooms, saunas, massages):cool:

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Originally Posted by Tony757

Also in other news, I hear Bill's Gaming Hall closed (used to be Barbary Coast). Some other swanky joint is going in there now.

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Bill’s closed, wonder if I can pick up one of those tacky chandeliers. :cool:

Sounds good. I think I'll make it a trip there next run to Vegas. I like the idea of getting a motel in Springdale and running with the shuttle, jump on jump off idea to check out the sites. I will probably do one day of this so don't plan on walking 5 miles in steep inclines however, I'm sure there will be plenty of walking either way you look at this. As whenever you end up in a park. The Daniel Boone's brigade must have come out of that park quite pungeant smelling. Like Marines coming out of the field on maneauvers. Let me get this straight. If you want to go camping, it cost 16 dollars per campsite? Or is it per person, plus the fare to get into the park. No showers....ok, I get that you can get outstanding views, feel as though you're part of the geography, and jump in the river or whatever, but for a few bucks more, I got privacy, showers, toilets, breakfast at a local motel. Aint gotta worry about snakes, bears, some whacko scoping out your things.

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Originally Posted by Migflanker

We stayed in Springdale at the Desert Pearl Inn, (riverside room) right outside the park.
I had a comfy bed, a nice warm shower, fridge, microwave, internet and every morning I walked down the road and had a very nice breakfast at Oscar‘s Café.

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I forgot to mention I also had a nice view of the river. :cool:

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Let me know if you need information on Utah, especially hiking/camping. Mig mentioned Angels landing, I think the best 1/2 day hike in Zions, then emerald pools (upper pool if you have time) then weeping rock and finally at the end of the road is the Riverside walk that gets you to the beginning of the Narrows.

If you need information of areas more North/East let me know, Canyonlands, Arches, Goblin Valley, Bryce, Capitol Reef. If you ever want to do a 4 day loop I could give you some good information on the best trails to hike (that I know of) Mostly doable slot canyons.

You could do a loop Vegas to Zion to Bryce then out of Bryce you can visit Kodachrome basin (not great) then outside of Escalante there are peek a boo and spooky slot canyons (google them) and lower calf creek falls. then head to Capitol Reef then to Goblin Valley. Then head south to Natural Bridges National Monument then to Monument Valley. Then you start heading back through Page Arizona, outside of Page you can do a day hike into Buckskin Gulch as you head back through Zion and then back to Vegas.

It would be a lot of driving and a lot of hiking and 4 full days would be pushing it.
You could do Zion one day, then Bryce the next. Then on another trip fly into Salt Lake City to hit Canyonlands and Arches.

Tony

The hiking aroud I am thinking about would be nothing more than say a two mile loop for instance. Don't have the time to really kick around in ZION PARK to hike all over the place but maybe shuttle around, hop on hop off the bus and take some great shots. Not a die hard camper/hiker but just want to get the most out of the place in a day. Overnight in Springdale and go into the park the next day, drive back to Vegas. The other places in Utah can wait another time. So considering what I just mentioned, do you have any ideas for a min-scenic hike in ZION like around a no more than a 2 mile rewarding kind of hike?

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Originally Posted by 29palms

The hiking aroud I am thinking about would be nothing more than say a two mile loop for instance.

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Remember Palms when hiking it’s not only the distance, it’s the elevation change. :cool:

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Originally Posted by offroader

Let me know if you need information on Utah,...Tony

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*Waving my hand* “we‘re“ (and yes that “we” does include the brigade) are looking at the doing the Grand Circle. I want to know about cell service. The brigade has AT&T - which last time meant no service in southern Utah.
Fortunately I had Verizon, just wondering if they’ll be borrowing my phone again. :cool:


BTW, Daniel Boone & son are looking at hiking “subway” - yup, they’ll certifiable. :rolleyes::cool:

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Originally Posted by Migflanker

Remember Palms when hiking it’s not only the distance, it’s the elevation change. :cool:

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I understand elevation which is why I say, don't need to be hauling up mountains for the type of walking I want to do. If it's anything like walking around Cuzco and Machu Pichu, I can negotiate elevation, point is, how much and how far? The plan is not to go there on a hiking mission but I do want to check out the scenery. Walking tends to just fall on my lap whenever parks are involved. Just don't want to hike all day unless I am staying at the park for a few days which I'm not. Sounds like fun, sounds like something I'd like to do for a month but its' just not there for the amount of time I'll be there.

If you were going to stay the night in springdale I would do the bus in Zion the first day, lower emerald pool, weeping rock and the riverside walk are short and easy. Then I would get up early the next day and go to Bryce. Hit the amphitheater or sunset point for sunrise. Bryce can be done an half a day just going to the overlooks. BUT, the best thing to do to really see Bryce is one of the hikes. It would be worth the half day to just do the overlooks though. Remember Bryce is at 9500 ft so it is could be much cooler than Zion.

If you did an overnight and went to Bryce the next morning, you could spend 2 or 3 hours after Bryce and head to willis creek another link. I have not been but it is a easy (flat) slot canyon outside of Cannonville, UT (16 miles from Bryce). I am not 100% sure if a car can drive to the trailhead or not. this would be for photo's of a slot canyon.
I also think Bryce is more photogenic than Zion (at least the main road of Zion).
Oh, I hope my links worked
Boy, you need to watch the video on the 1st link, now I really want to go. Was planning on it with the family a few years ago but after doing lower calf creek falls, peek a boo and spooky and a 7 mile hike in Bryce we just finished the day in Springdale.

Hey, I just saw that video of Peek a boo and slot canyon.......

A. From the looks of the video, it right away looks like you're about to crawl into the crack of the world's ass. (I mean litterly....check out the video you'll know it when you see it.)

B. Is that a RATTLER I saw buzzin around at the enterance? ffff..... that...

C. That dude is nuts wading in the dark in what sounds like water with who knows what the hell is in there

D. Peek a Boo and Slot Canyon is not something I'd take the wife to because she would.....


A. Throw me right at the snake

B. Take the batteries out of my flashlight and leave me in that dark cave for taking her there in the first place and....

C. I'd have no eardrums left from all the bickering and probably wouldn't get anywhere after seeing an ant crawling around before she saw the snake.

But OFFROADER. I totally appreciate all this information. Bryce sounds nice, something you may just me selling me. I'm drinking up the Kool aid on this. So for sure, I'm planning on hitting ZION, and maybe try that run to BRYCE. Can you expand a little more on Bryce? You say I can drive around these canyons? The elevation and cool air would probably be a welcome for me in late May coming via HOUSTON. How many days do you recommend out in UTAH before I head back to Las Vegas? I do need some Vegas time and relaxation. From experience, I do little relaxation when I'm up and about checking out parks and driving hours to get to them.

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Originally Posted by offroader

If you did an overnight and went to Bryce the next morning, you could spend 2 or 3 hours after Bryce and head to willis creek another link. I have not been but it is a easy (flat) slot canyon outside of Cannonville, UT (16 miles from Bryce). I am not 100% sure if a car can drive to the trailhead or not. this would be for photo's of a slot canyon.
I also think Bryce is more photogenic than Zion (at least the main road of Zion).
Oh, I hope my links worked
Boy, you need to watch the video on the 1st link, now I really want to go.

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Tony the links are working! I’m revising my itinerary .
Thanks
:cool:

I've seen this SLOT CANYON or similar types on tv programs and the first thing comes to mind is like it better not be raining somewhere because...FLASH FLOOD!!!!! Prime spot for a flash flood it looks like. There is a reason why these canyons got "SLOTTED".

29palms, you can spend as much time as you want in Utah. If you only had two days I would do Zion and Bryce, again if time permits then willis creek. Zion is easy in 1/2 day if just doing those few hikes mentioned and Bryce is doable in 1/2 day (plus to/from time) with no hiking. Just google Bryce canyon to see the photos of this place. Hiking in Bryce puts you down in the hoodoos. If the photo is looking down on the hoodoos then they are from overlooks, if looking up then they are from hiking.
Most of the time you do not have to worry about flash floods, just make sure no rain within 100 miles or so.
I have been in peek a boo when it had pools of water and when it was dry, way different with water pools as you do not know how deep they are.
Also, you want to see wild utube video, check out buckskin gulch (I did a 4 day 42 mile hike here) Its an 11 mile long slot canyon that I think averages 15 ft wide but the utube videos have people in the canyon with knee to waist deep water running.

Just try and contact me if anyone needs a guide or more information.

Sorry Mig, I normally do not have my cell phone on when I am in Southern Utah so I do not know how good they work. I also have a prepaid phone with tmobil and reception is not as good as a real smart phone.

Well now. I was talking to this guy that had been to Zion and Bryce, and was telling me about the North Rim in Arizona's Grand Canyon. I figure as I'm in Zion, I may as well hit the Grand Canyon too. So I'm all about hitting them all next run to Vegas. For sure Zion and GC but Bryce is a bit off the beaten path. Is Bryce that much worth it? Question. How many days do I need to hit ZION, BRYCE and GC? I know it all depends on alot but say how about hotels/motels. I know Springdale outside Zion has motels, but how about GC or BRYCE?

If you are not doing any of the bigger hikes you can do Zion in a day, Bryce in a day and I am guessing the Grand Canyon in a day, did not even think about the Grand Canyon. I have not made it to the Grand Canyon yet so I am not sure how long it takes but I would guess if you are not hiking into the canyon you would be at the overlook(s) for a few hours max? Unless you wanted sunrise/sunset. So, drive to Zion and check it out. Sleep in Springdale (or if you finished Zion early drive to Bryce and stay at a hotel there). Then spend the next day in Bryce (might only be 1/2 a day) so after Bryce start heading towards the Grand Canyon. Not sure where the best place would be to stay for a GC visit.
Use google maps or mapquest to get drive times. I will try and break up a 3 day trip for you but I am in San Jose California heading for Santa Cruz and my ride should be arriving soon.

Enjoy

That's ok. I can figure it out. I never stick to a plan anyway. Just general plan and go by feel. I can make it happen as usual.

Mig, when is your briggade heading to Utah? Also, how much hiking will the group do? I can recommend canyons that I have hiked around 'the loop'.

"BTW, Daniel Boone & son are looking at hiking “subway” - yup, they’ll certifiable"--- Let them know they will need a permit to do the subway. I believe hiking up from the bottom is not to difficult and you will need gear to hike down from the top.

I may do another Vegas run in a month or so. Can't wait till May though I must go there in May to take care of some buisness. So if I go in March, I know roads to North Rim are closed. I'll just hang out in Vegas and maybe check out the valley of fire.