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Moderate crowds and temperatures in April – May and September – October make these months the best time to visit Utah and its national parks. Spring boasts active wildlife and blooming flowers. Pleasant fall wraps Utah in colorful foliage along the scenic drives.
The best time to visit Bryce National Park is May through September. Not only does this period offer the warmest weather of the year , it also yields plenty of ranger activities. October through April offers its own charms, too.
Spring and fall have the more moderate weather and might be the best time to visit Zion. April and May and September and October are usually warm and sunny with highs between 60 and 90 degrees on average.
Both of these Parks offer great outdoor activities for all ages. For canyoneering and rappelling, Zion beats Bryce . You’ll find world-class hiking in either Park, but in Zion you can find yourself hiking through streams or on sandstone ledges, like Angels Landing – one of the scariest hikes in the world!
Allow at least one day each for Capitol Reef, Bryce and Zion. Look for lodging in the park for Zion and Bryce and in Moab for Arches and Canyonlands, and in Torrey for Capitol Reef.
Ideally, you need at least two to three days to visit Zion National Park . This gives you enough time to hike the longer, more popular trails, such as Angels Landing and the Narrows, and you can also add in a few of the shorter, easier trails, such as the Riverside Walk and Canyon Overlook.
There is no minimum recommended timeframe for a visit to Bryce Canyon . Even in just one morning you can see the most interesting areas and admire the incredible rock formations from the viewpoints. However, I would suggest spending at least 1 full day in Bryce Canyon if you would like to hike the main trails.
One day
Bryce Canyon National Park normally charges $35 per car/person upon entrance. The entrance fee waiver for the fee -free days does not cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.
According to Zion National Park Spokeswoman Alyssa Baltrus, encountering a bear in the park is extremely rare and when bears enter the park they are more than likely simply passing through. These instances are ordinarily outside of the main canyon. However, bears are wild animals and can present a nuisance or danger.
about 160 miles
The best place to stay to visit both – Best Western East Zion Thunderbird Lodge United States. Utah (UT) Mount Carmel. Mount Carmel Hotels. Best Western East Zion Thunderbird Lodge .
Zion is just as beautiful, more accessible and less crowded much of the year than the Grand Canyon , where the rim walking paths and the main trails into the canyon can be packed with people during peak travel seasons. You won’t need your car much, either.
about 265 miles
Featured Lodging Ruby’s Inn at Bryce Canyon. Lodging , camping, RV and adventures at entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park . Red Mountain Resort near Zion. Lodging and custom adventures near Zion and Snow Canyon. Broken Spur Inn near entrance to Capitol Reef. Lodging , pool, and steakhouse near Capitol Reef National Park .