US trip advice (Yosemite, Zion, Bryce, etc...)

M

Matt.

Judge Dredd
Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,060
Edit My Images
Yes
I am planning a trip for later this year, and am after a few pointers.

Dates: 03/September > 25/September
Flights: London > Chicago > Denver, Los Angeles > London

03: Fly in to Chicago
04: Chicago
05: Chicago
06: Fly in to Denver
07: Rocky Mountain NP
08: ?
09: Drive to Arches NP
10: Drive to Bryce Canyon NP
11: Bryce Canyon NP
12: Zion NP
13: Zion NP
14: Drive to Las Vegas
15: Drive to Mammoth Lakes (maybe), via Death Valley
16: Mammoth Lakes
17: Drive to Yosemite, via Mono Lake
18: Yosemite
19: Yosemite
20: Drive to San Francisco
21: San Francisco
22: ?
23: ?
24: LA (possibly go to the Hurley Pro surf contest)
25: Drive to LA, and fly home



There are a lot of gaps to fill!

Ideally i would also like to ignore Las Vegas and stay somewhere else, but i'm not sure there are that many options in that area. I am also undecided on Death Valley or Sequoia.

I can't help but think my above route isn't ambitious enough though, and that i should be going further. Being on your own means everything can be done quicker, so maybe i should add a few extra miles in?

I have concerns that going in September means it will just be really hot, and not so interesting to photograph (i fear everything will be brown and no greens!). Can anyone either confirm this fear, or put me a little more at ease?

I would like any suggestions on the route, or places to photograph, and just some general pointers on it all!

Any help would be appreciated, this is my last trip before i buy a house, so it needs to be a good one! :D
 
September is the nicest time to be in San Francisco.

As for hot, Death Valley was far colder than France when we were there!
 
There are tones of regional temp charts on the net for specific locations, I should imagine Cali and Nevada are still pretty hot in September.

Im off there in April, LV through death valley and the mojave, up the west coast to San Francisco, then on the New Zealand and Oz.
 
Try to stop at least 2 nights at Arches there is so much to see you have Canyonlands and Dead horse state park both are unmissable.
Try to stop in Moab which is close to all three and is a nice little town.
 
My trip is already planned. 3 weeks from LA out to Monterey for the Moto GP then up to San Fran for 3 days then down to Vegas, stay 3 nights and the canyon is so close so will be taking that in aswell, then Back to LA for a week if disney and the touristy stuff.

I looked to going to Death valley but it would have taken too much time up for us.

spike
 
Colorado is often hot and dry in August/September, but up in Rocky Mountain NP, expect to find the (slightly grubby) remnants of last years snow in sheltered spots. Pack a fleece.

If you're interested, you could pop into the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge. It's right next to DIA.

There's also plenty of photo opportunities in and around the foothills of Boulder.

Alternatively, there's the Garden of the Gods if you like spectacular geology.

That lot should hopefully give you something to do on the 8th.
 
You will need more than 2 days in Zion!! Its a fantastic place.
 
i had my road trip 2 years ago and i went through a different way : Las vegas zion park, bryce canyon, grand staircase, capitol reef, arches, monument valley, grand canyon then back to vegas again.
i flew to Los angeles and took the US1 up to san francisco and crossed the bridge!
with you extra time, i would see a bit of Nappa valley and try the wine (be careful if driving though eheh) it s beautiful region to ride and you an take amazing pictures there
 
I am still looking into this and have major weather concerns for September around Utah! Hot and hazy is what i have been told, which really doesn't sound ideal.

The options are to move the trip slightly, to take a totally different route, or to just go with it!

My backup route would be something like this:
http://tiny.cc/m69a9
That is subject to a lot of change, and any advice would be much appreciated. I haven't thought about this much at all compared to my original and somewhat preferred route.

The original route looks like this:
http://tiny.cc/5tjna


Weather along the California coast will probably be good at that time, but Utah is my big concern, and Yosemite probably wont be at it's best.

Does anyone have any thoughts?
 
We spent a night in Death Valley, in the old Amargosa Opera House. Basic accommodation but so different and wild horses would come to drink from the spring right next to it. Can't complain :)
 
vaizki said:
We spent a night in Death Valley, in the old Amargosa Opera House. Basic accommodation but so different and wild horses would come to drink from the spring right next to it. Can't complain :)
Click to expand...

You do know that that place is the seventh most haunted place in the US don't you? I spent a night there - entirely alone. No staff. No other guests. Interesting.
 
Don't forget that the heat is 'dry'. It doesn't feel as draining as when you get 80 or 90% humidity over here.
We were in Death Valley in September in about 110 degrees but while it was hot it was more than bearable.
I'm not a hot weather person but I didn't really find any problems. I have been back several times and would not hesitate to go again. There is so much to see you'll forget about the heat.

Make sure you get a decent hire car too, you don't want a 'compact'.

Also don't ask the stupid question I did first time I went - "Does it have air conditioning?"
The reply was "Do they make vehicles WITHOUT air conditioning?"
 
oh man, you're gonna love your trip - some of the most beautiful places in the USA... if you can spend another day in the Rockies, do so... on the 8th.

There was another thread about the USA in which I blathered a lot - will see if I can find it and post the thread...

(Bryce Canyon is just theee best)!

Artists Palette and the salt lakes in Death Valley - stunning - make sure you have plenty of water.

(will blather about Chicago in a minute...)
.


edit: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=298753&highlight=bryce+canyon

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=296398&highlight=artists+palette
 
Last edited:
darn... was gonna link you into my Chitown last year but... can't!

Anyhoo - THE BEAN - must see the BEAN - must do the boat trip on the river - you get to see a lot of the buildings from a different perspective - the "architecture tour" was the best boat trip - amazing!!!!!!! It will also take you out into the lake a little bit so you can look back on the city.

Hancock Tower- Signature Room... if you can, sneak into the ladies room on the 96th floor - it is renowned for the best view in Chicago (good luck with that!) - there is so much to see in Chicago - wonderful city. You're a long way up on the 96th - if you're not good with heights - uh huh... :gag: Panoramic views - so worth it.

The most incredible place is the B'hai Temple - it's on the outskirts but if there was any possiblility of seeing it - do so.

Can't wait to go back to Chicago - might be this years trip!

Huge city to explore. Train stations are a great place to take shots!
 
Matt. said:
I can't help but think my above route isn't ambitious enough though, and that i should be going further. Being on your own means everything can be done quicker, so maybe i should add a few extra miles in?:D
Click to expand...


errrrrrrm.. I'm not sure if you realise the distances your travelling ;) In the heat of summer and going South - it will be HOT and the roads and veeeeeeery long and the desert roads ARE desert roads. The midwest and Southern hot are different to our hot. Long distances. I think when you get to places like Zion, Bryce, Fairlyland etc... if you're shooting, then the time is gonna race by - there is so much to see there.

Always make sure you have lots of water in the car and ensure you have the fully comprehensive car insurances out there... there are two of them... and are a must have too. Also, health insurance, do ensure that you take out travel insurance to cover your health for the USA - if you get sick, it's a whole different ball game in the USA!



Sorry, that sounds like I'm an old mother hen lecturing you there - do have a lot of experience in the US tho and with road trips - wonderful country, lovely folk - you'll have a BRILLIANT TIME :)


ENJOY!


edit: can't stop myself now - MONUMENT VALLEY.... MUST DRIVE THRU MONUMENT VALLEY!
 
Last edited:
I am still worried about this trip in September. I have been told (by someone on PoTN) that it's far from the best time to go!
 
Hey Matt - what is that you're worried about hun? September will be a great time to go. The Rockie Mountains will be cooler then, as will Yosemite - and the scenery will be outstanding. Chicago in September will be good too - the best time of year to visit. It will be less hot (going by the averages) than in July and August - but still the scenery, especially driving thru the Midwest will be spectacular. Colorado is HIGH - it will be cooler there. If I were you, try and spend a little more time in the Rockies. Unbelievable landscapes.

Zion etc is likely to be hot - but these places, other than being some of the most beautiful places on earth - will be fab.

The desert is HOT - but you'll be down there mid Sept and that IS the time to experience it; as long as your careful and have water etc with you, are sensible if you're out shooting and wearing a hat - you'll be coco. The scenery there is amazing ANY time of year - really - it will be.


You are fitting in an awful lot to see in a 3 week period - personally, I'd not think of going to Las Vegas - but, that's just a personal thing.

San Francisco, for me, is one of the most stunning cities in the world - couldn't pick a better time to go - the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf... all the tourist spots, well worth a visit... truly stunning city (I lived just outside SFO for 2 years) - it is gorgeous.
 
I dont want to go to Las Vegas. I really don't like the place. However, it's a convenient stop off place for a night.

September appears not to be the greatest time for Yosemite either, as the waterfalls are dry, and it wont be as green as earlier in the year. Quieter though!
 
Can anyone give a route example that avoids the heat/haze of southern Utah?
 
MisterE said:
You do know that that place is the seventh most haunted place in the US don't you? I spent a night there - entirely alone. No staff. No other guests. Interesting.
Click to expand...

It was the same for us, the staff would leave for the night (they lived in Pahrump if I recall correctly) and we were also the only guests there. It was a bit eerie but I have no fear of things that don't exist including ghosts so it was a good kind of eerie for me. Recommended, much more interesting than Vegas. That said, Vegas is ok fun for a weekend if you have a bunch of friends with you and lots of cash to burn.. otherwise, avoid it.

We were there also in early October, can't complain.. Death Valley is much more bearable that time of the year than when it's really hot. White Mustang convertible :thumbs:
 
I have been thinking about this again...! I am considering removing some of the Utah areas (eg. Moab, Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Monument Valley) and replacing that with Yellowstone NP and Grand Teton NP. This would mean less miles in the car, and less heat.

03 : Yellowstone NP
04 : Yellowstone NP
05 : Yellowstone NP
06 : Grand Teton NP
07 : Drive to Salt Lake City
08 : Salt Lake City
09 : Drive to Bryce Canyon NP
10 : Bryce Canyon NP
11 : Zion NP
12 : Zion NP
13 : Drive to Death Valley NP
14 : Death Valley NP
15 : Drive to Mammoth Lakes
16 : Mammoth Lakes
17 : Drive to Yosemite NP
18 : Yosemite NP
19 : Yosemite NP
20 : Drive to San Francisco
21 : San Francisco
22 : PCH
23 : PCH
24 : PCH
25 : Fly out from LAX
~ 2,100 miles


Does anyone have any thoughts? (and yes, i am well aware of my indecisiveness. It really is my most annoying 'quality').
 
I have finally booked flights for this, but have had to remove some days to make it slightly more affordable.

This is what i'm going to be doing:
05 : Yellowstone NP
06 : Yellowstone NP
07 : Yellowstone NP
08 : Grand Teton NP
09 : Drive to Salt Lake City
10 : Drive to Bryce Canyon NP via Capitol Reef NP
11 : Bryce Canyon NP
12 : Zion NP
13 : Zion NP
14 : Drive to Death Valley NP
15 : Death Valley NP
16 : Drive to Mammoth Lakes
17 : Drive to Yosemite NP
18 : Yosemite NP
19 : Yosemite NP
20 : Drive to San Francisco
21 : San Francisco
22 : PCH
23 : PCH
24 : PCH
25 : Fly out from LAX
 
For Death Valley make sure you enter from the Pahrump side and hit the 178 through the main area to Badwater Basin. Then join the 190 to exit West of the path to carry on your journey.

Between Mammoth Lakes and Highway 120 entrance (by Lee Vining), stop off at Lake Mono, it's a beautiful place that looks like something off a sci-fi film.

Possibly switch a PCH day for San Fran, we had the same amount of time as you there and another day would have reduced the rush and allowed us to do more E.g. Alcatraz/more exploration. I recommend staying in teh Marina District as it's a hidden gem full of great Restaurants/Bars and isn't full of tourists. It's also a short 10-20min walk down to the waterfront and to Fishermans wharf (full of tourists ;))

Also on the final night (Night of 24) you have to stay in Santa Monica. 15mins from the airport and much nicer than staying in LA (traffic is bad and 30-60mins from airport). Plus you could walk down to Venice Beach to take pictures of the crazy people, hippies and great buildings covered in weird murals. Also good for shopping, food and bars, plus right on the beach, perfect for a sunset or sunrise photo shoot.

Also consider stopping at Santa Barbara which is part of the PCH route and just off the 101. Either do this on Day 23 and stay there, or just stop for lunch there on Day 24 before heading to Santa Monica. Pop up Highway 154 North of SB for a great drive and some lovely stop off points for photography.
 
Last edited:
Matt. said:
I have finally booked flights for this,
Click to expand...

Hi Matt

Could you tell me how you are getting to Yellowstone - flight wise - Where are you flying too/from?

My wife seems to think you can get off a plane in Yellowstone NP, I'm saying it's going to take the best part of 2 days to get there from the UK.

Thanks in advance

David

PS have a great time, I am very jealous :D
Have been to Zion, Bryce, Monument Valley, Yosemite, Death Valley etc, you will not want to come home :thumbs:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top