Page/Bryce/Zion in June - looking for itinerary advice

I'm headed to southern Utah in June for 10 days. Current itinerary is:

Day 1 - Arrive in Page AZ before sunset. Shoot horseshoe bend, possible astrophotography there if conditions permit.
Day 2 - Horseshoe bend sunrise then Upper/Lower Antelope canyons (already reserved photography tours). Back to Horseshoe bend for sunset astrophotography
Day 3 - If I miss an upper/ower Antelope Canyon tour I may revisit if possible. Otherwise, off to Bryce.
Day 3 through 5 - Arrive Bryce. Sunset/Sunrise points, Inspiration and Bryce point, Navajo, Queen's Garden, Fairyland, and Peek-a-boo trails. I plan on walking the trails during the day to locate spots for astrophotography and Milky Way photos, weather permitting.
Day 6 - Shoot sunrise and then head to Zion. Here's where it gets a little dicey. Some of the hikes take pretty much the entire day, so I want to maximize my opportunities to shoot and make sure I start each hike at the ideal time. I have applied for the Subway permit lottery and I'm waiting hear if I get one, or if I have to, I'' try to get one once I'm there. I'll be doing the bottom up hike.
Day 6 through 8 - Want to kike Angel's Landing, Virgin Narrows, and the Subway. Also plan on shooting the Watchman, visiting Observation Point, and Canyon Overlook trail. Astrophotography at night.
Day 9 through 10 - Head to Valley of Fire State park. Have not lined up a whole lot here yet. Suggestions welcome.
Day 11 - return home.

I'm in great shape - all day hikes should not be a problem. I have the necessary hiking equipment (footwear, neoprene socks for the narrows and subway hikes, hiking stick/pole, etc). I am hoping for some dramatic skies at sunrise and sunset but clear after that for some Milky Way photos... LOL - like I'll be lucky enough to get all that to happen.

Questions:
Am I missing anything big or have I covered all the good stuff?
Any best times to shoot any of my listed locations?
Any "Don't Miss!" locations?
Any tips to beat the tourists?
Best times to start the 3 long hikes in Zion and get there with the best light? (Subway, Narrows, and Angel's Landing)
Any other tips?

Thanks!
James

If you are happy with your Horseshoe sunset the first time, you could go to the Wahweap Overlook for the second sunset. Lots of changing, multi-colored sandstone across Lake Powell.
For your Page to Bryce day, you could try for a permit for one of the Vermillion Cliffs sites like The Wave or Coyote Buttes.

I haven't been to any of them but they are in my notes for when I do.

Steve.

Thanks Steve! I'll look into these for sure!

FYI, Coyote Buttes requires a 4WD vehicle. Also, with limited time I don't know if I would take the time out to try for The Wave lottery. Chances are slim at best to win a permit and it kind of kills most of the day that you could be using to visit other locations instead.

If you are looking for other spots around Page, try Water Holes canyon (requires Navajo permit), Wire Pass/Buckskin Gulch, the Toadstools, or Yellow Rock. Water Holes canyon is close to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, so can easily be visited along with the other two. It's not quite as scenic as Antelope, but overall the experience is nicer since it has only a fraction of the people (when we were there in March a few years back there were only two other people besides us).

Toadstools are right off the highway and a short hike - so easy place to visit. It can be combined with Wire Pass/Buckskin Gulch. Buckskin Gulch is awesome. The scale is so impressive and there are a ton of photo opportunities. It's an out and back hike - so can go as short or long as you like. It's about 1.5 miles through Wire Pass to the confluence with Buckskin. Wire Pass is neat too - sections of narrows and open washes.

Yellow Rock is an impressive display of geology with interesting rock formations and colors. This was one of my favorite spots.

pudgy_groundhog wrote in post #17953289
FYI, Coyote Buttes requires a 4WD vehicle. Also, with limited time I don't know if I would take the time out to try for The Wave lottery. Chances are slim at best to win a permit and it kind of kills most of the day that you could be using to visit other locations instead.

If you are looking for other spots around Page, try Water Holes canyon (requires Navajo permit), Wire Pass/Buckskin Gulch, the Toadstools, or Yellow Rock. Water Holes canyon is close to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, so can easily be visited along with the other two. It's not quite as scenic as Antelope, but overall the experience is nicer since it has only a fraction of the people (when we were there in March a few years back there were only two other people besides us).

Toadstools are right off the highway and a short hike - so easy place to visit. It can be combined with Wire Pass/Buckskin Gulch. Buckskin Gulch is awesome. The scale is so impressive and there are a ton of photo opportunities. It's an out and back hike - so can go as short or long as you like. It's about 1.5 miles through Wire Pass to the confluence with Buckskin. Wire Pass is neat too - sections of narrows and open washes.

Yellow Rock is an impressive display of geology with interesting rock formations and colors. This was one of my favorite spots.

Thanks for the advice! I will have to pass on the Wave as the lottery has been over for the days I'll be there and trying for one the day of would just needlessly eat up time and still not guarantee a permit. I will definitely look up Water Holes Canyon, Toadstools and Wire Pass/Buckskin Gulch!!

Where do you get the Navajo Permit?

Yea, we made the same decision about The Wave. There used to be a lottery closer to Page, but they moved it to Kanab so it really does kill the whole day for what is even a very slim chance.

There is a Navajo tribal office in Page (and other locations depending on your route - we happened to pick ours up in Cameron

Navajo Nation permits