Moab - Arches/Canyonlands...when is a good time to go?

I've got 15 days of vacation time at the moment.

I'm going to Yellowstone around September I believe.

When is a good time to hit up Arches/Canyonlands?

September is good. The temp won't be so hot. And the monsoons should give great skies in the afternoon. Arches isn't that far from Yellowstone. Depending on where you are in CO just make a loop out of it.

That's an idea...Yellowstone, Tetons, then through Idaho a bit and to Salt Lake, then Arches/Canyonlands. Black Canyon/Curecanti on the way back home in CO.

Maybe Craters NP in Idaho? Dunno if it's worth the trip there.

Don't try and do too much, though. Those distances are huge. While you can see the Tetons in just a day or two, and Arches in just a couple days, you could spend a lifetime in Yellowstone. Yellowstone is overwhelmingly rich, complicated, full of things to see, and you barely even get a glimpse of it from the loop road.

Canyonlands is less accessible than Yellowstone, but it is as beautiful as any place on this planet, and you could easily spend a week in just the Needles section. At a bare minimum I'd spend a day hiking in the Needles (I love the trail to Chesler Park), and a day in the Island in the Sky, including the famous and overwhelming Dead Horse Point State Park, which overlooks the Island in the Sky and the Colorado River.

Those distances out west are pretty huge, and you can end up spending way too much time driving and missing out on some great experiences in the parks. I've done it both ways, and you'll probably enjoy it more if you spend more time in a smaller area.

If you DO want to make a big trip that includes Yellowstone, I'd suggest going north to Glacier National Park rather than down to the Moab area.

RIght....and why stop at Glacier National Park? Might as well keep going up to Banff....

DrPablo wrote in post #5808951
Don't try and do too much, though. Those distances are huge. While you can see the Tetons in just a day or two, and Arches in just a couple days, you could spend a lifetime in Yellowstone. Yellowstone is overwhelmingly rich, complicated, full of things to see, and you barely even get a glimpse of it from the loop road.

...If you DO want to make a big trip that includes Yellowstone, I'd suggest going north to Glacier National Park rather than down to the Moab area.

I totally agree with DrPablo. With only 15 days, I think you would be much better off staying in the Tetons and Yellowstone. There's so much to see and do there...and I often find the best experiences by staying put in one place and really taking the time to look around. It takes time to taste the real flavor...

Since Moab is only 5 hours from Denver, I would consider holding off and simply visiting Moab on extended weekends throughout the year. I used to live in Colorado Springs and I went to Moab at least 6 or 7 times a year. As long as you don't drive the I-70 corridor on a Sunday evening during the ski season, it's actually a great drive. As for the best times of the year, my favorite window is anytime from October to March. The weather is cooler. The crowds are less. Lodging prices drop dramatically from mid-November to late February. And another advantage to winter time is the shorter days; during the winter it's easier to photograph the magic hour at the beginning and end of day. With that being said, everyday is a great day for photography in the Moab area...I just prefer Oct-Mar based on the reasons above.

Just my three cents worth. Congratulations on what sounds like an epic trip! I bet you are going to have a great time.

Have fun!
Bryan

I'm only going to have 11 days of vacation.

I'm using 7 of my vacation days + 2 weekends.

I can't use it all in case I have an emergency or something and need to take a day off. And also plan on going back home to CA later this year too.

OdiN1701 wrote in post #5810090
RIght....and why stop at Glacier National Park? Might as well keep going up to Banff....

Heh, did that once -- a week to see Jasper, Banff, and Glacier. That was a lot of driving itself, good thing we didn't stick Yellowstone on the end!

Seriously, though, Yellowstone could occupy a lot of time, and Glacier isn't THAT far away if you want to add another major park. It doesn't make sense to try and do everything from Yellowstone to Canyonlands in one trip, though.

It's nice right now for sunsets with the fires in Cali, but its starting to hit triple digits in the day.