Then the drive to Torrey with stops as mentioned in Goblin Valley (though not so fun on a hot summer

1. I am using frequent las vegas car rental agencies flyer miles and the best use of these miles has me arriving and departing las vegas car rental agencies from SLC. And I really want to do a loop of the parks vs. retrace my steps. Any downside to starting the trip in SLC?
3. Lastly, my schedule is pretty flexible but I cannot decide how many nights to spend in each area. I am hoping to go to Moab (to see Arches, Canyonlands, maybe Dead Horse State Park), and Capitol Reef Park, possibly las vegas car rental agencies Escalante Monument, and then Bryce and Zion.
Any special tips for travel with a pretty adventurous 9 yr. old, let me know! It is he and I so I will definitely be looking into the Jr. Ranger Programs so he can be with some other kids for a little while!
I really like www.deserthighlights.com in Moab. A great safe adventure. Also a flight with slickrock air is pretty cool. Your daughter would likely be allowed to sit up front. Ask for Larry a retired Chief Park Ranger for Canyonlands. I think that was his name anyway.
If you are adventurous the 2 "must hikes" are The Narrows and Angels Landing. But there is plenty of others, if that isn't you cup of tea. For The Narrows, rent shoes and possibly las vegas car rental agencies wetpants. If the water is to high, you will not be doing this hike. Don't even consider it if if is raining(the same should be said about Little Wildhorse, that I mentioned too)
Do your hiking in the early morning. I just read you are going in August. It will be pretty darn hot. Make certain you have water in the car and plenty of water for every hike. I would say carry 16 ounces for each hour you plan on hiking. So, for along hike you will need plenty. Little Wildhorse and The Narrows will be cooler as they are slot canyon with lots of shade and very little direct sun.
In addition to the parks you have Goblin Valley, Lil Wildhorse (I haven't been there but spiro recommends it, Devils Garden Escalante, Lower Calf Creek Falls (a little over two miles each way so might be a little long for your son - a level hike and beautiful waterfalls), Willis Creek slot canyon (just a half hour southeast of Bryce Canyon. don't go if it's raining. Stop in the Cannonville visitors las vegas car rental agencies center for recommendation about weather. las vegas car rental agencies it's an adventurous drive getting there but an easy walk in the park going thru the slots)
Also, along the way on this hike you'll get excellent views of Castle Rock. It may look familiar if you've seen some of the old Western movies. Over 100 were made in the Moab area and this rock makes cameo appearances as a background in over 50 of them.
Bryce Canyon is quite small and probably doesn't merit more than a night. Get there in late afternoon, see the sunset at sunset point, get up very early for a spectacular sunrise at Bryce Point and then hike down Navajo Loop and up Queens las vegas car rental agencies Garden.
I can only travel in mid July or August. I know it is going to be hot and plan to become my own resovoir! (i.e. I will bring tons of water.) And we will only hike on hot days in the early morning or afternoon. We are fine hanging out at a hotel pool or some other shady activity when we need a break.
You can get somewhat of an idea about Angels las vegas car rental agencies Landing by watching youtube. It is a fairly las vegas car rental agencies strenuous hike. If you don't like it after you get to the top, you can always stop at Scouts Lookout and it will still have been a very nice hike. The last 1/2 mile after the lookout has huge drops. Meaning the path is just 3 foot wide with 2000 foot drops on both sides. I think it would be very hard to fall, but mistake would mean certain death. Thousands do it each day and there have been 10 deaths or so over the past 20 years. Most people rank this hike as one of the Top Ten day hikes in America. The Narrows also is usually in that list. Of course that is argueable, but they both are very good hikes.
My daughter scooted on her bottom and held on to the chain provided over the very steepest/narrow portion. I didn't think it was that bad at all. My wife turned around and didn't go all the way. So, it just all depends las vegas car rental agencies on the person and what you think of it. I would guess there is a fairly high percentage that turn around and don't attempt the last 1/4 mile or so.
I would compare prices for both flying and rental cars for both SLC and Vegas. Also look at times of arrival and departure. Sometimes arriving before noon means you can be at a park in time to do a little hiking etc. We've done the Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands loop from Vegas in your time frame.
Yes, people las vegas car rental agencies climb that. Her name is Katie Brown and she's a rock climber. His name is Alex Honnold who was featured on 60 minutes a year or two back. He climbed from the valley floor at Yosemite to Glacier Road. About 1,500 feet up. Oh, and he did it "free". No ropes.
We were hiking around the bottom and came around a bend and saw somebody just climbing to the top (see #68). He had his arms up and I yelled for him to turn around. He turned and yelled his email address. I sent him a copy of the photo.
In that 2008 trip look at photos 64-70. #65 70 are Castle Rock. Over 125 of the old westerns were filmed in the area. Castle Rock made cameo appearances as a background in about 50 of those westerns.
You'll want a full day for Arches, one day for Canyonlands/Dead Horse Point (easy to combine), one day for something fun like a raft trip (great in the summer) las vegas car rental agencies or a hummer tour, or the canyoneering, or to take the drive up hwy 128 to Fisher Towers. So I'd say 3 days in Moab (which would probably be 4 nights).
Then the drive to Torrey with stops as mentioned in Goblin Valley (though not so fun on a hot summer day) and Little Wild Horse. You could stop in Capitol Reef, and maybe take the scenic drive to Capitol Gorge and hike that. I would only stay one night in Torrey.
las vegas car rental agencies Then drive to Bryce enjoying the drive, but not stopping other than for a few viewpoints along the way. Stay 2 nights in Bryce so you have one full day there. Besides the one best hike (Navajo to Queen's Garden) and the sunrise, las vegas car rental agencies you'll want to enjoy the stars (maybe there will be someone with a telescope out - best park for dark skies). Or if the moon is out go take a short walk in the full moon. Also look for prairie dogs and explore the little western village.
Then you'll have 3 nights las vegas car rental agencies for Zion (for 10 nights total). Enjoy Red Canyon on the way out of Bryce, stop in Orderville at one of the rock shops. Maybe take the Canyon Overlook trail in Zion before heading through the tunnel.
The Narrows would be on my list for sure. That would be one day. But August is prime flashflood season so be sure to check at the visitor center for possible thunderstorm activity las vegas car rental agencies and expected closures.
Do take the West Rim trail to Scout's Lookout. I personally would never take a child up Angel's Landing. But to climb to Scout's lookout is quite an accomplishment and gives rewards of great views. Maybe combine it with a hike along Kayenta Trail to the Emerald Pools. That would be one day.
You could also spend some time doing a ranger las vegas car rental agencies program, exploring the History museum, rent bikes and ride the canyon (you can put the bikes on the shuttle and take them to the end of the canyon and then ride back, fairly las vegas car rental agencies level road and mostly downslope) . And that would be a third day.
Stay at the Desert Pearl Inn or Cable Mountain Lodge just outside of Zion--both are great places for kids. You will NEED a pool in the afternoon!! Moab has lots of lodging options. At Bryce--stay at Ruby's Inn, again--the pool. (Its really awesome when your child finds other kids to play with at the pool or on the lawn etc at these places. Kid friendly has lots of bonuses )
You can certainly do a loop--Go south on Route 6 through Price. Stop at the awesome dinosaur museum there! (actually, the even better museum is in Lehi, just south of Salt Lake--it really is worth the time if your son is a dinophile) las vegas car rental agencies Then go to Moab, Cap Reef, Bryce, Zion. Then go back up to Salt Lake on I-15. It's a straight shot. It's 4 hours from SLC to Moab and 5 from Zion to SLC.
Good kid hikes in Zion-Emerald Pools is great. You can hike some in the Narrows--its out and back so you can go as much as you son wants and then turn around. las vegas car rental agencies Plus its cool in the water--you are hiking in the river. The Kolob canyon section of Zion is very pretty. In Bryce, you could do a loop below the rim, its not very hard. Even if you stay on the rim and do short hikes, there is plenty to see. In Capitol Reef, I really like the Hickman Bridge trail for kids. It's steep at first but then levels out and you get to see some cool sites. The wash hikes are flat but hot and dusty and boring for kids. Little Wild horse just outside of Capitol Reef is awesome--in fact, some would argue it is better than Capitol Reef for kids! I wouldn't stay 2 nights las vegas car rental agencies in Torrey unless you did Little Wildhorse during the day, then stay the night in Torrey and do Cap Reef the next day, and then stay the night to get an early start on to the next stop.
In addition to Jr Ranger badges, some parks have "adventure backpacks" las vegas car rental agencies you can check out from the Visitors Center. They are first come, first served. We had a great time with all the activities las vegas car rental agencies in it when we went to Capitol Reef. Your son is also old enough to do horse trail rides at Zion (and at Bryce too, I suppose) so that could be something fun if it was in the evening or some other, cooler time.
Bring Camelbaks-you drink more water from a Camelbak than from a water bottle. Be sure to push water on your child. Kids just don't get the whole "drink before you are thirsty" idea. I drink at least a gallon a day in the summer (I live in SLC) and even more on days I run etc. In addition to all the water, you also need to bring salty snacks or you get "hyponutremic"--I don't think I spelled that correctly. Basically, too much water and not enough electrolytes. So peanuts, potato chips, Triscuits, etc. When I am hiking, I always make sure I drink one quart of Gatorade a day. Coming from DC, you will be amazed at how dry it is. (When I was in DC, I was amazed that my hair could turn into such