Day hikes in between Vegas and Escalante

SEAlpine

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Joined
Feb 4, 2014
Messages
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My family and I (wife, 2 kids, and gma) are flying in an out of Vegas mid-March for an 8 day trip focused mainly in the Escalante area. We are spending 5 nights in Escalante and I am looking for activities to break up the drive between Vegas and Escalante on both ends of our trip. We get into Vegas at 4:15 pm the first day and fly out at 1:30 pm the last day. We did a similar trip last year in which we stopped for a short hike at the Northern tip of Bryce on the way to Escalante . And on the way back to Vegas we did a guided slot canyon tour outside of Kanab. Oh yeah, we are not going to be set up for camping, Gma has never been to canyon country, and I really have no interest in spending any time in Vegas but I guess it probably would be fun for the kids...

I had thought about either spending the 1st night in Vegas and then driving to Escalante the next day via Zion w/ a short hike somewhere in between. Or driving to Zion the first night and doing a short hike the next day in Zion before finishing up the drive to Esclantete. We do need to stop and shop for food for our stay in Escalante as well. On the way back I had thought about heading into Bryce for a bit then driving to St. George. Any suggestions on how to break up the drive, places to stay, and how to make the most of our time would be very much appreciated.

Day 1. Arrive Vegas from AK @4:15 pm. Drive to Zion or stay in Vegas or drive to XX?
Day 2. Drive to Escalante from ?? Day hike where?? Arrive Escalante late afternoon.
Day 3. Escalante.
Day 4. Escalante.
Day 5. Escalante.
Day 6. Escalante.
Day 7. Depart Escalante early am. Drive from Escalante to ?? Stay? Hike where??
Day 8. Drive to Vegas from ?? Depart Vegas 1:30 pm.
 
If you need a hotel inbetween or in the vicinity.....say the first night.....Mesquite NV has cheapo places. All are dives except the Eureka...which has the hotel separate from the smoke filled casino. No really much to see there though.....it is more a place if it is late and you just need to crash. It isn't far from Vegas. I like St George myself but pricier because they don't get casino revenue.

I notice that you are pondering a short, day hike in Zion on your way. Hmmmmm......I don't think you will be spending just an hour or two in Zion. I think anything (getting there, parking, hike, exiting, stopping for pics, etc) will be at least 1/2 day so I wouldn't go there without time enough. However, Zion would be my choice.....but boy....lots and lots between Vegas and Escalante. Many choices. Perhaps stay at the Thunderbird Best Western in at Mt Caramel junction if you are going that way.
 

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