Two Weeks in Utah

Posted by: thomasH

Two Weeks in Utah - 01/27/18 11:27 AM

Taking the family out to Utah for the first half of April and am looking for recommendations.

Firstly, wondering about weather - the kids comfortable with 30F nights, but not sure about much colder. We've been looking primarily at canyonlands, arches, capitol reef, and san rafael. Forecast looks reasonable, nut not sure if anyone's experienced local weather phenomena colder than that.

Looking for easy(er) day hikes of <5miles with camping/exploring potential. Would also love a family-friendly loop for 2-3 nights, if you've got one. Not opposed to National Parks, but valuing solitude/unimproved areas over needing to see the main sites.

Thanks!
Posted by: bobito9

Re: Two Weeks in Utah - 01/28/18 11:59 PM

Two weeks in Utah in April sounds great. I've spent a couple trips to Utah in April and liked the weather a lot. I don't remember it being cold, but it depends on your altitude. We did some great dayhiking in Bryce and Capitol Reef. I barely visited Canyonlands. I didn't honestly care for Arches and Moab that much, it was really hot and super busy, but it's ok. I stayed in a campground in Capitol Reef called Cedar Mesa that I liked a lot: just 5 or so sites, I think, very remote, very quiet, nice hiking. You have to drive down a dirt road for 35 miles to get there, and we barely made it there in our Subaru after a good rain, so 4 wheel drive seems a good idea.
The only backpack I did in Utah was Grand Gulch, so that's the only one I can vouch for. I think it's still protected by what's left of Bears Ears Nat'l Monument, despite Zinke/Trump's butcher job. It was pretty remote and little-traveled, not too hard of a route, LOTS of old native american ruins and pictographs. It's been a dozen or so years since I was there so maybe it's more popular now.
Have fun!
Posted by: OregonMouse

Re: Two Weeks in Utah - 01/29/18 10:33 AM

While it's still there:
Walking the Ancient Paths in Bears Ears

Other ramblings in southern Utah can be found on "PMags" blog