Plan SB's Elite Vision Quest Through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho

[PandaXpanda]

i’m planning a trip to zion next summer, has anyone been?

Hike the Narrows!

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[Spracne]

i’m planning a trip to zion next summer, has anyone been?

Hike the Narrows!

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Never hike the Narrows, me boys!

[PandaXpanda]

i’m planning a trip to zion next summer, has anyone been?

Hike the Narrows!

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Never hike the Narrows, me boys!

Go to Sonic.

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[mocat]

I think april is too early to zion, sept/oct would be bitb

@tdaver please tell us

[tdaver]

i’m planning a trip to zion next summer, has anyone been?

Yes it's wonderful. Will probably be crazy hot

when is the best time of year to go?

my guess is like April but not sure of the snow situation there and if it limits what you can access. We actually went over thanksgiving and it was chilly but we could hike as much as we wanted without getting too cold.

Summer is crazy hot and crazy busy.  Spring and fall are best for weather, still plenty of people but not as bad.  Water level lower in the fall if you’re doing the Narrows.  Winter is awesome if you get good weather but risky if you’re traveling far to get there.

If you have an adventurous group, look into a guided canyoneering trip.

Stay in Springdale if you can so that you are in “the setting” the entire time.  Plus you can hop on the city shuttle to the visitor center, then take the park shuttle into the canyon.  There are a lot more housing options nearby in LaVerkin and Hurricane that will be a little cheaper.  Tons of new rental resorts popping up out there that are nice but less scenic and you’ll have to drive a bit more.

There is a lot of great stuff to see in the area outside of Zion as well.  Bryce, Kanab, Snow Canyon, and plenty more.  Happy to give suggestions when you start planning details.

[tdaver]

I think april is too early to zion, sept/oct would be bitb

@tdaver please tell us

Yes, October is ideal.  April is typically fine, but I’ve been snowed on then as well. 

[chum1]

I went to Zion in a January. There was so little snow I'm surprised to hear that it could be an issue. Very few people. You were allowed to drive a car into the park at that time of year and I never had an issue finding a parking spot at any trailhead.

[wELLsculptedbrows]

This was a fun one.

Echo what chum1 said. We went in late February, and I'd say it was ideal.

There were still plenty of people, even before the COVID NPS bump, but I wouldn't call it crowded. We didn't see anyone else in the Narrows for like four hours. (Definitely recommend doing that hike, if river levels allow. There are outfitters that rent dry suits in Springdale ... or you can pack your own chest waders if you're a Fly-Fishing-101-w/Paul-Sodamann-alumni 'cat.)

This place was great: https://www.desertpearl.com

[tdaver]

Hey guys… shut your traps about winter and driving into the canyon. 

[IPA4Me]

Angering the locals by revealing their secrets.

[michigancat]

Yes the Zion National Park shuttle schedule and climate are both big local secrets lol

[michigancat]

Gotta gatekeep that crap or someone might catch on

[passranch]

I’m sure I’ve posted about the Sawtooths before, but they’re fantastic and I love them.

Me too.  Stanley is easily the best part of Idaho, IMO.  Sun Valley too but mostly Stanley.

[tdaver]

lol, crusty.  settle down.

[pissclams]

i’m planning a trip to zion next summer, has anyone been?

Yes it's wonderful. Will probably be crazy hot

when is the best time of year to go?

my guess is like April but not sure of the snow situation there and if it limits what you can access. We actually went over thanksgiving and it was chilly but we could hike as much as we wanted without getting too cold.

Summer is crazy hot and crazy busy.  Spring and fall are best for weather, still plenty of people but not as bad.  Water level lower in the fall if you’re doing the Narrows.  Winter is awesome if you get good weather but risky if you’re traveling far to get there.

If you have an adventurous group, look into a guided canyoneering trip.

Stay in Springdale if you can so that you are in “the setting” the entire time.  Plus you can hop on the city shuttle to the visitor center, then take the park shuttle into the canyon.  There are a lot more housing options nearby in LaVerkin and Hurricane that will be a little cheaper.  Tons of new rental resorts popping up out there that are nice but less scenic and you’ll have to drive a bit more.

There is a lot of great stuff to see in the area outside of Zion as well.  Bryce, Kanab, Snow Canyon, and plenty more.  Happy to give suggestions when you start planning details.

thanks, “tdogger”

[Catchacold]

Was in the Zion area late April/early May last year. Weather was great. Stayed in Hurricane because we were there mainly for mountain biking. Had one day designated to visit Zion, arrived around 8:30-9am and there was no parking anywhere and was a total cluster.f. Left and did something else that day. Came back after the last shuttle had run, parked easily, and rode bikes into the canyon. That was a great way to see it, but probably not for hiking. Go cats.



Wire Mesa trail:

[_33]

Paradise Valley Montana, 20 miles north of Yellowstone.

[pissclams]

Paradise Valley Montana, 20 miles north of Yellowstone.

all that empty space and not a single sonic in sight.  where’s a brother supposed to get his slush and motzys?

[Sandstone Outcropping]

Any elite VQ'ers have recommendations on day hikes in the Buena Vista area? I've enjoyed the hikes to Huron Peak, Ptarmigan Lake, Hartenstein Lake and Kroenke Lake. Will probably do Ptarmigan Lake again. Are there others in the area I should check out? The lil cropping that will be hiking with me is not interested in anything as strenuous as Huron Peak. 

[mocat]

Paradise Valley Montana, 20 miles north of Yellowstone.

Looks like middle earth

[asava]

Any elite VQ'ers have recommendations on day hikes in the Buena Vista area? I've enjoyed the hikes to Huron Peak, Ptarmigan Lake, Hartenstein Lake and Kroenke Lake. Will probably do Ptarmigan Lake again. Are there others in the area I should check out? The lil cropping that will be hiking with me is not interested in anything as strenuous as Huron Peak.

I mean the Monarch Crest is right there and easy pickings... also not too far from multiple peaks in the Leadville area. Mosquito range is also awesome to explore for a very different type of mountain.

i’m planning a trip to zion next summer, has anyone been?

Yes it's wonderful. Will probably be crazy hot

when is the best time of year to go?

my guess is like April but not sure of the snow situation there and if it limits what you can access. We actually went over thanksgiving and it was chilly but we could hike as much as we wanted without getting too cold.

Summer is crazy hot and crazy busy.  Spring and fall are best for weather, still plenty of people but not as bad.  Water level lower in the fall if you’re doing the Narrows.  Winter is awesome if you get good weather but risky if you’re traveling far to get there.

If you have an adventurous group, look into a guided canyoneering trip.

Stay in Springdale if you can so that you are in “the setting” the entire time.  Plus you can hop on the city shuttle to the visitor center, then take the park shuttle into the canyon.  There are a lot more housing options nearby in LaVerkin and Hurricane that will be a little cheaper.  Tons of new rental resorts popping up out there that are nice but less scenic and you’ll have to drive a bit more.

There is a lot of great stuff to see in the area outside of Zion as well.  Bryce, Kanab, Snow Canyon, and plenty more.  Happy to give suggestions when you start planning details.

thanks, “tdogger”

I've done a fair amount of backcountry canyoneering in Zion. Would highly recommend and second tdaver's suggestion to get a guide who can show you the ropes (YEAH I MEANT TO MAKE THAT JOKE) if you don't want to pull a permit and do it yourself. Pretty much all of the routes are bolted so you don't need much besides the right length of rope, harnesses, maybe some good gloves, water shoes (lots of descents are through waterfalls and end in pools), and descender of your choice. Also recommend spring/fall and early winter (October/November is great) as ideal times to be out there but the backcountry stuff avoids crowds if you can snag a permit.

[tdaver]

Was down south this weekend for my son’s baseball tournament.  Had some time to kill between games.  Anyhoo… @pissclams and others planning a trip to Zion, don’t forget the trails at the top looking down into the canyon.  Here’s the view from Cable Mountain yesterday.  I’d say Observation Pt view is a little better.  And Canyon Overlook trail is much shorter and easier than both.  But do one of them.



And a couple pics from Thunder Mountain outside of Bryce just because

[pissclams]

beautiful

[chum1]

don’t forget the trails at the top looking down into the canyon

These were my favorite views when I was there.

[Sandstone Outcropping]

amazing stuff, tdaver