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Ceralt t1_ja36e9b wrote

This is my favorite National Park.

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wrongsideofthewire t1_ja594t4 wrote

With Arches NP right next door!

Visited both last fall and did the White Rim Trail, was amazing.

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esel_fliegen t1_ja5zv5v wrote

I visited Arches last Christmas. Less crowded than usual but still lots of people.

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pmsnow t1_ja6id1v wrote

White Rim Trail is on my bucket list. Think a 20 year old, bone stock Xterra could make it?

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I_tinerant t1_ja6jljy wrote

Trying to 1-day it, multiday unsupported, or supported multiday?

The riding isn't all that spicy, for the most part. It's an old road, and still drivable (with decent suspension), but I'd be reluctant to do it unsupported on something that old. If you've got the option to just throw it on the jeep / a full repair kit, though, then sure!

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pmsnow t1_ja6ki7s wrote

Multiday for sure . I wanna savor it. Would like to hit the Maze too. It would be in a small posse of friends. Three vehicles, one a lifted Xterra about as old as mine, with two pretty solid mechanics. Some youtube videos make it look like stock 4x4s other than Jeeps can manage it.

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I_tinerant t1_ja6lkpo wrote

My suspicion is you'd be fine - we did it with a 2007 Nissan Frontier. There were a couple spicy sections, but nothing that ever made me think 'fuck we're not going to make this', just like 'bah this might take a minute'.

YMMV, but it wasn't terrible

Also did it in late 2019, so plausibly things have changed since.

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pmsnow t1_ja6mexc wrote

Our third vehicle would be a 2010 Frontier. I'm taking that as a sign. Thanks for your input!

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_xPAULx_ t1_ja7go7b wrote

Just did it in Sept of '22 in a stock Jeep Compass Trailhawk.. A bit spicy here and there, but the Trailhawk did just fine.. 1 Day trip clockwise, about 14hrs..

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juanmueller t1_ja7hm68 wrote

I did it in my 2015 stock frontier and had zero issues. Pushed it and caught air a couple times even.

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alienscape t1_ja5s4ol wrote

Is fall the best time to visit?

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wrongsideofthewire t1_ja64ynb wrote

I think it depends a lot on what your plans are. I overnighted in Canyonlands NP in early fall. The high during the day was 100F and it does NOT cool off at night; all of that red rock just absorbs heat and then keeps it hot until probably 3-4am; it wasn’t great for camping. I plan on returning at some point and when I do it’ll be late fall.

If I wasn’t camping then it wouldn’t have been a big deal. There’s are also a few state and local parks that have similar geology, so don’t sleep on those!

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fakemoose t1_ja6jawk wrote

I went around Christmas and it was awesome and not very crowded. Just gotta watch for blizzards.

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[deleted] t1_ja5yw45 wrote

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Dilapidated_Monk t1_ja62ddo wrote

Summer if you’re from southern states and can handle the heat and love crowds then summer is best. If you’re everyone else go in fall/spring. I went in October of 2020 and it was ideal. Great weather, less crowd d

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throwaway901617 t1_ja65b9n wrote

Yeah we went first two weeks of November through the whole grand circle. Grand canyon got bitter cold with the wind but it was tolerable. Arches was amazing.

Everyone talks about the Arches but Panorama Point is the best spot in the park.

Plus there's an absolutely beautiful arch at Bryce right on the road. Especially with the red Rock dusted in snow.

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Chocolatedippedbacon t1_ja7cch3 wrote

Did both in one day last year. Love Canyonlands, but Arches was pretty dissapointing. Didn't really get the appeal. Maybe it's because it was dark and damp.

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wrongsideofthewire t1_ja8g2gu wrote

I could see Arches on a damp day not looking exceptional from the surrounding area, but on a sunny day it is beautiful.

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daveescaped t1_ja7f1if wrote

The trail drive is amazing. Mesa Arch is another stunning spot right near by, especially at sunrise.

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juneseyeball t1_ja4wohi wrote

to me it is superior to the grand canyon

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jrodsf t1_ja52uiq wrote

Yes! GC may be deeper but it doesn't hold up against the scale of the vistas in Canyonlands.

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Embryonico t1_ja5ra1c wrote

Plus canyonlands has 3 different sections.

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Tarrolis t1_ja5rh84 wrote

Most people overlook Needles but it’s outright the best section, like I couldn’t say enough about it.

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jrodsf t1_ja5tylr wrote

Admittedly, we did skip Needles on that road trip but we were hitting up 4 of the Big 5 plus GC. (I went to Zion so many times growing up when you'd rarely run into anyone else on the trails that it's a bit disappointing going there now with the stupidly huge crowds)

Next road trip is gonna be just Canyonlands (and a bit of Arches since it's right there).

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throwaway901617 t1_ja652gq wrote

Few months ago we drove the whole loop: GC, Monument Valley, Arches, Canyonlands, Goblin Valley, Capitol Reef, Scenic Hwy 12 Torrey to Bryce along Grand Staircase Escalante, through Bryce and Zion.

Even without hiking (limited time and bucket list epic road trip) the sights were absolutely breathtaking.

The Bryce with snow had some absolutely stunning beauty.

For anyone thinking about going to these places just do it. Photos don't even begin to describe the sense of awe from being surrounded by these views on all sides.

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jrodsf t1_ja6dpz8 wrote

Our trip was pretty much that but in the opposite direction. Even stopped in Torrey for some epic stargazing. Highway 12 is crazy beautiful in the fall.

Southeast Utah is an alien landscape. Definitely one of nature's masterpieces.

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Embryonico t1_ja5t54g wrote

One of the coolest places I've ever been.

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Tarrolis t1_ja62iin wrote

Surreal, and I’ve been all over the desert.

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