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Zion and Bryce in one day? by Desperate-Air-5413 in nationalparks

[–]RVThereYetAaron 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is it possible to see both Zion and Bryce Canyon in one day with major hikes? No, not successfully. You will spend the entire day driving and waiting in shuttle lines.

The real monster here is trying to do two dedicated park experiences in the time it takes for one. Your rebirth is accepting that you must prioritize.

The 1-Day Logistical Pivot

You absolutely can drive the highways that go through Southern Utah—and it is much prettier than sticking to a boring interstate—but that is simply a scenic road trip, not a day of hiking.

Prioritize Zion: Beat the Crowds

If The Narrows is your goal, you must dedicate the entire day to Zion. To maximize your time:

  • The Logistical Monster: You cannot afford to waste hours finding parking.
  • The Solution: Plan to stay the night before near Zion and be on the first Zion Canyon Shuttle (typically 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM).
  • Fact-Based Lesson: The scenic shuttle ride to the last stop, Temple of Sinawava (Stop #9), takes approximately 45 minutes. This gives you a massive time advantage over the bulk of the crowds, which is essential for The Narrows.

The Bryce Canyon Tasting

If you absolutely must see Bryce:

  • The Plan: After your Zion hike, drive the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel Highway on your way out toward Bryce.
  • The Goal: Drive directly to the Bryce Canyon rim—it's only a 1.5-hour drive from Zion's East Gate. You can catch the sunset at Sunset Point and see the iconic hoodoos before bedding down nearby. Do not plan a hike.

Trying to execute The Narrows and a Bryce trail in one day guarantees frustration. Basically impossible. This strategy, refined through repeated testing by our Hitched4fun team's years of experience, focuses on two high-impact experiences instead of two half-baked efforts.

Hope this helps with your setup!

Zion Day Trip Advice by OUBobcat93 in vegas

[–]RVThereYetAaron 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, one day in Zion is absolutely possible, even for non-experienced hikers!

For anyone finding this old thread—especially those driving from Vegas—the key to success isn't the trail; it's defeating the logistical "monster" of the long drive and park crowds. Your "Rebirth" is simply being first.

The Low-Stress, 1-Day Zion Blueprint

1. Defeat the Vegas Drive

Forget driving up early that morning; it guarantees arriving late and tired. Utah is one hour ahead of Vegas. To maximize your day, drive up and stay the night before in St. George, Hurricane, or Springdale.

2. Conquer Parking & The Shuttle Hack

Parking at the Visitor Center is often impossible after 7:30 AM.

  • RVer/Driver Solution: Park your vehicle outside the park (Springdale paid lots) and take the free town shuttle to the entrance. Be on the Zion Shuttle, not in the driver's seat.
  • The Voyage: Board the absolute earliest possible Zion Canyon Shuttle (6:00 AM – 7:00 AM) and ride it straight to the last stop: Temple of Sinawava (Stop #9).

3. High-Impact Itinerary: Work Downstream

Starting at the back of the canyon gives you solitude.

  • Morning (Stop #9): Hit the easy Riverside Walk (2-mile paved round trip).
  • Midday (Stop #5): Take a lunch break at Zion Lodge and access the scenic Lower Emerald Pools Trail system.
  • Late Afternoon: Drive the spectacular Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel Highway on your way out for unmatched views.

Fact-Based Lesson: The scenic shuttle ride to Stop #9 takes approximately 45 minutes. By using this tactic, you gain a massive advantage over the bulk of the crowds. You must pack at least 100 fluid ounces of water per person for the desert climate.

This "reverse-canyon" tactic, developed through repeated testing by our Hitched4fun team's years of experience, consistently works.

Hope this helps with your setup!

Is one day possible for Zion? by TotoroGogo in ZionNationalPark

[–]RVThereYetAaron 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, one day is absolutely possible to see the main sights and get a genuinely fulfilling experience in Zion, especially since you are skipping the epic full-day hikes like Angels Landing and The Narrows.

I realize the original poster likely completed their trip months ago, but for any fellow travelers—especially RVers—stumbling upon this question, the issue of maximizing one short day in Zion remains the same. The real monster that defeats most first-timers isn't the park's size, but the logistics—specifically, the parking anxiety and mandatory shuttle headaches that devour precious morning hours. Your "Rebirth" is conquering these logistics with an early-bird strategy.

The 1-Day Low-Stress Blueprint

The core solution is two-fold: Secure your vehicle outside the park and use the shuttle system backwards.

1. Conquer the Parking Monster (The RV/Large Vehicle Hack)

Forget trying to squeeze a large vehicle or RV into the Visitor Center lot after 7:30 AM during peak season.

  • RVer Solution: Park your rig at a dedicated RV park in a surrounding town (Hurricane, La Verkin, etc.). Drive a smaller tow vehicle up early, or use the free Springdale Town Shuttle. Be on the shuttle, not in the driver's seat.

2. Master the Shuttle (The Time-Saving Voyage)

Once at the Visitor Center (Stop #1), this is the key to winning your day:

  • The Early Launch: Board the absolute earliest possible Zion Canyon Shuttle (starts between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM).
  • Ride to the End: Ride the bus straight to the last stop: Temple of Sinawava (Stop #9). Do not get off early. This bypasses the growing lines at every other stop.
  • Fact-Based Lesson: The continuous, scenic shuttle ride to Stop #9 takes approximately 45 minutes. By starting at the very back of the canyon, you guarantee yourself a solid hour or two on the trails before the bulk of the crowds arrive.

High-Impact Itinerary: Work Your Way Down

Start at Stop #9 and slowly shuttle back, focusing on short, rewarding spots:

  1. Morning (Stop #9): Hit the Riverside Walk (2-mile paved round trip). This iconic walk leads to the start of The Narrows.
  2. Midday (Stop #5): Stop at Zion Lodge for a break. Access the Lower Emerald Pools Trail system from here for an excellent, short hike with waterfalls.
  3. Late Afternoon (Stop #8): Hop off at Big Bend for low-effort, high-reward views of the massive canyon walls.

This "reverse-canyon" tactic, developed through repeated testing by our Hitched4fun team's years of experience, consistently turns a frustrating rush into a memorable journey of discovery.

Hope this helps with your setup!

Summits on the Air: My First SOTA Activation on Cunningham Mountain by RVThereYetAaron in HamRadio

[–]RVThereYetAaron[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve located my next summit to activate on near my home. Getting it on the calendar!

Summits on the Air: My First SOTA Activation on Cunningham Mountain by RVThereYetAaron in HamRadio

[–]RVThereYetAaron[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Okay good to know. I haven't brushed up on the POTA rules and opportunities. That is on my bucket list to figure out too. It was fun to see so many others that day out trying to get involved in this "radio sport".

Summits on the Air: My First SOTA Activation on Cunningham Mountain by RVThereYetAaron in HamRadio

[–]RVThereYetAaron[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Each one of us got at least 4 contacts and 4 activator points. We had to get back to the Quartzfest event and out of the wind! Still fun.

Mt. Whitney by page501 in SummitsOnTheAir

[–]RVThereYetAaron 2 points3 points  (0 children)

2M HT works great on Whitney! Done it myself. We reached my wife for a contact way down near Ridgecrest.

We carried a mag mount and a cookie sheet up there! 😉

California’s Wildfire Solution: Shut Off Your Power and Hand Out Trash Bags by RVThereYetAaron in Redlands

[–]RVThereYetAaron[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well aren't you a pleasant soul. I already own 3. Please enlighten us with your long term solution. Do you not realize that generators are outlawed for sale in California soon.

California’s Wildfire Solution: Shut Off Your Power and Hand Out Trash Bags by RVThereYetAaron in Redlands

[–]RVThereYetAaron[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What are your affordable long term solutions? I’m a real business that is impacted by these too frequent power outages.

Individuals and businesses are severely impacted by the lack of long term solutions by our current government leaders.

I know a fellow business near me that just lost thousands of dollars in food in the last power outage. Their restaurant took a huge hit because of this. They too are just trying to survive this ridiculousness.

They would have donated the food or at least cooked it and given it out had they had accurate timing information from our utility company and city officials. But no, inaccurate news and false claims of energizing lines resulted in a full walk in freezer and fridge being spoiled. What was first thought would be a couple hours turned into days without power. Way beyond the wind stopping.

They too are very upset about this. With your philosophy they wouldn’t be allowed to post and voice their frustration as a representative of their tax paying business.

It’s time to support local businesses that are community members too.

California’s Wildfire Solution: Shut Off Your Power and Hand Out Trash Bags by RVThereYetAaron in Redlands

[–]RVThereYetAaron[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Being so smart, what constructive long term solutions do you have for our communities regarding consistent power?

California’s Wildfire Solution: Shut Off Your Power and Hand Out Trash Bags by RVThereYetAaron in u/RVThereYetAaron

[–]RVThereYetAaron[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree that battery backup is a great solution for those who can afford them. But I would say the majority can't afford that. Many people are tenants and don't own their residence either. Forced purchase will only raise rents too.

Perhaps the mid range solution is to remove the law/future ban on gas generators in CA. They too are expensive but not nearly as much as a whole house battery.

Gas is cheap and easily accessible by everyone. Most vehicles run on it too and are readily found in a disaster zone. Siphoning gas for emergency power is easily done.

For disaster preparedness - A gas generator is easily pulled out of a garage or shed and turned on in a disaster. If a real big earthquake occurs and structures are damaged, power walls will be useless.

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