Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks (Lonely Planet) [Paperback]

Jeff Campbell (Author), David Lukas (Author), John A Vlahides (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005

Wild, vast and rugged, Zion and Bryce Canyon are among America's most dramatic national parks, filled with towering cliffs, hanging gardens and a riot of surreal, rainbow-striped rock formations. Whether you want to hike narrow slot canyons or admire stunning views, our indispensable guide will help you explore these desert jewels, plus the best of southern Utah's other parklands.

Rock On - view spires, arches, bridges and hoodoos, and learn what forces created this eerie desert landscape

Get Active - hiking, canyoneering, mountain biking, rock climbing, river rafting, horseback riding and more

Explore Further - with chapters on Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Arches National Parks, plus Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the outdoor mecca of Moab

Kid Around - recommended sights, activities and accommodations for the whole family

Rest Easy - camp under the stars, pamper yourself at a luxury resort or bed down at a working horse ranch

Editorial Reviews

Review

...for the adventurous traveler who wants to live like a native.' --Real Simple Magazine, June 2005

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1740599365
• ISBN-13: 978-1740599368
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #478,289 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Travel > United States > States > Utah

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best guide, October 20, 2006

By 

David of Lombard - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks (Lonely Planet) (Paperback)

This is a great guide to visiting Grand Circle national parks: Bryce, Zion, Capital Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, and some adjacent areas. We used it for our Fall 2006 trip and found many other travelers carrying this book. This was our first trip to Utah, and we are not avid hikers. The book gives valuable information on what to see at each park including the difficulty of hikes to scenic overlooks, and it provides suggestions on what to see for both short & longer stays. It provides excellent information on lodging including proximity to parks and upscale versus value. It has information about restaurants, scenic drives, time of year, and more. We also used some information from other books and publications for this trip, but the Lonely Planet "Zion & Bryce Canyon" was by far the best. By the way, the title should be changed to indicate that it includes much more than these two national parks.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific guide to southern Utah, October 21, 2006

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410 - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks (Lonely Planet) (Paperback)

The title is slightly problematic, as this book covers much of southern Utah, its national parks (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyonland, Capitol Reef, Arches), national monuments, and other places worth of a visit. The maps are crisp and readable, though a few more detailed topo lines would help. Trail descriptions and recommendations for visits are generally pretty good as are estimates of time. Suggestions for places to eat and stay were also worthwhile. Other more specialized books are available if you want to spend most of the trip in one specific area, but this is a great survey of southern Utah.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rear View Mirror, July 15, 2006

By 

Virgil Brown (White Oak, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks (Lonely Planet) (Paperback)

The vacation trip to southern Utah is in the rear view mirror, I am sorry to say. Wonderful place in the world. Of course, we used this guide. It is an excellent blend of facts and maps.The guide begins with some suggested itineraries and, having been there, I can say that these point you toward the very best to see. If you have only half a day to see Zion National Park then do park your car at the visitor center and take the shuttle all the way to the end. Along the way see the Weeping Rock and the Court of the Patriarchs. The end of the shuttle ride is the Temple of Sinawava. Take some time to wade at least a part of the Virgin River Narrows.

The guide is filled with short essays including one on what not to do while hiking and another on desert etiquette. Jumping is the major cause of accidents. Also some people need to be reminded that "do not disturb" applies to the desert as well.

The pictures are gorgeous and whet my appetite for another trip to the Grand Circle to see what I haven't seen before. The view of the hoodoos from Sunrise Point gave me the feeling that the desert went on forever, but I'd just got to go back and see the view from Grand View Point, Canyonlands.

This guide is not just about Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. Most of the last 130 pages of this guide are about Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park, and Moab.

At the end of the guide are short chapters on history, geology, and the ecosystems of southern Utah. It was 1869 when John Wesley Powell descended the Green and Colorado Rivers to Yuma. His geological and ethnological work still "form the basis of what we know of southern Utah today."