Frommer's Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks (Park Guides) [Paperback]

Barbara Laine (Author), Don Laine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 27, 2004

Frommer's Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks includes all the up-to-date practical information and candid insider advice that you need to have the perfect park vacation…in an easy-to-carry size -- and at an unbeatable price:

• The best strategies for seeing these spectacular parks—and the lowdown on equally stunning (and less crowded!) natural wonders nearby.
• Great places to stay: cozy park lodges, family-friendly gateway motels, and the best campgrounds.
• The best hikes, from meandering garden paths to thrilling canyon trails—plus cross-country ski treks, mountain bike and horseback tours, and more.
• Where to eat and where to stock up on supplies, both in the parks and in gateway towns.
• Detailed, accurate regional, park, and trail maps—plus a fully illustrated nature guide!

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Just in time for travelers planning summer vacations, Frommers unveils a completely updated new edition of its comprehensive guide to 40 of Americas national parks and monuments, including perennial favorites such as Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, and more.

More than 65 million people visit the national parks annuallyand overcrowding has become a serious problem. So we sent our authors out to hit the trails and campsites to figure out how to beat the crowds and enjoy an unspoiled experience of nature.

Our authors take readers to the most spectacular landscapes in the western U.S. and provide advice for every kid of park visitor, from the day-tripper who wants to see the highlights quickly to the back-country camper to families traveling with kids. This incredibly detailed, complete guide covers every kind of activity available in each park, from hiking to bird watching, with a range of sports for visitors of all ages and skill levels.

It also includes reviews of park lodges, camping, and nearby accommodations to help readers plan all aspects of their trip. Exact prices are listed for every establishment and activity. No other guide offers such detailed, candid reviewsor such honest advice.

Complete with maps of every park (including detailed maps of hiking trails in the major parks), plus a stunning 16-page full-color photo insert! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Frommer’s^® Puts the Parks in Your Pocket.

All the up-to-date practical information and candid insider advice you need to have the perfect park vacation…in an easy-to-carry size–and at an unbeatable price!

Your Complete Guide to Zion and Bryce Canyon:

• The best strategies for seeing these spectacular parks–and the lowdown on equally stunning (and less crowded!) natural wonders nearby
• Great places to stay: cozy park lodges, family-friendly gateway motels, and the best campgrounds
• The best hikes, from meandering garden paths to thrilling canyon trails–plus cross-country ski treks, mountain bike and horseback tours, and more
• Where to eat and stock up on supplies, both in the parks and in nearby towns
• Detailed, accurate regional, park, and trail maps

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Frommer's; 4th edition (February 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764542877
• ISBN-13: 978-0764542879
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,146,822 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful overview of the parks, April 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Frommer's Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks (Paperback)

This guide proved to be an excellent resource during our recent trip to the Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Highlights of this book include how comprehensive it was despite its relative brevity, the easy-to-read writing style, and its off-the-beaten-path recommendations.

The authors discussed all the subjects I was looking for in a travel book. They covered the usual "where to stay" and "where to eat" topics very well, including reviews of the campgrounds in the parks. We were very satisfied staying and eating at the places recommended by the authors.

A particular strength of the book was its overview of the numerous hiking trails of the two parks. The trails were organized by length, and the authors gave good recommendations about which trails to do. One hike that they recommended as a "find" was a beautiful, short stroll to an icy cave, but because of its location off the main park road, we were completely by ourselves. The authors even discussed some of the backcountry hiking, if you are inclined to strap on your pack and head off into the wilderness.

The chapter on the natural history of the parks was also excellent. There was a description of the geological events that formed the parks, the flora and fauna, and the diverse ecosystems. The geological discussion in particular was especially helpful for understanding how the layers of rock were laid down over millions of years.

The authors gave good sample itineraries for experiencing the park in a day or two. Recommendations on seeing the sunrise across the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon and on visiting some of the less traveled sections of Zion were very worthwhile.

Nice bonuses in the book included information for kids, RVers, and people with disabilities. The book also had information on practical things like where to get gas, buy supplies, do your laundry, etc. There is even a section on places to visit near the national parks such as some of the Utah state parks and nearby national monuments.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone heading to Zion and Bryce Canyon. It definitely enriched our experience and made planning a whole lot easier.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Family Vacation Guide!, June 21, 2008

By 

Penny S. "artsypen" (Salt Lake City, Utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frommer's Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks (Park Guides) (Paperback)

I bought a few books on Bryce Canyon and Zion while planning our family vacation and this book was the most useful and helpful. We just returned from the trip and were very happy with this guidebook.

The book provides all the information needed to plan your trip to the parks, including when to go, what to take, and any permits needed. There is also information on where to stay and camp, and also where to eat - though we ended up bringing most of our food with us and cooking on a camp stove.

The book has great guides on best day hikes. This was particularly useful since we have two young boys - 4 and 6. We did a lot of day hikes. Our favorite hike was the Queens Garden Trail. We did that one twice - it is only about 2 miles round trip with great views!

Overall, this is an incredibly useful book that easily fits in your backpack!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just what was needed, October 21, 2009

By 

Borisgoodenough (Michigan) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Frommer's Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks (Park Guides) (Paperback)

If you're after a fine pocket-format guide to the ins-and-outs of exploring Bryce and Zion parks, look no further. Use it to find less-known trails and overlooks, and worthwhile strategies for exploring the parks -- such as the suggested order in which to hike two connected trails. Also valuable: the 1 or 2 day itineraries of shouldn't-miss highlights.

The one shortcoming separating it from a fifth star is in the areas of lodging and, especially, food. Several times, recommendations seemed dated, or places didn't quite measure up. For example, a Springdale deli suggested for day-hike take-along sandwiches in Zion is no longer especially cheap, and uses supermarket-quality bread and cold cuts. We fared better on restaurant recommendations by checking online resources and asking locals.

Also note that there are better (or supplementary) specialty books for hard-core hikers seeking a serious backwoods experience.

Within those constraints, a solid (and easily carried) resource we found ourselves referencing regularly.