Route - Bryce Canyon to Zion

[bhelmer]

Looking for advice on towing from Bryce Canyon to Hurricane, UT.

[washley1]

Just realize you cannot pull through the tunnels on hiway 9! If you come down 89 you would either have to go all the way into AZ and then west on 389/59 to Hurricane, or, as we did in 2012 take 89 to 14, and tried to come over through Cedar Breaks. Unfortunately, 14 was completely closed off after the main entrance to Cedar Breaks. We had to detour north through the park and took 143 down to Parowan, where we picked up I15 south. 143 was a VERY steep ride down, but we made it OK. Hopefully in the course of 2 years 14 is open all the way. If so, that's the way I'd go.

[steves]

14 is open we just pulled it. Awesome sights, steep climbs and downhills but very doable.

[bhelmer]

Thanks gents. This is exactly the advice I was looking for. Nothing like getting the info from someone who has "been there - done that"! We are planning on two weeks roaming around the parks of Utah during the last two weeks of Sept.

[washley1]

For an unforgettable ride, if you can run the length of hiway 12 from Torrey to Bryce, it's amazing. Instead of staying at Bryce we holed up in Kodachrome Basin State Park, a bit east off of 12. They only have maybe half a dozen sites with water and electric, and many with nothing, but the facility is nice and the seclusion is too. No cell, no TV, no wifi, but lots of peace and quiet, and an easy day trip over to Bryce.

[lunalonestar]

We just toured that area 2 weeks ago. We found Red Canyon Campground on HWY12 an excellent base camp to use while visiting Zion and Bryce. It is less than 20 miles west of Bryson and about 50 miles east of Zion. It also avoids having to pay the toll through the tunnel. A beautiful drive.

[bhelmer]

We will use your advice and try Hwy 12 when coming from Moab to Bryce. We will also check out Red Canyon and perhaps spend a few days there. I have a feeling this will be the first trip of many through the parks of Utah.

[timandsusan]

Bryce is one of the darkest places in the continental USA. So they have a wonderful star party--we saw it last year. Yes it will be late but the presentation and all the telescopes made it worth while. Check the schedule at the park.

[Recumbent]

Just a bit of extra info here from our 2012 travels in previous Monti that was 12'9" tall. We stayed at the KOA down in Bryce Valley about 12 miles east of Bryce Canyon and did day trips to Bryce and across Scenic Hwy 12 and it was great, we met very few RVs, and after two beautiful days of sight seeing and lots of sweaty palm moments while driving 12 we decided to not tow the Monti eastward on 12 and traveled west on 12 back out to 89. The two tunnels on 12 in Red Rock Canyon were not an issue but we did take the middle of the road for the tallest point on the arch just in case.

[washley1]

We took 12 all the way across pulling our Big Sky every inch. Clearance was not a problem, but there are some stretches that climb a good bit, and one unforgettable ride across a ridge top that we both loved. All you need is a steady hand. It's really worth the trip!!