Tangleyes said:
After doing the San Juan Loop in Colorado, we plan on going to Las Vegas by way of Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon. I am not looking forward to the crowds on the southern rim or to the hassle of crossing Boulder/Hoover Dam.
Crowds at the South Rim of the G.C. depend almost soley on when you visit. Late spring or late fall, or during the week and not on a weekend/holiday and the crowds will be much lighter. There are a lot more services available at the South Rim and vicinity than at the North Rim and the ride to get there is a lot more convenient.
IMHO the best road in to the South Rim is from the east at Cameron. It takes you on a two-lane right alongside the Little Colorado River and is very senic and less-traveled than the normal route from the south.
Crossing the Boulder (Hoover) Dam is usually not a problem unless you are there on a weekend. Plan to visit the dam or cross it during the week and you shouldn't have but a very short inspection stop (they don't take much time to eyeball your bike). If you are coming from the north (L.V. area) there are places you can check for crossing info to ensure you don't get held up by construction. I returned from L.V. a month ago or so on a Sunday afternoon (the worst possible time) and it only took about 20 minutes or so to cross. Most of the delay was just due to the crowds of pedestrians walking across the roads sightseeing.
Tangleyes said:
Please offer advise and opinions on visiting the north rim and going thru Zion N.P. Road conditions, temperatures, lodging, food and gas, ect. and others details would be greatly appreciated.
The North Rim is much more desolate than the South and doesn't have the senic vistas. Also, there is but one road in and out so you spend a lot of time just getting there. There is a lodge there but it is very small so best to plan your visit well in advance if you plan to stay at the rim. There are several small towns a couple of hours away that have small motels as an alternative (although those in UT do not serve any sort of alcoholic beverage).
As with any travel in Northern Arizona/Southern Utah it is always best to check local conditions before pressing onward. Weather comes and goes in a hurry up there and it can be quite cold even in early summer. The roads are generally good though, and with the exception of the southern route to the G.C. you shouldn't run into much traffic. It is almost always windy except in early morning and thunderstorms can blow in very quickly during summer.
If you take Route 89 from Cameron north to Page and then to Zion you will have many miles of empty reservation and few gas stops - plan accordingly. Page has all the services you need as well as a beautiful lake (Powell) right outside its window (there is a McDonalds there right on the side of the hill overlooking the dam and lake). Going further north to Zion is two-lane highway but not usually crowded and in good repair. Stop along the way at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes for some senic vistas. General elevation along this route is about 4,000' so it can get chilly early mornings and after the sun goes down. During summertime it can get very hot during the day (Page regularly hits 100F during summer days).
I spent many a day riding and boating in the area and it has to be one of the prettiest desert lakes in the world. You will see things there that don't exist in the rest of the USA and it is well worth the trip.
