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profdan · 12-31-2020, 09:50 AM

A little more about Great Basin -- this shot was taken from Mather Overlook, just after a dusting of fresh snow on Wheeler Peak. It's a time exposure, so the stars are more vivid than they looked in real life -- but they were pretty doggone great in real life, too!

Click For Full-Size Image.

profdan · 12-31-2020, 09:52 AM

One more thing -- do you see the fringe of darkness along the mountain ridge? That's a shadow -- the Milky Way was so bright that the steeper parts of the ridge were in shadows cast by the stars. I've never seen that before or since.

Olive · 01-08-2021, 02:55 PM

Great ideas everyone, thank you!

UTTransplant · 01-10-2021, 07:16 AM

Look at the Utah state visitor site visitutah.com. Really good stuff. Their itineraries are always too short, but they give you a good set of things to do. Look especially at the “Road to the Mighty Five” for some lovely places.

Olive · 01-12-2021, 07:28 PM

Is it practical to stay near Bryce as a base camp to visit Bryce, Escalante, Kodachrome or shall I move RV to each area?

fcbbob15 · 01-12-2021, 08:20 PM

Have been going to Great Basin for forty years. It was called Lehman Caves National Monument back then. You could tour the Talus Room back then witch is now closed. I've taken the tour so many times that the tour guides allow me to lead the tour. Recommend the 1-1/2 hour tour if they are doing it under Covid. If you take the tour twice with a different guide you will see different things. I stayed at Whispering Elms one time and will never again. There are a few sites in Baker Creek campground large enough for your rig. A few miles from Baker is a Casino on the Utah/ Nevada state line that has RV sites. Bare dirt lot with full hook ups. If you have a toad take a trip to Wheeler Peak Campground. From there you have multiple hiking trails. You can go to the peak (13063 ft) approximately 7 miles but I would recommend the lakes loop trail, 3miles total and takes you by Teresa and Stella lakes. The same area has Bristlecone and Glacier trails. Lehman creek runs though the campground and along the trail. You should see lots of wild life including Deer, Turkeys, Badgers, Ducks and horses. You can also go fishing in multiple mountain streams, they even have a fish hatchery on Baker creek. Know the area well if you have any questions.

profdan · 01-12-2021, 09:45 PM

Olive, you can "commute" from Bryce to Kodachrome. It's a little more than a half hour to Kodachrome. Escalante is another half hour beyond.

I think the answer depends on what you want to do when you get there. If you are a hiker, the Kodachrome area merits a couple of days. We really enjoyed that whole area -- you can't go wrong.

By the way, there are hookups at Kodachrome, which is really handy when the weather gets cold -- it was down to nine degrees when we were there in November a few years ago.

Vongreg · 01-12-2021, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olive

Is it practical to stay near Bryce as a base camp to visit Bryce, Escalante, Kodachrome or shall I move RV to each area?

I love camping at Kodachrome. Take the toad to all the other places. Way less crowded. Of course you travel down a gravel road forever to get there. Well worth it.

profdan · 01-13-2021, 07:03 PM

Here is a link to a blog post about the Kodachrome area:

https://lookmomwerecamping.blogspot....mber-2014.html

This is an overview of the area just to the south of the campground:

Click For Full-Size Image.

Busskipper · 01-13-2021, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by profdan

Here is a link to a blog post about the Kodachrome area:

https://lookmomwerecamping.blogspot....mber-2014.html

This is an overview of the area just to the south of the campground:

Click For Full-Size Image.

Thanks Dan,

Always enjoy the Images you share.

Nothing says it better than Images!

CamJam1 · 01-13-2021, 09:27 PM

The town of Escalante is very small, and you really need a 4x4 to make the most of the area as there are dirt roads or Jeep trails to most of the trail heads. We didn't have a toad when we were there and DW had a medical problem at the time that made it impossible for her to do anything more than short walks. We stayed three days because we'd paid in advance but wished we'd only stayed for one.

Beautiful scenery on the way in though and plenty of hikes and sights to see in the area if you have an off-road vehicle and are physically able.

Grant Lasson · 01-14-2021, 01:58 PM

There are some very fun slot canyon hikes not far from Escalante. Some are accessed from the Hole-in-the-Rock road. If you've got the patience, go to the end of the Hole-in-the-Rock, climb down and swim in Lake Powell. We did!

The Hole-in-the-Rock road is the most washboarded dirt road I've ever driven. Very rough on vehicles. I ruined the rear differential locker in my Jeep flying down that road. We saw an accident when a minivan lost control and rolled off the road. Just a word of caution.

Gammel · 01-17-2021, 05:22 PM

Dunno how long your rig is but most of the Great Basin campgrounds are not length friendly.

Olive · 01-17-2021, 05:57 PM

Thank you again for all of the great advice and pictures. I'm really looking forward to this trip. I am making reservations at a few places and hoping to boondock some if heat isn't an issue. I love boondocking but now that I am a 70yo widow some places seem a bit too solitary if I would have a problem.

One more question please. I may have a few extra days to spend either in the Bryce area or Capitol Reef. Which one would you recommend? Right now I have a week scheduled at Capitol Reef and 11 days between Escalante, Kodachrome and Bryce. TIA