Posted by Adam in Richland on February 2, 2008, 6:56 am, in reply to "Southern Utah in June"
Bradley, mostly what you will see that time of year in the parks is people. I think you will have a good time, but if you are like me, you would best enjoy those places in the off-season.
They have done a remarkable job in Zion in getting the personal vehicles out of there. At first I was skeptical of the tram/bus, but it has worked-out well. I just returned from a day in Zion two weeks ago. In winter it is spectacular, and the crowds are much diminished (although not absent considering its proximity to snowbird areas).
If you get some real time, venture into the Grand Staircase. You need at least a week to do this well. All of the national parks are on everyone's "bucket list", so to speak; but the Staircase is much unroaded and therefore unpenetrated beyond the highway waysides. This was one of the last areas in the contiguous United States to be mapped, mid-20th Century.
On this most recent trip, I also visited what has been recorded as the "World Champion" Big Sagebrush (Artemesia tridentata). No doubt there are larger ones, but this one scores the most points for those that people have taken the trouble to document. It is about 11 feet tall and nearly 30 feet wide 
. Five huge stalks eminating from the base, each larger than my thighs. It is along highway 20, about 40 miles north of Cedar City.
Enjoy.
AJF
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