Join us on an incredible hiking journey through the National Parks and Monuments of Utah and Southwestern Colorado. Highlights include: walking along the Virgin River in Zion, enjoying the Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef, driving the famous Burr Trail in Grand Staircase-Escalante, hiking among the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, and exploring one of our newest national monuments, Bears Ears. This trip will blend the natural beauty of Utah with the rich cultural history of first western settlers in Capitol Reef as well as the ancient Puebloan culture.

ITINERARY

Day 1 — Mesa Verde, Hovenweep, and Bears Ears‍ We start this morning with a brief orientation and then it is off to Mesa Verde National Park a perfect blend of natural and cultural beauty where we will get out for a short hike to see some of the dwellings built right into the cliff sides. Then we will make our way west to stop at two cultural units, Hovenweep and Canyons of the Ancients, celebrating the Northern Ancestral Puebloan culture also known as the Anasazi. Meals included: Lunch & Dinner 

Day 2 — Bears Ears & Natural Bridges This morning we begin our exploration of the Bears Ears region with a visit to Newspaper Rock State Park. Afterwards, we get a closer look at the Bears Ears rock formation before enjoying a picnic lunch amongst three natural bridges carved by the power of water over time at Natural Bridges National Monument. As we continue west we will drive through Glen Canyon NRA crossing the Colorado River and driving along scenic highway 95 on our way to Capitol Reef National Park. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 3 — Capitol Reef National Park Our exploration of Capitol Reef begins with a morning hike to the Grand Wash followed by a stroll to Hickman’s Bridge. After lunch we check out some of the human history of the park in the Capitol Gorge where we can view petroglyphs and a pioneer register etched into the stone on a 3-mile hike in a slot canyon. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 4 — Capitol Reef & Grand Staircase This morning we take a short hike in Cohab Canyon and an opportunity to get a closer look at the historic Gifford House. On our way south on highway 12 we will drive part of the famed Burr Trail through a narrow canyon where you will be surrounded by contours of sandstone while riding through a narrow canyon with walls rising hundreds of feet above you. This evening relax at the charming Boulder Mountain Lodge. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 5 — Grand Staircase-Escalante & Anasazi State Park In the morning we will visit Anasazi State Park, the anthropology museum, and the excavated site of a thousand- year-old village. The Fremont prehistoric people occupied most of Utah during the same period as the Ancestral Puebloans. Artifacts recovered from this site, as well as its architecture, reflect a prehistoric “melting pot.”. We will enjoy lunch on the trail on a fantastic hike in Grand Staircase with several trail options to choose from in this vast protected area. The we will continue along scenic highway 12 to Bryce National Park. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 6 — Bryce Canyon National Park Visit the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center and hike the Rim Trail. Experience the canyon’s intricate geological display from the rim at Bryce Point and Paria View, and below the rim on the Navajo and Queens Garden Trails on a 3-mile loop. This afternoon savor the ambiance the Lodge, designed in 1924 by master architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood. The lodge and its cabins were recognized in 1987 as a National Historic Landmark. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 7 — Zion and Cedar Breaks A morning drive will bring us to Cedar Breaks National Monument located at over 10,000 feet up this unique amphitheater is a treat to see. After a short hike at Cedar Breaks we will make our way to Zion National Park where we will explore some of the park’s trails including the Riverside Walk to the beginning of the Narrows as well as the Emerald Pools for breathtaking views of Zion’s canyon. This evening we will celebrate a great week of exploration. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 8 – Departures from Las Vegas After one last post-breakfast hike in Zion we make our way down to Las Vegas to bid farewell after a great week in Utah. Meals included: Breakfast Lodging

Lodging

Inn at the Canyons or lodging nearby – 1 night Sitting below the San Juan Mountain range in the small town of Monticello, UT this family owned hotel is the perfect gateway to explore the Bears Ears region including Natural Bridges. 

Red Sands Hotel or lodging nearby – 2 nights At the doorstep of Capitol Reef national park this recently remodeled hotel is a great place to relax after a full day of adventure in the area. Take a dip in the onsite pool and hot tub or catch up on e-mails and posting photos from your Utah adventure on the complimentary wi-fi. 

Boulder Mountain Lodge or lodging nearby – 1 night Located in the middle of Utah’s scenic red rock canyon country and surrounded by mountain forests this lodge is an oasis in the middle of Grand Staircase-Escalante. Each room features a deck or patio with fantastic views of the gorgeous surroundings. Make sure to get out and explore some of the 11-acre bird sanctuary that surrounds the lodge. 

Lodge at Bryce Canyon or lodging nearby – 2 nights This iconic national park lodge was built in 1925 by famed architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood. Your room is just a few steps away from the rim of Bryce Canyon providing ample opportunities to easily explore the park. 

Desert Pearl Inn or lodging nearby – 1 night A top-rated Zion National Park choice is nestled within the majestic cliffs of Zion besides the Virgin River in Springdale, Utah. The Inn features sophisticated rooms feature Southwestern-influenced decor, floors made from reclaimed railroad trestles, and handcrafted furnishings, plus terraces or balconies.

PUBLIC DATES AND AVAILABILITY