Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Grand Staircase-Escalante
Credit: Paxon Woelber
Credit: Cary Costello
Credit: Wollertz
Trip Type: Small Group Adventure
Territory: North America
Region: Desert Southwest
Trip Price: From $6,450
Single Supplement: $1,725
On-Trip Airfare: $0
Duration: 10 days/9 nights
Trip Begins/Ends: Grand Junction, Colorado / St. George, Utah
Minimum Travelers: 2 travelers
Maximum Travelers: 16 travelers
Pricing detailed for this Small Group Adventure is based upon double occupancy. Additional charges for single travelers and any on-trip airfare required for the trip apply. A booking deposit is required to reserve your space. Small Group Adventure pricing includes all lodging, meals (unless otherwise noted), activities, baggage handling, transportation, and guide service. Not included are travel costs to/from gateway cities, guide gratuities, and personal incidentals including, but not limited to, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, alcoholic beverages, and laundry service. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.
No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities
Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration
High Five! – 5-12 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun
This hiking-oriented trip takes place in elevations ranging from 4,300 to 9,000 feet, with 6-8 hours spent outside each day in unpredictable temperatures and potentially inclement weather. Hikes will be on sand, slickrock, and dirt trails, and are typically 6 to 8 miles in length, and up to a 1,500 foot gain in elevation.
Most all of our Small Group Adventures can be made private to just your traveling troupe. Just give us a call at (800) 445-2995 and tell us that you would like to “make it private”!
Generally, there are two ways to make a small group adventure private. First, you could capture one of our published departure dates for just your group. In order to achieve this, we have to have sufficient space available to create a separate private trip. Second, we could take the details of this itinerary and fashion it for just your group on dates of your choosing. For this, too, we just need to review your interest, group size, and preferred timing in order to create the trip.
In all cases, the process begins with a phone call so give us a ring at (800) 445-2995 and after just a few minutes gathering information, we can set to the task of making your trip a reality!
Meet your guide and fellow travelers in Grand Junction for a welcome dinner.*only included on 2022 departures
After breakfast, make the short drive to Moab where we’ll kick off the day with a few hikes in Arches National Park. We're in Moab by the afternoon so you can settle into your accommodations. Tonight’s dinner will give you a chance to learn more about your fellow travelers and seasoned guides.
Today takes us into Canyonlands, where we’ll hike in the Needles district of the park. These staggering formations will give you a fantastic perspective of just how vast the Canyonlands truly are. Take the evening to relax, look through your photos and reflect on the day, and enjoy a lovely dinner with your new friends.
This morning has us saying goodbye to Arches and Canyonlands as we make our way to Boulder. Along the way, we’ll stop in Capitol Reef to check out some well-known sites, potentially including Cassidy Arch and Cohab Canyon, among other “out there” options. At the end of the day we’ll check into the beautiful Boulder Mountain Lodge and enjoy a gourmet dinner at the fabulous Hell’s Backbone Grill.
We have a full day to explore Capitol Reef from the Burr Trail Road on Lower Muley Twist in the panhandle section of Capitol Reef, assuming the weather cooperates. If not, we’ll have the option to check out Calf Creek Falls. There will be free time this afternoon to enjoy the sights, sounds, and other amenities at the lodge.
Your guide knows just where to go to introduce you to the lesser-traveled Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Possible hikes include Grosvenor Arch, Willis Creek Narrows, or Calf Creek Falls. We arrive in Bryce Canyon National Park late in the afternoon.
We will be getting an early start after breakfast to make the most of our time in Bryce today. Our hikes wind along the rim and down into this striking landscape. Sunset will leave an indelible impression!
A short (72 miles) but oh-so-scenic drive delivers us to Zion National Park this morning. These two days will include full days of hiking in Zion with myriad options depending on the interests of the group. The staggering sights in Zion, with its vast peaks and valleys, are a nature lover’s delight. We’ll conclude this amazing tour with a farewell dinner at the delicious and locally renowned Spotted Dog Café!
Our last morning, a sunrise hike will be available to those who have interest, followed by shuttles to St. George, UT for flights home.
Located on the breathtaking campus of Colorado Mesa University, Hotel Maverick is a scenic destination that fosters the spirit of curiosity. Built against Grand Junction’s sprawling red rock canyons, this unique Colorado locale immerses guests in experiences that feed their wanderlust.
Red Cliffs Lodge delivers a unique Wild West experience in a picturesque red-rock setting on the banks of the Colorado River. The lodge offers a horse ranch, riverside dining, private tastings in a winery, an outdoor pool, two tennis courts, meeting rooms, outdoors activities, and a movie museum.
Boulder Mountain Lodge is an exceptionally comfortable and peaceful basecamp for exploring this area. The lovingly managed and maintained backcountry ecolodge is a real gem, with its bird sanctuary and stunning views of the rugged, gorgeous country. The lodge’s fantastic organic restaurant is also sure to make an impression. People come from all over to enjoy the creative cuisine served at Hell's Backbone Grill.
Like most national park lodges, Bryce Canyon Lodge is modest in its amenity but luxurious in its location! Located near the canyon’s rim, Bryce Canyon Lodge was designed for the national parks in the 1920’s. The Bryce Canyon Lodge offers lodge room options along with various levels of cabin dwellings. All accommodations are located with wonderful proximity to those fabulous views of Bryce Canyon.
A long-time client favorite, the Desert Pearl Inn is a classic Southwest gem. Set along the banks of the Virgin River, the property is very nicely operated and holds a number of outstanding amenities. For our clients, we prefer to use the riverside rooms, all of which are expansive in size and enjoy wonderful views of Zion Canyon with great patios or balconies overlooking a lush grassy common area and the Virgin River. Simply perfect!
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