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 $4,795
Single Supplement: $1,295
On-Trip Airfare:
Duration: 9 days/8 nights
Trip Begins/Ends: Grand Junction, Colorado / St. George, Utah
Minimum Travelers: 2 travelers
Maximum Travelers: 14 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 2,500 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 guides for an early morning pick up this morning in Grand Junction and make the short drive to Moab where we’ll kick off the day with a few hikes in Arches National Park. In the afternoon, we’ll arrive into Moab, where you can settle into your accommodations for the next three nights. Tonight’s dinner will give you a chance to learn more about your fellow travelers and seasoned guides.
We’ll begin our first full day in Arches National Park with an exploratory hike. The day’s journey will be determined by the group’s choice and of course, the weather. We do have two fabulous must-haves on today’s agenda, including Landscape and Delicate Arch.
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 the Gonzo Inn 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.
After breakfast, 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. This afternoon will also be leaving plenty of down time for you to enjoy the sights, sounds, and other amenities the lodge has to offer.
We will be getting an early start after breakfast to make the most of our time in Bryce today before continuing onto Springdale. Our hike from Bryce Point to Sunrise Point will give you a great overview of the spectacular scenery at Bryce Canyon National Park. That afternoon, we’ll continue onto Springdale at the entrance of Zion National Park, crossing another National Park off of your bucket list!
These two days will include full days of hiking in Zion with a myriad of 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 for flights home.
Perfectly located in the center of the town of Moab, the Gonzo Inn is a long-time client favorite. Nicely appointed rooms, a wonderful pool area, and continental breakfast each morning set this whimsical Southwestern-styled property apart from others in the area.
To access all that Boulder and Escalante have to offer, you need a comfortable, peaceful basecamp, which puts Boulder Mountain Lodge at the top of the list. This lovingly managed and maintained backcountry eco-lodge is a real gem. With a bird sanctuary just off property, a serene view of the rugged and gorgeous country is at your disposal! Another highlight of the property is a simply fantastic organic restaurant. People come from all over to enjoy the creative cuisine that is 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, Flanigan’s is perfectly located in the charming southwestern town of Springdale and will serve as a great base from which you’ll explore the area. With wonderful amenities and excellent rooming options, this wonderfully managed property is a great option for your trip.
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