Southwest National Parks Grand Slam

Overview

The Desert Southwest is a land of red rock canyons, sweeping plateaus, and towering hoodoos, and our National Parks Grand Slam gives you a taste of it all. Traveling through this dramatic landscape provides a surprise at every turn: ancient ruins, thousand-foot cliffs, and lush desert oases.

In Arches National Park, marvel at the world’s largest concentration of natural arches. Head into the depths of Canyonlands National Park, where towering sandstone pinnacles pierce the desert sky. Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Parks round out Utah’s “Mighty Five,” introducing you to hoodoos, cliffs, and slot canyons on naturalist-led explorations.

Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments can’t be missed, two rugged and wild regions that stand out as truly off-the-beaten-path destinations.

In Arizona, see the legendary Grand Canyon, where you explore the park’s trails by day and spend your nights on the edge of the chasm. Horseshoe Bend and Monument Valley make for unforgettable stops on the Utah-Arizona border, and the ancient ruins in Mesa Verde National Park complete your journey.

The Desert Southwest Grand Slam gets you up close and personal with this region’s highlights. You’ll return home smiling, with red desert dirt in your boots and memories to last a lifetime.

Itinerary

Day 1: Grand Junction, CO to Moab, UT

Arrive into Grand Junction and make your way to Moab to explore Arches, Canyonlands, and enjoy a float on the river. Your accommodations breathe the eclectic nature of Moab. Set just off the town’s main street, the inn is a unique, fun, high-energy, and quality place to hang your hat.

Day 2: Arches National Park

Today you'll connect with a naturalist guide who will guide you in your explorations. This half day outing will be tailored to your interests and abilities and will feature the highlights of Arches National Park. In the afternoon, enjoy a calm water cruise on the Colorado River, traveling through a vast sandstone wilderness. This section of the river has no rapids, and runs slow and easy through Meander Canyon.

Day 3: Canyonlands National Park

Explore the remote and unique Needles District of Canyonlands National Park on an amazing 4x4 tour. An expert guide/driver takes you in a specially configured 4x4 vehicle over the famed Elephant Hill and through not-often-seen Chesler Park area. The views and landscapes are matched with thrilling technical driving and opportunities for great walks and hikes as you marvel at this one-of-a-kind area.

Day 4: Capitol Reef National Park

Head south out of Moab to central Utah and the least-known of Utah's Mighty Five National Parks, Capitol Reef.

Day 5: Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park is a fantastic place to spend the day exploring. In addition to its natural beauty, the park offers a wonderful scenic drive and many spectacular hikes with panoramic views such as Chimney Rock. Hike on your own, or we can connect you with a local guide who can take you places you might not find on your own.

Days 6-7: Grand Staircase-Escalante

Drive one of America's most scenic roads, Scenic Byway 12, en route to Boulder and the high plateaus of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. We'll arrange for a guide to take you hiking and exploring the Escalante River drainage and the spectacular geological wonder of Grand Staircase.

Days 8-9: Bryce Canyon National Park

Continue on Scenic Byway 12 to the ranching community of Tropic, positioning you for a great day in Bryce Canyon National Park. Explore the trails and sights that make Bryce Canyon a must-see National Park, including an array of pinnacles, spires, and hoodoos, each made up of beautiful shades of red, orange, pink, yellow, and cream. Prepare to be amazed!

Day 10: Highway 12 to Zion National Park

Making your way from Bryce Canyon, you will complete the Mighty Five with an unforgettable immersion in Zion National Park.

Days 11-12: Zion National Park

Embark on a few days in Zion National Park. Explore Zion Canyon, which has been chiseled out by the Virgin River over time, filled with massive stone formations, hidden slot canyons, stunning overlooks, and jaw-dropping landscapes. Enjoy a day of canyoneering among slot canyons, where guides will lead you through the sandstone labyrinths of the area.

Day 13: Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon

Drive from Zion to Grand Canyon National Park by way of the Lake Powell area, breaking up the drive with a hike at Horseshoe Bend and time at Glen Canyon Dam. When you arrive you will be staying on the southern rim of Grand Canyon National Park – the perfect vantage to explore one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

Day 14: Grand Canyon National Park

During your time in the area, we will schedule a full day of exploration in the Grand Canyon, enlisting the knowledge of one of our favorite naturalist guides. This awe-inspiring natural landscape will capture your imagination and envelop your senses in the sounds, colors, scents, and feel of nature.

Day 15: Monument Valley

Today you’ll travel roads that take you through the heart of the Navajo Nation on your way to Monument Valley. Your accommodations overlook the famed landscape.

Day 16: Monument and Mystery Valleys

Continue your journey through Monument and Mystery Valleys as you make your way to Bluff, Utah.

Day 17: Bears Ears National Monument

Today your guide will provide transportation, taking you from one scenic spot or historical location to the next. Opportunities for short hikes abound and will lead you to amazing overlooks and 1,000 year old Ancestral Puebloan structures.

Days 18-19: Mesa Verde

Complete the Southwest National Parks Grand Slam with your drive to Mesa Verde National Park. Enjoy a wonderful day with one of our favorite guides, exploring the ancient Puebloan ruins that anchor this important National Park. You are sure to have a stellar final day exploring and hiking with your private guide, who has a deep love and knowledge of the park.