10 Must-See Parks and Monuments
Mark S., Past Traveler
David B., Past Traveler
Karen M., Past Traveler
Trip Type: Custom-Made Travel
Territory: North America
Region: Desert Southwest
Trip Price: $10,825
Duration: 20 days/19 nights
Trip Begins/Ends: Grand Junction, CO / Durango, CO
National Parklands: Arches NP;Bryce Canyon NP;Canyonlands NP;Capitol Reef NP;Grand Canyon NP;Mesa Verde NP;Zion NP
All custom travel is tailored to the desires and interests of our traveling clients (see How Custom Travel Works tab). Trip pricing detailed is an estimate of the per person pricing for the sample itinerary detailed and includes all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences described. Actual pricing for the trip designed expressly for you and others traveling with you will depend on the features and elements developed during the trip planning process. 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! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun
The Energy Index detailed above relates to the level of exertion associated with the sample trip detailed. This would be modified to fit the style and ability of your group as a part of the custom trip planning process
We’ve been tailoring custom journeys for clients since our very inception in the mid-1980s! The process is all about connecting the interests of the travelers with the best that a given destination has to offer. To achieve this, we rely upon good ol’ fashioned conversation! Our geographically focused travel designer love to meet new people and learn about their interests for travel. Understanding your goals informs the process immensely and serves as the foundation for the development of a bespoke travel experience for you and yours.
The trip detailed on this web page is a sample of something we’ve done for other clients over the years. In order to start the process of designing your own custom travel experience, just call us at (800) 445-2995 and ask to speak with one of our Travel Advisors. After a bit of time on the phone, you will then have the opportunity to connect with one of our travel designers.
The entire planning process is very personalized and works in an iterative fashion until a final, perfect trip has been created. We then secure all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences associated with your trip and send along abundant trip materials capturing these details – and much more about your travels!
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.
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.
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.
Head south out of Moab to central Utah and the least-known of Utah's Mighty Five National Parks, Capitol Reef.
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.
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.
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!
Making your way from Bryce Canyon, you will complete the Mighty Five with an unforgettable immersion in 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.
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.
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.
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.
Continue your journey through Monument and Mystery Valleys as you make your way to Bluff, Utah.
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.
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.
Drive to Durango for your depature home.
.jpg "The Gonzo Inn")
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.
This unique lodge is on the Red River, set in a beautiful cottonwood grove that used to shelter a stagecoach stop. It’s a new lodge built in a traditional style and decorated with Native American textiles, Old West furnishings, and Western art. Each of the 15 rooms has a balcony or patio for soaking up the scenery.
Boulder Mountain Lodge is an exceptionally comfortable and peaceful base camp 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. Situated on an eleven-acre lake, the main lodge includes a spacious and welcoming two-story common room, library, and quaint guest rooms at the gateway of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the surrounding Utahan desert.
Located near the border of Bryce Canyon National Park in the tiny Utah town of Tropic, the Stone Canyon Inn is a wonderfully managed property that offers a unique and beautiful lodging option for those visiting the area. With many different room and cabin options, this is a great property to use as a base for exploring 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!
The first and most highly desired of all of the lodging options in Grand Canyon National Park, El Tovar is a classically styled Fred Harvey-designed hotel that captures the heart of why our national park system is such an esteemed part of our cultural fabric. Placed perfectly on the very rim of the Grand Canyon, this hotel boasts the best in location and historic charm.
Perched perfectly overlooking the famed landscape of Monument Valley, this Navajo-owned hotel is the best option for lodging in the area. With a design that allows superlative views for every room on property, the View Hotel is aptly named. Note: The View Hotel currently does not allow third party payments for hotel reservations. Therefore, we will deduct the total for this reservation from the pricing detailed in your Travel Brief.
For our clients staying in the tiny town of Bluff, we always recommend the Desert Rose Resort. This nicely managed and well-located lodge has undergone a recent renovation that is just fabulous!
As with most National Park lodges, the Far View Lodge in Mesa Verde National Park simply cannot be beat from a location perspective. Located in the heart of the Park, the lodge offers excellent room choices and also holds a restaurant on premises.
An Interview with Katie Arenas, Avid Traveler & OBP Travel Planner Katie Arenas grew up with an appreciation for the outdoors through immersive travel with family, friends, and as a solo traveler. She let her passion for active outdoor adventure lead her all the way to her role at Off the Beaten Path, where she […]
A Conversation with OBP Traveler Ryan Smith Ryan Smith is a frequent solo traveler with Off the Beaten Path. He has explored the country with OBP, from the unique deserts of California and Texas, to the coasts of the Pacific Northwest, the staggering, wild landscapes of the Rocky Mountains, and beyond. In this interview, Ryan […]
Meet Phil and Marilyn, Intrepid DIY adventurers with a passion for exploration. Intrigued by Alaska’s stunning beauty, vast terrain, and unique culture, they’d set their sights on the challenging frontier of visiting the five national parks without road access. They turned to OBP to craft a customized journey tailored to their goals and interests – […]
Celebrating a Lifetime of Inspiration, Adventure, and Stories As 2024 approaches, we celebrate the remarkable career of longtime Off the Beaten Path guide Kurt Westenbarger. From the rugged Northern Rockies to the mystical Desert Southwest, Kurt has emerged as a traveler’s favorite, bringing to life the landscapes with his in-depth knowledge and captivating narrative style. […]
Stay in the know and feed your spirit of adventure. Get travel inspiration sent straight to your inbox!
