Utah Mighty Five Adventure - Arches to Zion

Once we’ve all met in Grand Junction, we’ll begin our journey with a drive to our first national park of this trip – Canyonlands! Canyonlands National Park is known for its dramatic desert landscape carved by the Colorado River, a wilderness of countless canyons and fantastically formed buttes. We’ll explore Utah’s largest national park with a few short hikes, eyeing the skyward-jutting spires and needles, deep craters, and blue-hued mesas that dot the landscape.

The Grand View Point is a popular choice and a great viewpoint at the edge of the Island in the Sky mesa. We will take a short hike nearby. After we’ve exhausted ourselves, we’ll head to our accommodation for the night and our base camp for exploration of Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.
Accommodation: Canyonlands Inn, Moab
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 3-4 miles (5-6 kilometers)

After a hearty breakfast we’ll depart from Moab to a trail that is a maze of soaring fins, pinnacles, minarets, gargoyles, spires, and strangely shaped rock formations. Behold views of Fisher Towers, which are world-renowned for their exciting rock-climbing routes and a favorite subject of photographers for years.

After this beautiful hike, settle in for lunch along the river. In the afternoon, beat the peak of the heat with a bit of downtime to enjoy some relaxation by the pool, explore downtown Moab, or grab a drink at a local brewery. Meet back up for dinner with your fellow travelers at one of our favorite restaurants in town.
Accommodation: Canyonlands Inn, Moab
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 3-4 miles (5-6 kilometers)

It’s an early start to the morning today to beat the crowds and the heat at Arches National Park. The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive fins, and giant balanced rocks. We’ll hike to Delicate Arch, a 52-foot-tall (16 m) freestanding natural arch. The trail is a steady uphill climb through dry desert terrain, occasionally passing stunted trees or rock piles providing welcome shade.

We’ll head back the same way and continue to Devil’s Garden to explore more of the park on foot. Encounter the famous Landscape Arch, along with a few of our guides’ favorite arches in the area. After lunch, we’ll drive to Capitol Reef National Park, where we’ll spend the night at the Capitol Reef Resort, located on the doorstep of the park, and enjoy dinner in a quaint nearby town.
Accommodation: Capitol Reef Resort, Torrey
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 5 miles (8 kilometers)

Capitol Reef National Park surrounds a long wrinkle in the earth known as the Waterpocket Fold, with layers of golden sandstone, canyons and striking rock formations. We'll head out to hike the Cassidy Arch trail after breakfast; Named after the famous Butch Cassidy, Cassidy Arch is located in the central portion of Capitol Reef National Park, and although the climb is steep, it's worth the visit as the arch is large and spectacularly photogenic at almost any angle!

After lunch we’ll have time to explore more of the Capitol Reef National Park or relax at the Capitol Reef Resort, the choice is yours! We'll enjoy indulgent room accommodations alongside stunning views of the red rock cliffs, it's a unique and comfortable destination, along with fine amenities, to recharge for our day tomorrow!
Accommodation: Capitol Reef Resort, Torrey
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 3-5 miles (5-8 kilometers)

This morning we’ll head out for another hike through the beautiful Cohab Canyon. Native Americans once called this colorful landscape of tilted buttes, jumbled rocks and sedimentary canyons the Land of the Sleeping Rainbow. The banded orange and yellow walls do in fact resemble pastel-striped eggs and the holes and pockets texture the surface create a sandstone honeycomb fortified in rock.

After lunch we’ll drive through to Bryce Canyon National Park, a sprawling reserve in southern Utah, known for its crimson-colored hoodoos, which are spire-shaped rock formations. Get your first views of the park as we walk along the rim when we arrive.
Accommodation: Bryce Canyon Grand, Bryce Canyon City
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: 3 miles (5 kilometers)

After a hearty breakfast we’ll embark on a hike through the magical hoodoo rock formations of Bryce’s Queens Garden trail. The trail drops down into the canyon and we’ll wander through natural sculpted rock gardens of brilliantly colored spires, cliffs, and natural amphitheaters with the trail looping up with the Peek-a-boo Trail, creating a figure-8, passing by the Wall of Windows, the Hindu temples finishing with a walk up the famous Wall Street with its switchbacks that leads back to the rim. After a full of day of hiking enjoy a bit of rest before dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Bryce Canyon Grand, Bryce Canyon City
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking: Up to 7 miles (11 kilometers)

We’ll start the day with a hike offering unforgettable views of hoodoo scenery along the Bird’s Eye Trail, this is a short trail that leads past beautiful and unusual rock formations, providing close-up views. After our morning hike, we’ll drive to Zion National Park, winding through the magnificent canyon walls and towering cliffs that make up this majestic park.

We’ll then head out on a hike in Zion National Park which showcases dramatic panoramas of towering canyon walls, picturesque views of the Virgin River, and lushly-vegetated trails. Later we’ll check into our accommodation for the next two nights. The evening is then yours to explore and enjoy on your own.
Accommodation: Hotel De Novo, Springdale Zion National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hiking: 4 miles (6 kilometers)

This morning, challenge yourself on a thrilling canyoneering Slot Canyon adventure where you can truly experience the land around you. Rappel down water-carved rocks in a sandstone slot canyon with professionals who will guide you every step of the way. You'll be fully equipped and supported as you jump into this adrenaline-inducing activity, perfect for beginners. Or, if canyoneering is not appealing to you, choose your own adventure around town or the hotel.

Afterwards, we’ll head back to Springdale where you'll have free time to wander this charming town or take a shuttle into Zion to check out any last sites on your own. Later, we'll meet up for a celebratory farewell dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel De Novo, Springdale Zion National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Canyoneering: 2 hours
**Based on weather conditions there may be an opportunity to hike the Narrows in the afternoon.

We'll spend our last morning exploring the Zion area or relaxing at our hotel.

Afterwards we’ll head to St George for either a drop-off at your hotel or the airport. This is the end of your trip and we’ll leave you refreshed and invigorated from the good food, exercise, rest, and great times you’ll have had with us!
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast