Explore the best of Utah’s National Parks; including Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, Zion, and Bryce Canyon National Parks. You'll discover countless canyons, soaring pinnacles, crimson-colored hoodoos, and cascading waterfalls.
Start - End: Grand Junction - Saint George
Total trip: 9 days
Average group size: 12 people
Level: 3
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Get ready to be transported to a land of geological wonder on our 9-day Utah Mighty Five National Parks hiking and adventure tour. From the brilliant red spires of the Fisher Towers to the most magnificent slot canyons around Zion National Park, otherworldly landscapes will continuously stop you in your tracks.
Starting in Grand Junction and finishing in St George, weave your way through five of the most striking national parks in the world - Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion. Spend your days climbing to spectacular lookout spots and by evening you'll stay in stunning accommodations and get to know your fellow group members over local cuisine. Expert local guides lead the way, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in Mother Nature's best on our Utah Mighty Five hiking and adventure tour.
IMPORTANT: The itinerary for some departures for this trip operates in reverse (Utah Mighty Five - Zion to Arches). For these departures, the trip starts in Saint George and ends in Grand Junction. Look for the 'Reverse' tags in the Tour Departure Dates section below.
Arches National Park
Wander among sandstone arches and glowing red cliffs, where morning light reveals Arches at its most serene.
Bryce Canyon
Walk along Bryce Canyon’s rim and take in a surreal landscape of crimson hoodoos, rising in dramatic spires against the high desert sky.
Canyonlands National Park
Take in the immense desert vistas of Canyonlands, where the Colorado River has carved a landscape of striking depth and beauty.
Capitol Reef
Hike through Capitol Reef’s colorful canyons, where tilted sandstone walls and honeycombed rock reveal a landscape rich in texture and quiet beauty.
Zion National Park
Step into Zion’s soaring canyons and feel the stillness of nature’s cathedral. It’s a magical place where every trail leads to wondrous sights.
Slot Canyon
Awaken your sense of adventure as you rappel through sculpted sandstone walls, experiencing the desert from deep within its hidden corridors.
Trace your journey day by day through Utah’s Mighty Five, discovering the diverse landscapes that define the American Southwest.
Click map below to explore.
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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
On the first morning of the trip, our two pick-up locations are Holiday Inn Hotel Grand Junction Airport at 7am or the Courtyard by Marriott Grand at 7:20am. You are welcome to book your pre-trip stay at either of these hotels directly or any other hotel in Grand Junction, though you must make your own way to one of the two pick-up points at the pre-designated times.
*If you are booked on a Reverse Departure, please refer to your Tour Packet for more details as the above times/locations will not apply.
Your trip ends with a drop-off at either the St George Airport at 12pm in time for flights below or at a hotel of your choice in St George around 12:30pm.
*If you are booked on a Reverse Departure, please refer to your Tour Packet for more details as the above times/locations will not apply.
Arrival: We recommend arriving in Grand Junction at least the day before your trip starts. Many guests like to arrive a day or two early to accommodate potential flight delays and/or explore the city prior to your trip start.
Departure: Flying out on the last day of the trip, we recommend departing from St George after 2pm. Earlier flight times will require a separate transfer booked at your own expense.
*If you are booked on a Reverse Departure, please refer to your Account for more details as the above times/locations will not apply.
**Many of our guests choose to arrive/depart Las Vegas Airport (LVS) instead of St. George, please note there are many shuttles that run both ways between St George and Las Vegas, daily for a fee. Prior reservations are recommended and can be made online via a local operator.
We have selected the accommodation on your trip for the stunning settings, unique character and adventuresome feel – it’s not designed as a tour of the fanciest hotels in Utah. We prefer to stay in accommodations close to the park and our activities for the day that are comfortable after a full day of exploration.
While there are laundry facilities at some locations, they may not be convenient or there may only be one machine to service your entire group. We recommend bringing enough clothing to only not have to do laundry during your trip. If needed the best time will be when we are in Springdale or Moab.
By paying in full, we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. This offer is only valid for reservations where the trip is no sooner than 180 days from the departure date at time of booking.
We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance – you can find details here.
T+Cs Apply. Read more here.
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With an average of 12 guests per departure and an industry-leading average 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio, you’ll enjoy a highly personalized experience.
It’s so much easier to relax and enjoy your adventure when you have fun, caring guides who know the land, sweat all the details and whip up incredible meals, too!
When we say all inclusive, we mean it! Meals and snacks, activities, lodging, transportation, guiding services and more. All you need to do is show up!
Every aspect of your trip is thoroughly considered for your safety, from highly vetted partners and well-maintained equipment to extensively trained guides.
Family travel and North American National Parks are our specialty. We’ve perfected our itineraries for decades, ensuring you'll experience your destination to the fullest.
For us, the extra mile is never extra, it’s part of the way! Count on special touches throughout your trip that will amplify your experience.
