Get ready to be transported to a land of geologic wonder on our Utah hiking and adventure tours.
With landscapes of river-carved canyons, towering hoodoos, multicolored mesas, natural amphitheaters, and sparkling waterfalls, Utah is an incredible vacation destination for families, friends, groups, and adventure seekers. Adventure activities like hiking, biking, white water rafting, kayaking, and more await you on a vacation of a lifetime! Our guided Utah vacations offer you the opportunity to be active, outdoors, make new friends, a create lasting memories. With small group sizes, endless personal touches from start to finish, and expertly trained guides our all-inclusive departures will surprise and inspire any age!
When Is the Best Time to Visit Utah?
Utah has some of the most varied terrain in the United States. The same can be said for Utah’s weather. Snowfall can top over 500 inches in the winter in certain mountain areas, while in the summer, parts of the state can top 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring and fall bring every type of weather imaginable. For us, our pick for the best time to visit Utah is the fall, when you can expect comfortable daytime temperatures and cool evenings.
Spring (March-May)
This time of year tends to be the most unpredictable. Wet and windy one day, sunny and calm the next day. The desert areas will be the greenest during the spring. May is a great time to visit the national parks in the state as the average day time temperate is 82-86 degrees!
Summer (June-August)
Summer you will find the need for the most sunscreen! Daytime temperatures range from upward of 100 F in July/August and a low of 66 F in July/August in the evening, so you will still need to plan to bring a light jacket.
Autumn (September-November)
Ah, the cooler temperatures start to return. Daytime highs are a comfortable 75-80 degrees during the day in September and October, but you should pack a jacket, hat, and gloves for the evening temperatures of 45-55 degrees. You can encounter light snowfall in the higher parks like Bryce Canyon National Park in late September during this time of year.
Winter (December-February)
Winter snowfall provides excellent skiing and adds a new beauty to the already gorgeous landscape. The average daily temperature will range around 34 degrees if you’re in the mountains or 55 degrees if you are hanging out in St George, Utah.
How to Plan for Your Utah Vacation
When it comes to planning for your Utah vacation, it helps to prepare for the desert climate and a land of extremes. Here are a few of our tried-and-true tips on what to have on hand and how to plan for your Utah vacation:
1. Hydration and more hydration
In a desert environment, the summer months can be hot and dry with temperatures in July and August around 100 degrees F, so it is essential to drink plenty of water. Be sure to keep your water bottle handy and drink from it often. There are several filling stations located throughout the parks to ensure that your bottle stays full and, of course, your adventure guide always has extra water on hand to ensure everyone is hydrated.
2. Layer and cover up
When you’re in Utah, plan to dress in layers. The elevation can change from 2,860 feet in St. George to 9,115 feet at Rainbow Point in Bryce Canyon National Park, which is only about a 2-hour drive north. We recommend conversion pants (pants that zip off into shorts when you need), and a long sleeve outer layer with a short sleeve layer underneath. A hat with a brim is also an essential item to bring along, or a bandanna to cover your neck/head from the sun.
3. Apply and reapply sunscreen
Sunscreen is very important whenever you are enjoying the outdoors. Utah boasts upwards of 300 days of sunshine each year, and the ultraviolet rays from the sun will burn you more easily at higher elevations, so you’ll want to stay extra protected. SPF 30 “broad-spectrum” sunscreen will protect from both ultraviolet A and B rays. Reapply approximately every two hours or as indicated on the label.
Tips for Your Utah Vacation and What to Expect
Having traveled to Utah for years, we’ve learned a few things along the way. We’re happy to share a few fun facts and interesting features of Utah with you:
1. State Nickname
Utah is called the Beehive State. The nickname comes from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons, who first settled in the territory. “Deseret,” in The Book of Mormon is a honeybee. Early Mormon settlers have been described as having carried “swarms of bees” with them. This nickname commemorates the industry of the people of Utah.
2. Precipitation
Utah’s annual rainfall varies greatly from less than five inches in Utah’s arid Great Salt Lake Desert to more than 60 inches in the northern mountain ranges.
3. Bring your Camera
Utah is a landscape photographer’s paradise. You have sandstone arches, tall pillar hoodoos, spires, towers, slot canyons, river gorges, canyon walls and shadows, silky water moving through carved and rusted canyons, weeping rocks, green forest, etc. It truly is a photographer’s dream!
Take 10% off the trip price when you book a trip and pay in full
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.
Moments from Utah
Gallery
FAQS About Utah Vacations
Accommodation
We've spent years finding places to stay that are quaint, perfectly-located, and comfortable when we take you to the most amazing parts of North America. We offer a wide variety of accommodations on our trips ranging from locally run inns and first-class hotels to resorts, dude ranches and historic national park cabins. Accommodations are selected for their location, unique charm and history, and offer a true feel for the region. We strongly believe in the value of a good night's sleep and our accommodation reflects this. We also like to have somewhere comfortable to relax after the day's activities.
Transport
We're really focused on ensuring that we spend as little time as possible sitting in vehicles, and that we optimize your vacation for adventuring in the great outdoors. Our average driving time is just over two hours a day, and we make plenty of stops for bathroom breaks and sightseeing along the way. We use modern, comfortable 15-passenger vans for all of our transfers and a second van is added to most departures to provide more flexibility and more room to spread out while seeing the sights! Make no mistake - our trips are not typical bus tour vacation packages! Picture more of a road trip with family complete with good music, tasty snacks, and plenty of guide-supplied fun facts along the way to keep you entertained!
Meals
Just about all your meals are included when you travel with Austin Adventures in North America. We provide a wide variety of cuisine - breakfasts are typically eaten at your hotel on your own time in the morning before meeting up with the group. Lunches feature everything from elaborate picnics to roadside cafes to sandwiches trailside. Dinners are usually eaten at our hotel's dining room or a local restaurant with plenty of options to choose from. We easily cater to vegetarians, picky kids, and people with particular dietary needs. All our guides have food safety certificates and are well-practiced in the art of food prep and serving while on-the-move. You'll find the meals are a real highlight of your trip!
Guides
Our trips are all led by experienced guides who are very proud to work with us and often lead our trips for many years, for which we are very lucky and very grateful as it means we're able to consistently offer a fantastic level of service. Our guests are often drawn to North America by the beautiful scenic landscapes, promise of wilderness and clean air - and there's no doubt you'll find all that, though what you may not be expecting is to forge real, genuine friendships with your fellow tripmates, including our wonderful guides. They're hands-down the BEST guides you'll ever come across.
As an Austin Adventures traveler, it’s highly recommended you take out travel insurance to cover the likes of travel delays, missed connections, medical expenses or injury, or lost baggage for your travel with us. Please head to our Travel Protection page for more in-depth information and our recommended insurance provider.
We generally take up to 18 people per trip, although this can vary, and all our trips have at least two of our guides to look after you (apart from the occasions we have a small group). We have found that our trips tend to attract a particular kind of person and many people have commented that the social scene was one of the highlights of their trip!
Our adult-only departures require a minimum age of 16 years and our family departures require a minimum age of 6 years to join (7 years on our Alaska Family Adventure) and are a great way to meet other like-minded families who like to get outside.
Please note child rates apply to children 12 years and under.
You are allowed one piece of luggage on your trip, plus a daypack. Your main piece of luggage should not exceed 50 pounds (23 kilograms) and can be anything from a duffle bag to a sports bag with wheels or a suitcase. You’ll also want a good quality backpack sized 25-30 liters (2000 cubic inches) to use throughout the days.
We’re accustomed to catering to the following special diets:
- vegan (no meat or animal products)
- vegetarian (no meat products)
- pescatarian (vegetarian, and eat fish)
- no red meat (eat chicken & fish)
- no pork (eat chicken & fish)
- gluten intolerant (no wheat, rye, barley or oats)
- lactose intolerant (no dairy products)
- picky kids (send us a list of what your child will eat and we'll make sure to have it!)
You will get the opportunity to specify your particular requirements when you fill in your travel wallet. If you have any other dietary requirements please let us know well in advance, via email or in your Account.
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Why Travel With Us
Just-right group sizes allow you to get off the beaten path
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.
Award-winning guides lead the way
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!
You’ll never need to sweat the details
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!
Enjoy freedom to push your boundaries – safely
Every aspect of your trip is thoroughly considered for your safety, from highly vetted partners and well-maintained equipment to extensively trained guides.
Decades of expertise mean you’ll experience only the best
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.
"Wow Moments” take your trip from enjoyable to extraordinary
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.
