Arrive in Salt Lake City and make your own way to our hotel. The rest of today is at leisure for you to settle in and head out to explore Utah's capital. Salt Lake City is known for its Mormon history and for its location on the Great Salt Lake, the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere.
Please note: This tour involves extensive hiking on uneven terrain, covering an average of 5 to 8 kilometres at a time, but sometimes more. Elevation changes range from 50 to 1,000 feet, and both touring and overnight locations are situated at altitudes between 5,000 and 8,000 feet above sea level. Due to the physical demands of this itinerary, participants should be prepared for significant activity.
Salt Lake City - Canyonlands National Park - Moab. Our day starts at 7:00 as we make the four hour drive through the majestic Wasatch Mountains, crossing Soldier Summit and passing through Utah's Dinosaur Capital on our way to Canyonlands National Park, the first of our mighty five. Our first destination is the Island in the Sky district, where we can marvel at a wilderness of countless canyons, buttes, mesas, and other geological features sculpted over millions of years by the Colorado and Green Rivers.
We can hike along the rims of the canyon, visit the iconic Mesa Arch, and explore trails leading to Grandview Point, Murphy Point, or Upheaval Dome. We then make our way to the town of Moab for the evening.
Moab - Arches National Park - Moab. Today's excursion takes us to Arches National Park, home to over 2,000 arches as well as a diverse array of geological formations, including fault lines, petrified sand dunes, arches, bridges, balanced rocks, and spires.
Our day starts with a visit to Delicate Arch at sunrise to beat the crowds. Afterwards, we venture deeper into the park to explore areas like Park Avenue, Windows Section, Balanced Rock, Courthouse Wash, and other sites along the southern front of the park. Landscape Arch, and Double Arch are all must-see formations. If time permits, we'll also have the chance to explore Cove of Caves, Garden of Eden, Petrified Sand Dunes, Fiery Furnace Viewpoint, Double O Arch, and more.
We take a scenic drive and hike along the Colorado River to discover the remarkable Petroglyph Panels, dinosaur tracks, and various geological formations just outside the park. After a day of hiking, soaking up incredible views and taking in many of the park's best landmarks, we return to Moab for the evening.
Moab - Capitol Reef National Park - Torrey. Leaving Moab, we enjoy a brief visit to see the unique rock formations at Goblin Valley State Park.
Then it's onwards to Capitol Reef National Park, a landscape of cliffs, canyons, domes, bridges, petrified wood, geodes, and fruit orchards. Nestled in the Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile geologic monocline exposed by erosion, the park offers a glimpse into 15+ unique rock layers, from the top layers of the Grand Canyon to Mesa Verde, all within a compact area.
Our guide will share fascinating stories about the settlers and Native Americans who inhabited this region for thousands of years, and we can see some of the ancient petroglyphs and historic buildings from past inhabitants. The final stops for the day include Sulphur Creek Overlook and Panoramic Point. Our day concludes in Torrey.
Torrey - Capitol Reef National Park - Bryce Canyon National Park - Bryce City. Opt to rise early and enjoy a mesmerizing sunrise from your hotel balcony. We then head back to Capitol Reef National Park for a morning of hiking and exploration. Today's options include Hickman Bridge, Cassidy Arch, Grand Wash, Cohab Canyon, Chimney Rock, and Sulphur Creek, each offering unique experiences with diverse rock formations.
We then make the 3-4 hour drive to Bryce Canyon National Park via Scenic Route 12, stopping to traverse the Canyons of Escalante and hike a short section of the Burr Trail. On arrival, we take a short hike to Mossy Cave along the East Fork of the Sevier River. Then it's on to our accommodation in Bryce City.
Bryce City - Bryce Canyon National Park - Zion National Park - Springdale. We rise early once more, venturing back into the national park to enjoy the sunrise from the rim of Bryce Canyon. We then enjoy a comfortable walk along the rim or you can opt for hikes like the Queen's Garden/Navajo Loop trail or Fairyland Loop trail. Besides hiking, we have the opportunity to spot pronghorns, antelope, deer, and other mammals native to this high plateau.
Around lunchtime, we head to Zion National Park, a drive of around 2 hours. Entering Zion National Park through its east entrance, we are greeted by remnants of the world's largest sand dunes. Bighorn sheep scaling cliffs, ponderosa pines rooted in sheer rock faces, and ancient layers of sand shaped over millions of years await.
After brief stops at Checkerboard Mesa and other prime photo spots, we hike up to Canyon Overlook with a view extending 2,500 feet down to Pine Creek and Zion Canyon. Traversing the historic 1.1-mile tunnel, we descend into the main canyon, experiencing the sacred landscape valued by Native Americans for millennia.
We then make our way to Springdale, where the evening is at leisure to rest and recharge.
Springdale - Zion National Park - Salt Lake City. You can choose to lie in this morning or wake early to explore. Options for adventure include hiking the Virgin River Narrows, traversing Angels Landing, walking to the Emerald Pools, or tackling the East Rim Trail to reach Cable Mountain.
At noon, we leave Zion National Park for our journey back to Salt Lake City, a 4.5-hour drive. En route, we stop for lunch in historic Cedar City and take another break in Fillmore. Our route will also take us along the Hurricane and Wasatch Fault lines. We aim to arrive in Salt Lake City in the early evening, and you can head out for an evening in the city.
Our tour comes to an end this morning, after a final breakfast at the hotel. Make your own way to the airport for your onward journey.
