MORE INFORMATION
Utah & Arizona Hiking Tour Itinerary
DOWNLOAD THIS ITINERARY (pdf) (2008 Sample Itinerary)
Please note that this is a typical itinerary, and actual activities may vary to take advantage of weather conditions, local events, and to allow serendipity to play a hand in your experience. Accommodations are as outlined in the itinerary, although we reserve the right to change these should the need arise.
DAY 1
Transfer to Grand Canyon
Hike – easy, 1-2 hours.
We head first for the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, higher than the South Rim by 1,000 feet, and home to a comparatively lush environment supporting coniferous forests of spruce, fir, aspen, and ponderosa pine. Fewer visitors make the trip to this area, and we are rewarded with quieter trails for hiking.
Our explorations begin right outside our lodge’s doorstep as we venture to Bright Angel Point. Only half-mile roundtrip, this walk leads from the back porch of the lodge out along the rim. It is a short walk on a paved trail, but it is a good warm up for the coming days and allows views of the canyon from spectacular vantage points.
By now our bags have been sent to our cabins and we head to the lodge dining room looking out over the canyon for lunch. Afterward we take another pleasant walk in the great outdoors on the Transept Trail.
Tonight we enjoy dinner and drinks at the lodge, followed by a front-row sunset viewing at the mouth of the canyon.
Grand Canyon Lodge, North Rim
DAY 2
North Rim Hiking; Transfer to Bryce Canyon for Rim Walk
Hike – easy to moderate, 3-4 hours.
This morning we rise early to depart on the Widforss trail, a spectacular rim walk that allows us to enjoy the immensity of the canyon as well as the serenity of the pine forest. We make a small donation and pick up guide booklets that educate us at 14 points along the trail, giving us an appreciation for the canyon’s rich natural history and beauty. Exchanging pleasantries with the few hikers we pass, we enjoy this morning an invigorating outing among the North Rim’s beautiful trees and views so vast that on a clear day we feel the canyon is never-ending.
After we bid farewell to our historic lodge, we drive to the small village of Kanab, where we enjoy a fantastic lunch at the famed Rocking V Café.
By late afternoon we arrive at Bryce Canyon, a five-mile-wide amphitheater of sandstone spires whose beauty and configuration is simply too hard to fathom.
Once we have put some serious wear and tear on our camera lenses at Bryce Point, we venture onto the Rim Walk, which is happy to share beautiful views of the canyon’s famous hoodoos. After arriving at Sunrise Point, we have dinner at the Bryce Canyon Lodge before the short drive to our amazing inn for the next two nights. Tonight we can enjoy a soak in the outdoor hot-tubs or simply relax on our private porches with coyote lullabies as our entertainment.
Stone Canyon Inn, Tropic
DAY 3
Bryce Canyon National Park
Hike – easy to moderate, 4-6 hours.
After a hearty breakfast we are ready to take on the canyon, combining the Navajo, Peekaboo, and Queen’s Garden loops into the ultimate “Figure 8” adventure.
The Queen’s Garden section of the trail is all about immersion, each step taking us further down into the canyon and making the formations seem a little taller, a bit bolder. The Navajo loop portion has us traversing the very bottom of Bryce, gazing panoramically up at the points we stood on the day before. After this section we stop to enjoy our packed lunches deep in the russet recesses of the canyon.
We finish on the Peakaboo loop, a climactic sequence of rise and fall, ledge and level, and orange and pink. It is a private, personal look at the landscape of Bryce where few visitors venture. After a final series of beautiful switchbacks, we are ready for a bit of relaxation before our evening’s treat – an authentic Western Dutch-oven dinner with all the fixin’s, prepared by our own cowboy poet-chef.
Stone Canyon Inn, Tropic
DAY 4
Transfer to Zion National Park
Hike – easy to moderate, 4-6 hours.
After a leisurely breakfast this morning we travel to our third destination for the trip: Zion National Park. Zion Canyon, cut by the Virgin River and with eight different rock formations exposed, is home to more than 70 mammal species and 272 species of birds. Immediately upon driving into the park, breathtaking scenes abound.
On our first day in the park we hike to the Emerald Pools, taking advantage of the park’s shuttle system to reach our trailhead. This invigorating hike has fun terrain and ample photo opportunities, as the massive peaks and colorful formations of Zion provide the perfect backdrop. After heading back towards the center of town on the Pa’rus trail, we have a great lunch together at the flavorful Bit n’ Spur restaurant.
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy, whether you would like to discover some additional trails, lounge in the scenery by the hotel pool, or visit some of Springdale’s southwestern coffee spots and shops. Your guide will be happy to make dinner recommendations.
Desert Pearl Inn, Springdale
DAY 5
The Narrows or Walter’s Wiggles
Hike – easy to moderate, 4-6 hours.
With so much terrific hiking to do in Zion, we have more trails to cover on our last full day here in the park. After a gourmet breakfast at the locally famed Oscar’s Café, we pack our lunches, take a look at the weather, and plan the day’s adventures. Clear skies permitting, we may choose to venture into the Virgin River Narrows from the Riverside Walk trail. Agreed by many to be a highlight of this varied landscape, the slot canyon helps us understand the powerful geologic processes at work, with 2,000 foot sandstone walls towering above us on either side, at some points as close together as thirty feet. We will certainly get a little wet on this hike, but it is worthwhile for access to such an incredible place.
We may instead choose to set off on the Walter’s Wiggles trail, to either Scout or Angel’s Landing. At the Grotto Picnic Area, we cross a footbridge over the Virgin River and turn right. After a gradual uphill approach, we find Walter’s Wiggles, one of the true construction wonders of the park. Cut into solid rock in 1926, this series of 21 short switchbacks seem to be stacked vertically one on top of the other. We continue on the paved trail all the way to Scout Landing. The footing is good on this smooth trail, but the going is slow due to the trail’s steep nature. From the landing, we enjoy an incredible view nearly a thousand feet down to the canyon floor. Finally, for those who feel they have the energy to conquer it, it is another 500 feet up to Angel’s Landing. This is truly one of the most magnificent places in this park, and it has a view that few people get to enjoy.
Tonight we indulge in a final Southwestern meal at a favorite local restaurant, and celebrate a week of great hiking in one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes.
Desert Pearl Inn, Springdale
DAY 6
Depart from St. George
After a leisurely morning, we depart for St. George, arriving by noon for afternoon flights home or further independent travel.