Hiking through colorful canyons and tall spires of rock in Grand Canyon, Bryce, and Zion National Parks. Evenings bring star-filled skies, cowboy poetry, and hearty southwestern cuisine.

The treasures of the Southwest are yours to discover on this walking and hiking tour of the Grand Canyon, Bryce, and Zion National Parks. From the remote North Rim, once the domain of prospectors, our hiking here leads us to multicolored vistas, taking in the vast buttes and towers of the Grand Canyon. In Bryce, we hike past whimsical hoodoos (odd sandstone formations) and enjoy a spectacular inn at the base of the canyon's red cliffs. Zion welcomes us in our final days, where unique erosion patterns have created stunning palettes of orange and red. Hiking adventures across natural stone bridges are topped by evenings spent in a historic lodge and charming inns, enjoying authentic southwestern dinners, and listening to cowboy poetry under the stars.

Day 1: Our Grand Canyon hiking tour begins by meeting in St. George, Utah, and transferring to the wonderfully isolated North Rim of the Grand Canyon where we will hike trails directly from our historic lodge's doorstep.

Days 2-3: Hike into the Grand Canyon on the North Kaibab Trail. Transfer to Bryce Canyon National Park and explore beautiful orange and pink spires. Relax on our inn's porch for an authentic Dutch-oven dinner and a lively reading of cowboy poetry under a blanket of stars.

Days 4-5: Enter Zion, for hiking into “the Narrows,” agreed by many to be one of the most beautiful hikes in the U.S. Spend two days hiking the hidden gems of Zion National Park, including the Willis Creek slot canyon.

Day 6: Departure from St. George, Utah.

There ain't nothing like an evening by the campfire off the porch of our inn, listening to a real, honest-to-goodness cowboy-poetry reading under the stars, to inspire you to grow a handlebar mustache and start wearing spurs.

The Boundless Journeys' Advantage

• A passion for travel. Simply put, we love to travel, and that is woven into every one of our journeys.
• Unique, award-winning itineraries. Our flexible, hand-crafted journeys have received accolades from the world’s most revered travel publications.
• Insider connections. There is simply no substitute for traveling with a knowledgeable insider.
• Small groups. We tread softly, and our average group size is just 6-8 guests.
• Flexibility to suit your travel style. We offer both small-group departures and Private Collection trips.
• Customer service that goes the extra mile. There is no request that is too big – or too small.
• Sustainability. We are committed to traveling responsibly.

Most Convenient Airports:
St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah (airport code KSGU); or McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada (airport code LAS).

Meeting Time and Place:
Your guide(s) will meet you on the first day of your trip at 9:00 a.m. in the lobby of the Seven Wives Inn in St. George. Please be dressed comfortably for the drive, and then some hiking.

Departure Time and Place:
Your guide(s) will provide drop-offs at the shuttle meeting point in time for the noon shuttle to Las Vegas, and the St. George Municipal Airport by noon. Please schedule your flights accordingly, allowing at least one hour after airport arrival before planned departures.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Physical Activity
Boundless Journeys’ trips are designed for energetic and flexible individuals who like to be active and have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. The Grand Canyon, Bryce, & Zion is rated 2+, easy to moderate, on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most strenuous). On this trip you will experience easy to moderate daily walks and hikes on rolling terrain with variable footing.

Preparing for this Trip
It is very important that you realistically assess your physical condition with regard to the demands of this trip.  The more well prepared you are for the activities on this trip, the more you will enjoy yourself! Please engage in moderate aerobic activities (hiking, jogging, or cycling) for at least 30-45 minutes several times a week for 4-6 weeks before the trip.  If you live in a flat area, try to incorporate some stairs into your workout, or use a treadmill with varying incline capability.  Consult your doctor before undertaking any new fitness programs.  

Weather
Expect the weather conditions in the Southwest to be a bit variable from park to park.  While spring and early summer days are usually delightful, with mild mornings and warm, sunny afternoons, you must come prepared for a variety of conditions, including the extremes of very high heat and fairly cool temperatures, especially on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Bryce National Park which are over 8000 feet in elevation.  Mornings and evenings can be cooler than midday; therefore you will find dressing in layers to be an effective strategy. Average temperatures in the Grand Canyon and Bryce National Park range from the mid-60's to low 80's during the day, and the mid-30's to high 40's at night. Zion National Park is a bit warmer with average daytime highs in the upper 70's to low 90's, and evening temperatures typically in the 50's.

You may obtain more detailed weather information by visiting www.weatherbase.com.

When to Go
In each of the months that we travel to the Southwest, you will find temperatures to be fairly cool at the Grand Canyon, on the North Rim. However, descending into the canyons of Bryce and Zion National Parks you will feel the heat of the desert with temperatures potentially reaching into the 90’s. June brings the hottest days of summer, with thunderstorms resulting from the warm, moist air. May, September, and October are generally a bit milder, and the fall brings some spectacular Southwestern foliage.
 

Overview:  One night at historic lodge, and four nights at comfortable inns, all private baths.

Night 1:  Grand Canyon Lodge
Grand Canyon National Park
North Rim, Arizona

A National Historic Landmark, the original Grand Canyon Lodge was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1937. Its rustic construction of limestone walls and timbered ceilings complements the North Rim’s beauty. The location on the secluded North Rim is well worth the simple, cabin-style accommodations.

Nights 2 & 3:  Stone Canyon Inn
Tropic, Utah

Beautifully located beneath the red-stone cliffs of Bryce Canyon, Stone Canyon Inn offers modern yet rustic guest houses for luxurious Southwestern relaxation after hiking.

Nights 4 & 5:  Desert Pearl Inn
Springdale, Utah

Native stone walls and sun-hued stucco are framed by beams of old-growth Douglas fir and redwood (reclaimed from a 100-year-old railroad trestle that once spanned the Great Salt Lake) to blend the inn with the land. The private balconies and terraces of the spacious rooms open onto views of towering red rock formations along a tree-lined river.
 

DAY 1 
Transfer to Grand Canyon National Park

Hiking – 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 Grand Canyon hiking exploration begins 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. Afterwards 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, Arizona

DAY 2 
North Rim Hiking; Transfer to Bryce Canyon National Park for Rim Walk

Hiking – easy to moderate, 3-4 hours.
 
This morning we rise early to depart on the North Kaibab Trail. The trail begins by winding down below the rim through a high alpine forest of Aspen, Douglas Fir, and Ponderosa Pine. This trail is showcase to many layers of coconino sandstone, with an expansive view of Roaring Springs Canyon. After an inspiring hike into this “never-ending” canyon, we enjoy lunch at the Grand Canyon Lodge, and bid farewell to the North Rim.

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. This evening 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, Utah

DAY 3 
Bryce Canyon National Park

Hiking – 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 Peekaboo 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, Utah

DAY 4 
Transfer to Zion National Park; Willis Creek (weather dependent). 

Hiking – easy to moderate, 2-3 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 Willis Creek, a narrow and photogenic slot canyon in the 1.9 million acre Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. When the sun shines into the canyon it has a gorgeous yellow glow that can be captured by the camera at certain times of the day.  Like most canyons, this one is shaded, making it ideal for summer hiking and keeping things even cooler with a narrow and crystal clear, year-round stream meandering through its center. After a drive through the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, we have a hearty lunch together before getting outfitted with creek boots and walking sticks for tomorrow’s potential hike through the Narrows. 

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.

This evening, you may decide to take advantage of an optional self-guided hike to the Emerald Pools.  Early evening hikes in Zion National Park tend to be cooler and quite spectacular.  This invigorating hike has unique terrain and ample photo opportunities, as the massive peaks and colorful formations of Zion provide the perfect backdrop. Your guide will be happy to provide you with details about this hike, as well as dinner recommendations.  
Desert Pearl Inn, Springdale, Utah

DAY 5 
The Narrows or Walter’s Wiggles

Hiking – 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 get our packed 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 its 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, Utah

DAY 6 
Depart from St. George

After a leisurely morning, we depart for St. George, arriving by noon for shuttles to neighboring international airports.

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.

 

$2,295 per person

• Expert leadership
• All accommodations
• All meals except for one dinner
• All transportation during the trip
• All activities as noted in the itinerary, including park entry fees