Welcome to your week-long adventure through Southeastern Moab, Utah’s legendary Arches, and Canyonlands National Parks! Explore the amazing Colorado River on rafting adventures, floating, soaring, and splashing over rapids. Pedal between burnt-orange, sheer-walled canyons and enormous uniquely-shaped sandstone towers on a road snaking through Castle Valley. Hike by ancient petroglyphs, a glimpse into the rituals and beliefs of the Fremont, Anasazi, Navajo, and Anglo communities of thousands of years past. At the end of the day, eat a hearty dinner before retiring to the comfort of your home for the week, Hoodoo Moab, located in the heart of Moab!
Encounter the arid and world-renowned beauty of Arches National Park’s delicate natural arches and jaw-dropping red rock art landscape
Get your feet wet with an adrenaline-pumping whitewater rafting trip on the Colorado River
Ride through the awesome slick rocks of Moab on a thrilling jeep adventure
Uncover 200 million years of geological history and take a glimpse into the past locked in the red rock vistas of Canyon Country
Engage all your senses by looking up from the bottom of a slot canyon or down a lofty desert overlook
Stroll the streets of Moab on a night on your own to experience downtown like a local
Check two national parks off of your bucket list as you visit both Canyonlands and Arches in one memorable trip
The scenery: A high-desert spectacle of rock formations and river-carved canyons, watch the sun set on the rich red terrain and capture photos of a life time.
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The stars: Experience the Milky Way as it was meant to be-vast, sprawling, and full of blazing constellations.
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The perspective: Stare up in awe at the 900 foot Titan at Fisher Towers and feel all your worries melt away.
Begin your trip with early-morning pickups in Grand Junction by your guides, followed by a welcome meeting. With a short shuttle to the banks of the Colorado River, we spend the day paddling through ever-deepening sandstone monuments into the narrow Black Granite Gorge. This proposed Wild and Scenic River is totally isolated from modern civilization: a canyon of serene solitude surrounding by red sandstone spires. Enjoy a picnic on the banks of the river before setting out again. After an amazing day in Colorado, it’s a quick shuttle to our home for the week, Hoodoo Moab. This property is just a block from Main Street in Moab and looks out at red rock vistas beyond the town. Tonight, we enjoy our first dinner together as we discuss our upcoming days playing in red rock country.
About Hoodoo Moab
Located a block from Main Street in Moab, this hotel is within walking distance of many local restaurants and souvenir shops. This hotel will serve as our base camp for exploration of Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dead Horse Point State Park. Your room blends upscale amenities with Western flair. Enjoy hotel amenities like the heated, outdoor pool, fitness center, full-service day spa, and more.
Start the morning with a hearty breakfast at your hotel before continuing south into Canyonlands National Park. Mount up at Grand View Point and ride to our first stop, Mesa Arch, for a short hike. Continue north by bike along the Island in the Sky route. Picnic lunch at Dead Horse Point Overlook gives us a chance to experience the vastness of the park. Catch a ride in the van to the “top of the hill” and then ride an exhilarating 10 miles to the Colorado River. Head back to the Inn for an afternoon to relax or walk the streets of Moab before dinner in town.
Replenish your energy this morning with breakfast at your hotel. This morning’s hike will lead us to an absolutely jaw-dropping landscape – be prepared to be wowed by even more awe-inspiring scenery and geology. This beautiful hike will offer you many stunning views, but none as amazing as the view of the iconic Delicate Arch that will greet you at the end of your hike. Next, explore more of the fiery reds and breathtaking blues of the hidden gems of Arches National Park. Hike Tapestry Arch to Sand Dune via Broken Arch. Admire the beauty of the natural, monolithic sculptures as you eat a carefully prepared lunch. After lunch, we drive to Devil’s Garden for another short hike to Landscape Arch. Enjoy dinner tonight at the La Sal House.
Fuel up with a hot breakfast in town before heading out to bike Potash Road along the Colorado River with frequent stops to decipher what the ancients were trying to communicate through countless petroglyphs. After a leisurely ride, enjoy a picnic lunch. This afternoon, jump in a Hummer and explore the amazing slick rock of Moab on an adrenaline-inducing adventure. Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own in Moab; our hotel is perfectly situated for walking to the restaurants on Main Street.
After breakfast in town, it’s time for another fabulous hike that is unlike any that we have done so far. Today, we head out on an all-day excursion to Canyonlands National Park and experience the best that The Needles District has to offer. On our drive out, we’ll stop to check out countless petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock. Our main hike today begins at the Elephant Hill Trailhead, passing through fascinating desert country scenery and eventually arrives at the monolithic red rock towers of the Chesler Park Viewpoint. Along the way, we’ll find a shady spot to enjoy a delicious trailside lunch. Our farewell dinner is sure to be a hit as we dine at the charming Desert Bistro.
This morning we have time for one more great hike before heading home. Hiking the beautiful Grandstaff Canyon will be a great way to end your week of adventures. After enjoying one last wonderful lunch together, we will head back to Grand Junction to say our goodbyes and depart for home.
**Trip itineraries are subject to change without notice due to road, weather, and other factors outside of our control, for the safety and enjoyment of our guests, as deemed necessary and appropriate by Austin Adventures.
Please plan on arriving at least one day prior to your trip departure. Day one of your itinerary starts at 7:00 or 7:20 am, depending on your hotel. Your trip ends with a drop-off at either the Grand Junction airport (2:00 pm) or the Grand Junction hotel (2:30 pm).
Included in the Trip Price
Included in the Trip Price
Double occupancy rooms with private baths.
All meals: breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinners – except one dinner on own your own – refreshments and receptions.
Fully trained, first-aid certified professional guides and knowledgeable local partners.
Bikes, helmets, and other necessary equipment – all safe and well maintained.
Vehicle support and land transportation during the trip.
Austin Adventures T-shirt, water bottle, luggage tags, and luggage service.
Pre-departure and packing information.
Incidental expenses such as taxes, dining and housekeeping gratuities, local partner and expert gratuities, and national park entrance and permit fees.
Not Included in the Trip Price
Gratuities to Austin Adventures guides.
Alcoholic beverages and related gratuities.
One dinner on your own.
Pre-and post-trip accommodations and associated expenses.
Air and land transportation to/from host cities.
All types of personal insurance.
Personal expenses
Activities
Biking: 10 to 22 miles per ride, moderate to challenging terrain
Hiking: 1 to 6 miles per hike, easy to moderate terrain (More than one hike may be completed in a day.)
Rafting: Class III & IV depending on water levels, no experience necessary
Cultural Discoveries
Learn about how the Canyonlands contains over 200 million years of geological history and continues to serve as an outdoor laboratory for scientists from all over the world. From the Island in the Sky’s Upheaval Dome to the Grabens area of the Needles, Canyonlands possesses many uncommon landforms. Take in the majesty of the Colorado River which derives its name from Spanish – “colored red”. (The river used to have a reddish-brown color, but now the silt and sediment that gave it the color is trapped behind Glen Canyon Dam at the bottom of Lake Powell!) Stare up in awe at the 900 foot Titan at Fisher Towers: the first climb took place in 1962 and was sponsored by the National Geographic Society! Discover why Moab, with its unique combination of beautiful red rock scenery, two national parks, and the cool waters of the Colorado River, is one of the most sought out vacation destinations in the west. Come visit this wind-sculpted paradise known as Red Rock Country.
Austin Adventures guides are experienced facilitators and regional experts. They will take the time to explain the details of each activity, answer any questions, and demonstrate the use of all equipment. Each activity has been carefully planned to include options for all levels. Most importantly, your guides will help you select the distance that’s right for you.
Meals
The hallmark of an Austin Adventures vacation is our exceptional dining. All meals: breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinners, refreshments, and receptions – except one dinner on your own – are included as indicated by the itinerary. (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner). Alcoholic beverages and related gratuities are not included in the trip price.
Pre-departure Information
After receiving your reservation and deposit, we’ll send you a pre-trip planner with general information about the area you’ll be visiting, a packing list, exercise guidelines, a guest information questionnaire, and a liability release agreement for you to sign and return within 10 days.
View the "Wow Factor" Included in Each Austin Adventure
Activity levels are subjective depending on your general level of fitness and your experience; however, all of our trips are self-paced.
1Easy (1)
Activity levels are subjective depending on your general level of fitness and your experience; however, all of our trips are self-paced.
2Moderately Easy (2)
Activity levels are subjective depending on your general level of fitness and your experience; however, all of our trips are self-paced.
3Moderate (3)
Activity levels are subjective depending on your general level of fitness and your experience; however, all of our trips are self-paced.
4Moderate to Challenging (4)
Activity levels are subjective depending on your general level of fitness and your experience; however, all of our trips are self-paced.
5Challenging (5)
National Parks Expert
Kasey Austin
As President of Operations at Austin Adventures, Kasey Austin can tell you the logistical ins and outs of every single trip. More than that, though, Kasey has lived and breathed most of the company’s featured destinations and will eagerly share her contagious passion for the transformational power of active travel. Kasey grew up in the adventure travel business; she knows the positive, lifelong impact of family travel, a quality that earned her the distinction of being named top family travel guide by Outside Magazine in 2014.
