Utah | Arches & Canyonlands National Parks | Adult Only

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, The Canyonlands Inn. This property is in the heart of downtown Moab and is within easy walking distance of many restaurants and shops. Tonight, we enjoy our first dinner together as we discuss our upcoming days playing in red rock country.

**IMPORTANT: All April departures for this trip feature a beginner canyoneering excursion instead of rafting on the Colorado River due to the colder spring weather at this time. All other activities are as outlined above with a slightly adjusted schedule to accommodate the canyoneering excursion.**

About Canyonlands Inn

Located in the heart of downtown 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 was styled to capture and reflect the natural beauty of the surroundings. A warm palette featuring earthy browns and greens accented by luxurious natural granite is highlighted with photography by renowned local artist Tom Till.

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 to Landscape Arch, the planet’s largest natural rock arch. Admire the beauty of the natural, monolithic sculptures as you eat a delicious sack lunch. After lunch, we’ll hike to Window, Turret & Double Arch. Enjoy dinner tonight at one of the many restaurants in Moab.

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 to a great view of the picturesque Fisher Towers 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.