Utah | Mighty Five National Parks | Adult Only

Grand Junction Arrival: Welcome to Colorado! Your guides will pick you up in the morning from your pre-trip hotel.

Transfer Time: 2 Hours 30 Minutes

Canyonlands National Park: A unique national park located near Moab, this site offers four districts to explore: Island in the Sky, The Maze, The Needles, and The Rivers. The Green and Colorado Rivers wind their way through this many-layered national park. Within the park’s hundreds of thousands of acres, feast your eyes on the rock formations and natural architecture including arches, buttes, mesas, and of course canyons.

Grand View Point Hike: The sprawling landscape encompassing canyon valleys and walls will be stretching out for miles around you on this two-mile out-and-back hike. Upon arrival to Grand View Point, you’ll be awed by the scene of distant mountains, canyons, basins, and the White Rim Road stretched out in front of you.

Upheaval Dome Hike: Upheaval Dome can be described as a colorful, circular “belly button” unique among the broad mesas and deep canyons of the Colorado Plateau. On this 0.8-mile round trip hike, you’ll trek up some steep terrain with sandstone steps as you view the crater and surrounding rock formations at various outlooks.

Mesa Arch Hike: This short half-mile loop hike provides a close-up experience with rock formations, where you can walk near the arch that lies atop a cliff edge. Peer out the opening of Mesa Arch and take in the spectacular canyon desert landscape. Watch out for the cryptobiotic soil crust that’s made from living organisms — be sure not to step on it so as not to destroy it!

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 the exploration of Arches National Park and Canyonlands National 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.

Fisher Towers Hike: Views of the earth’s natural skyscrapers, the Fisher Towers, are unforgettable on this hike. Trek 4.4 miles out-and-back with an 833-feet elevation gain on this moderate trail lined with some sandstone steps. You’ll get to hike underneath the shade of the towers and end the last short leg of the hike in the sunshine.

Moab Free Time: Lying in southeastern Utah, Moab is home to just over 5,000 people but welcomes millions of visitors each year. Moab’s natural environment is one of Redrock wonders that tower over the city, while its quaint downtown showcases small shops and businesses. Spend some free time in town exploring on your own.

Arches National Park: Be awed over the beauty of this park that guarantees sights of just what you might expect: Arches. Over 2,000 impossibly natural arches grace the landscape of this place that boasts rich textures, rocky layers and swirling colors. Peer through the arches like a window or a picture frame, and watch the blue sky collide with the deep reds, oranges, and purples of the land.

Delicate Arch Hike: This adventure will lead us to an absolutely jaw-dropping landscape – be prepared to be wowed by even more amazing scenery and geology. A beautiful yet more challenging 3-mile round trip journey with a 600-foot elevation gain, this activity offers 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. Trek along winding slickrock before coming upon the arch that stands miraculously on its own at the edge of a rock outcropping.

Devil’s Garden Hike: Feast your eyes on spectacular desert views while hiking to three different arches, including Landscape Arch. This arch stretches almost 300 feet wide, earning its right to be called the longest arch in North America. Awe over the wildly thin design of this arch. 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 for this 1.5-mile hike with 100-foot elevation gain.

Transfer Time: 3 Hours and 30 minutes

About Capitol Reef Resort

Located at the doorstep of Capitol Reef National Park, Capitol Reef Resort offers an abundance of lodging options sure to satisfy. Enjoy indulgent room accommodations alongside stunning views of the red rock cliffs. From guestrooms and luxury cabins to Conestoga wagons and teepees; guests will find a unique and comfortable destination, along with fine amenities, to recharge for your next adventure.

Capitol Reef National Park: When early explorers and settlers saw the dome-shaped sandstone rocks in this area, they were reminded of capitol building architecture that were often topped with white dome features, hence the name! This park is famous for its Waterpocket Fold, known as a wrinkle in the earth that was caused by fault movement. Native Americans once called this colorful park landscape of tilted buttes, jumbled rocks, and sedimentary canyons the Land of the Sleeping Rainbow.

Cassidy Arch Hike: Named after the infamous western character Butch Cassidy, this 3.5-mile hike will bring you to a view of the Waterpocket Fold that Capitol Reef is known for and of course a perspective of the Cassidy Arch. Though there are no routes that take you to the base of the arch, you’ll get an interesting look at the arch from atop, surrounded by a horizon of colorfully layered rock walls.

Cohab Canyon Hike: Hike two miles one-way near the Waterpocket Fold, trekking over a 440-foot elevation change. Let your eyes wander across the bizarre natural features like rock fins, hoodoos, and slots. This canyon’s name is short for “cohabitation”, stemming from a legend about a time when local polygamist Mormons allegedly hid their wives in the canyon when plural marriage was banned in the late 1800s.

Transfer Time: 3 Hours

Bryce Canyon National Park: Bryce Canyon National Park, named after Ebenezer Bryce who was a Mormon homesteader in the 1870’s, will satisfy your adventurous spirit with its options for magnificent bike rides and awe-inspiring hikes. Here you can witness nature’s powerful force on the earth, where rock and sand are twisted and formed by wind, water and other elements.

About Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel

Queens Garden, Peek-a-Boo & Wall Street Trails Hike: Try your hand at a more challenging trek for an all-day activitiy that takes you through natural sculpted rock gardens of brilliantly colored spires, cliffs, and natural amphitheaters. You may also spy Queen Victoria during your hike overlooking her garden full of hoodoos. This hike leads you through eight miles of sightseeing from Peek-a-Boo Loop trail and ending at Sunset Point, covering an elevation gain of 1,000 feet.

Red Canyon Bird’s Eye Trail Hike: A 1.8-mile hike of unforgettable landscapes along the Bird’s Eye Trail is located just outside Bryce Canyon National Park. With a 249-foot elevation gain, this trail promises bird’s eye views of hoodoo scenery and red rock majesty.

Transfer Time: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Zion National Park: Known for its slot canyons, soaring towers and monoliths, and scenic sandstone, Zion National Park is full of unique formations begging to be explored. Find yourself in awe as you wind through the magnificent canyon walls and towering cliffs that make up this majestic park. Delve into the 150-million-year-old history of Zion canyon’s geologic formations.

Angel’s Landing Hike: One of the most popular activities in Zion, Angel’s Landing hike leads you on a breathtaking 5.5-mile, 1,400-foot ascent up a trail to what is known as the Angel’s Landing, a towering rock formation. Catch a thrill trekking the canyon pathways up to the top. Be careful walking the thin trail to the landing and make a memory arriving at your destination.

Night on Your Own: Enjoy a night on your own this evening for dinner. Your guides will give you restaurant options to choose from in the area and will provide ideas on things to do on your own time. Alternatively, feel free to just relax tonight after a wonderful activity-filled day!

About SpringHill Suites

The award-winning SpringHill Suites Springdale Zion National Park offers a comfortable, elegant setting for travelers seeking inspiration, family adventure, and relaxation.  Located only one mile from Zion’s gate in the town of Springdale, this hotel is centrally located to explore all that Zion National Park has to offer. The outdoor pool and hot tub with amazing canyon views are the perfect way to relax after a day of exploring Zion!

The Virgin River Narrows Hike: The Narrows hike is recognized as one of America’s best adventures by National Geographic and is one that you will not soon forget. Spend a full day walking and wading along the Virgin River, into the sheer walled canyon of the Narrows, a more challenging hike. Soak up the captivating scenery as you pass waterfalls, natural springs and hanging gardens.

Afternoon Exploring Springdale: To wind down from your all-day hike, discover the little hidden gems in the town of Springdale on your own.

Watchman Trail Hike: This relatively easy 3.5-mile hike with 500 feet of elevation gain will give you a panoramic view of Zion National Park’s mountainous desert landscape. The sweeping rugged terrain will catch your eye around every bend of the three-mile round trip trail.

Transfer Time: 1 Hour

St. George Departure: Your guides will shuttle you back to St. George to get ready for your departure 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.