Zion New Year's Adventure

Zion New Year's Adventure Itinerary:

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• Day 1 Meet in Las Vegas and travel to beautiful southern Utah and our private ranch accommodations on the east side of Zion National Park.

  Your trip begins today in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fly to Las Vegas, arriving at McCarran Airport in time for the 10 a.m. group rendezvous at a nearby hotel. We recommend arriving a night early if possible, to allow for some relaxation time and to avoid any problems with delayed flights or delayed luggage. From Las Vegas, we’ll take a four-hour van ride to our ranch accommodations on the east side of Zion National Park. We settle into our private lodge (where we’ll stay for the entire trip) and enjoy a home-cooked meal prepared by our guides. After dinner, an orientation meeting will be held allowing us time to get better acquainted with our traveling companions. Dinner included.
  
  Driving: 4 hours.

• Day 2 Set out on snowshoes across a forested plateau that opens up to breathtaking views of Zion's colorful monuments and canyons.

  After a very short van ride, we set out on snowshoes across the top of the White Cliffs (6,500'), a forested plateau high above Zion National Park. Within a few miles, breathtaking vistas of deep, colorful canyons appear as we make our way along a ridgeline perched above Parunuweap Canyon. On a typical winter day, the high plateau of the East Mesa is covered with up to three feet of snow, while the lower elevations of Zion remain relatively snow-free. All meals included.
  
  Hiking / snowshoeing: 6 miles. Terrain: on-trail, 600’ climb.

• Day 3 Hike in Zion Canyon and continue up Walter's Wiggles to a fantastic viewpoint near Scout's Landing. New Year's Eve celebration tonight!

  After a hearty breakfast, we drive into Zion Canyon and the Court of the Patriarchs, where we stop for a short hike to a magnificent viewpoint. Then it's on to the Grotto, where we climb up Walter's Wiggles and past Angel's Landing to a lunch spot with a breathtaking view into the Temple of Sinewava. All meals included.
  
  Hiking: 5 miles. Terrain: on-trail, 1,600' elevation gain/loss.

• Day 4 Enjoy a full day of exploration in Bryce Canyon National Park. Hike along the rim of Bryce to magical Bryce Amphitheatre.

  Weather and road conditions permitting, we begin the day with an 80-minute drive to Bryce Canyon National Park. Our trailhead is at 7,800', high enough to provide us with reliable snow cover at this time of year. Our planned route takes us along the rim of Bryce above a maze of fantastically-shaped hoodoos. We'll walk along the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau to Sunrise and Sunset Points and marvel at the wonders of magnificent Bryce Amphitheatre. Our snowshoe route allows us to view many of the scenic and geological highlights of this unique national park. We return to the ranch late this afternoon for dinner. All meals included.
  
  Hiking / snowshoeing: 6 miles. Terrain: crosscountry over snow, 300' elevation gain.

• Day 5 Glimpse into the Virgin River Narrows before hiking to the base of Angel's Landing. Follow the trail to Emerald pools this afternoon.

  We'll drive to the end of stunning Zion Canyon and the imposing Temple of Sinawava this morning and follow the Riverside Walk to the Virgin River Narrows. After a glimpse into the spectacular Narrows, we'll hike back along the river to the base of Angel's Landing, looking for ephemeral waterfalls that often tumble thousands of feet from the high canyon walls during the winter months. After lunch, a van transfer to the Zion Lodge leaves us at the trailhead leading to Emerald Pools, a lovely collection of ponds and waterfalls, the destination of our afternoon hike. Back at the lodge this evening, we'll enjoy one final dinner together and reflect on our adventure with a newfound appreciation for these wondrous national parks. All meals included.
  
  Hiking: 5 miles. Terrain: On-trail, 400’ elevation gain.

• Day 6 Take a short hike through the twisted narrows of Clear Creek and Pine Creek before saying goodbye to this magnificent national park.

  A 20-minute drive brings us to the Zion tunnel where, conditions permitting, we begin an exploration of the twisted narrows of Clear Creek and Pine Creek. We emerge from the narrows at the Zion Tunnel where we hike the Canyon Overlook Trail for a last look at this awesome park before our drive back to Las Vegas. Towering walls of sandstone capped with pure white snow fill the view from the top of the Great Arch at trail's end. For those flying home today, please do not schedule a flight out of Las Vegas prior to 7 p.m. Breakfast, Lunch included.
  
  Hiking: 2 miles. Terrain: rock scrambling off-trail in sandstone narrows, on-trail to Canyon Overlook, 100’ elevation gain.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control including weather, snow, trail and road conditions.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate.

Single room space is limited and single travelers of the same gender may be asked to share accommodations.

During the trip, we spend all five nights at a 1,000-acre ranch located two miles east of Zion National Park. We occupy a private lodge on the ranch grounds which, in addition to bedrooms, contains a large kitchen, dining room and living room. The lodge has heat, electricity and running water. Additional lodging details including specific address and telephone contact information will be included in the final bulletin, mailed to you approximately three weeks prior to departure.

Accommodations for five nights; all meals beginning with dinner on Day 1 through lunch on Day 6; private group transfer from Las Vegas and return; vehicle support; expert guide leadership, park entrance fees and use of snowshoes.

Airfare; insurance of any kind; guide gratuities; breakfast and lunch on Day 1, dinner on Day 6; alcoholic beverages; soft drinks and items of a personal nature.

This trip is rated Moderate [3]. It is not necessary to be an expert hiker to participate, but you should enjoy hiking and feel comfortable hiking off-trail, sometimes on moderately inclined sandstone. The snowshoeing day will be suitable for beginners. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip and to avoid sore muscles, we suggest beginning a regular exercise regimen as soon as possible. Recommended exercises include hiking, jogging, walking, cycling and/or swimming. We will be spending 4-6 hours engaged in activity on most days and we encourage you to arrive in good physical condition. The better shape you are in, the more fun you will have!

Winter in Zion Canyon is fairly mild. Clear days can become quite warm, reaching 50°F in the canyon; nighttime temperatures typically drop into the teens and 20s. Winter storms occasionally bring rain or light snow to Zion Canyon, but heavier snow and colder temperatures to the higher elevations where our lodge is located (6,300’) and where some of our hikes are planned. Trip members should arrive prepared for all possibilities by following the recommendations on the enclosed Gear List. Be prepared for daytime temperatures of 20 to 50 degrees depending on the elevation of our hike each day.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

Weather

Winter in Zion Canyon is fairly mild. Clear days may become quite warm, reaching 50°F; nighttime temperatures typically drop into the teens and 20s. Winter storms occasionally bring rain or light snow to Zion Canyon, but heavier snow to the higher elevations where our lodge is located and some of our hikes are planned. Trip members should arrive prepared for all possibilities by following the recommendations on this Gear List. Be prepared for possible daytime temperatures of 20° - 50°F depending on the elevation of our hike each day.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Please remember to always pack essential items such as appropriate identification, money, eyewear, a change of clothing, hiking boots and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed.
• For snowshoeing, layering thermal underwear, hiking pants and waterproof/breathable rain pants allows you to stay comfortable in the many possible temperatures you will encounter.
• Cotton is wonderful in warm weather. However, once it becomes wet, it will drain your body heat. Bring wool or synthetics such as Capilene®, MTS® and Thermax®.
• Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding and bunching up.
• We will be snowshoeing and possibly hiking through some snow. Warm, waterproof and broken-in hiking boots are a necessity. Lightweight hikers and trail shoes will not suffice on most days.
• Make sure boots are broken-in. Bring moleskin for foot treatment. Thin liner socks worn under regular hiking socks may minimize the risk of blisters. The liner sock should be synthetic, not cotton. Test your sock combination before you go on the trip.
• Stuff sacks are great for sorting gear. Use different sizes/colors to differentiate contents.
• Although it is not mandatory to have hiking/ski poles for use while snowshoeing, we do highly recommend participants bring their own to assist with balance and maneuverability. Be sure poles have the baskets attached. Snowshoes will be provided.
• We highly recommend bringing a lightweight seating pad (ex. Therm-a-Rest Lite Seat, about $25) or small piece of closed cell foam for use during lunch stops on hikes. Depending on conditions, we may be sitting and eating on warm sandstone or frozen snow pack!
• Please bring a headlamp. With short days and early nightfall this time of year, it is important to have a headlamp along while hiking or snowshoeing in case it is needed on the hike out (ex. Petzl Tikka).