Our trip begins in Salt Lake City, Utah. We rendezvous with our guides in the morning and, following introductions and a brief orientation, set off for Moab, the adventure outpost that serves as gateway to the marvelous red-rock country that lies beyond. After lunch near Moab, we continue to our nearby campsite, set up our tents, and prepare for our first memorable high desert hike. We make the short drive to Arches National Park for a late day hike up to arguably the most extraordinary natural arch in the Southwest: magical Delicate Arch. Perched above an orange sandstone basin, the graceful shape, color, and location of Delicate Arch make it a photographer’s dream. We spend some time lingering near the arch, marveling at its ability to seemingly defy gravity, before heading back down trail to our waiting van. Returning to our basecamp, we eat a tasty guide-prepared dinner under the star-filled Utah sky. We spend the next two nights in our camp near Moab. All meals included beginning with lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 8.

Hiking: 3 miles with 610’ elevation gain/loss; Transfer: 4.5 hours.

Today’s hike in Canyonlands’ otherworldly Island in the Sky region provides an ideal introduction to the wind and water-carved landscapes and unique geology of this awe-inspiring national park. Island in the Sky is filled with trails that lead us over dirt, sand and slickrock to vantage points offering breathtaking views across the Colorado River canyon. As we gaze out at the ever-changing panorama, we see the pinnacles, arches and spires of the park’s Needles district and the lofty La Sal Mountains looming in the distance. Our guides can choose from various trail options depending on conditions but every route will deliver picture-postcard vistas and unforgettable views. After our active day of adventure in Canyonlands, we return to our cozy camp in time for appetizers and a delicious al fresco dinner.

Hiking: Up to 8 miles with elevation gain/loss of up to 1,500’; Terrain: slickrock and dirt trails. Transfer: 2.5 hours.

We break camp this morning and transfer back to extraordinary Arches National Park. With over 2,000 sandstone arches of all shapes and sizes lying within its borders, the park contains the largest concentration of natural stone arches on Earth. After a stop at the visitor center, we drive to the Devil’s Garden trailhead where we begin today’s hike. Winding our way over wind-sculpted sandstone, we visit a variety of the park’s iconic arches including Double O Arch and 306-foot-long Landscape Arch, one of the longest natural stone spans in the world. After our walk in the “Garden”, we end the day with a final road transfer to our campsite in Torrey, Utah, a stone’s throw from Capitol Reef National Park.

Hiking: 4-6 miles; Elevation gain/loss: 500-800’; Terrain: slickrock and dirt trails; Transfer: 4 hours.

Still relatively undiscovered, Capitol Reef National Park is a gem in the U.S. National Park system. Waterpocket Fold, the park’s central feature, is a 100-mile-long wrinkle in the Earth's crust which has eroded over time into massive sandstone domes, narrow slot canyons and graceful arches. We spend most of the day exploring some of the highlights of Capitol Reef starting with a scenic drive to our trailhead along Waterpocket Fold’s tilted layers of burgundy, grey, red, orange and white-colored rock. Today’s through-hike traverses part of the Grand Wash and gives us access to some of the best backcountry in the park. After our immersion in this untrammeled wilderness, our trail ultimately leads us back to our vehicle, waiting to shuttle us to our nearby camp.

Hiking: 6 miles; Elevation gain/loss: 1,000’; Terrain: slickrock, sandy washes and dirt trails; Transfer: 1.5 hours.

It's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument that captures our imagination today as we explore the monument on a hike to a hidden waterfall. Departing Torrey this morning, we head south and west along Utah's Scenic Byway 12 to our trailhead for Lower Calf Creek Falls. Here we begin our six-mile hike to the 130-foot waterfalls, a lush oasis concealed deep within the tumbled stone and slickrock of Grand Staircase-Escalante. Continuing to Bryce Canyon, we spend the night in a campsite near the national park, an ideal spot for stargazing in one of the darkest nighttime locations in the U.S.

Hiking: 6 miles; Elevation gain/loss: 200'; Terrain: dirt trails; Transfer: 3 hours.

Gazing into Bryce Canyon for the first time, it's hard not to feel an overwhelming sense of awe at the sheer number of hoodoos that rise from the canyon floor forming a jagged, colorful landscape unlike any other on the planet. We take full advantage of our hiking time in Bryce today beginning with the outstanding Fairyland Loop hike this morning. During our walks, photographic opportunities abound as we descend into the canyon proper surrounded by the warm-colored sandstone, stands of jade green pine trees, and the whimsical hoodoos that make this national park so uniquely captivating. In the afternoon, we transfer to Sunset Point and hike the Navajo Loop trail before returning to the canyon rim. Saying goodbye to Bryce we jump back aboard our van and hit the road for Zion National Park, the final stop on our amazing journey.

Hiking: 9 miles; Elevation gain/loss: 2,300'; Terrain: dirt trails and sandy washes; Transfer: 2-3 hours.

Our first hike in Zion National Park this morning takes us on the Watchman Trail, one of the park’s best trails for vantage points with breathtaking views stretching out over Zion Canyon. Retracing our steps to the valley, we hop aboard the park shuttle to the entrance of the spectacular Zion Narrows. Alternating between hiking and wading, our trail is the Virgin River itself as it winds its way between 1,000-foot-tall canyon walls. We follow the river for a few miles, marveling at the hanging gardens, beautiful geology and play of light in this enormous slot canyon before returning downriver. At camp tonight, we gather for a special celebration dinner and reflect on all of the wonders we’ve seen during our time together.

Hiking: 6-7 miles; Elevation loss/gain: 368'; Terrain: dirt trails, river wading (sometimes in thigh- to waist-deep water).​

Before beginning our drive to Las Vegas, one final invigorating hike in Zion awaits us. The trail up to Scout Lookout is cut into sandstone walls and follows Walter's Wiggles, a series of 21 switchbacks leading up to a lofty viewpoint overlooking the soaring cliffs of Zion Canyon. After descending from the lookout, we continue our hike to Emerald Pools, a verdant oasis located in a side canyon and consisting of a series of streams and tiered natural pools. After our morning outing, we have lunch before setting out for Las Vegas where we’ll say our final farewells. Please do not schedule any flights out of Las Vegas until later this evening.

Hiking: 6.5 miles; Elevation gain/loss: 1,500’; Terrain: dirt trails; Transfer: 3 hours.