Utah National Parks Ultimate Adventure

Utah National Parks Ultimate Adventure

  • Activity Level: 3
  • Days: 9
  • Group Size: 4-12
  • Member price: from $3,999
  • Non-member price: from $4,400

This trip combines five exceptional national park experiences into one unforgettable adventure. The national parks of southern Utah are a masterful expression of nature’s best work. Unique landscapes sculpted over the millennia by powerful forces of erosion highlight the vast beauty of the high desert. Hike along some of the most spectacular trails in the American Southwest by day, and relax in comfort and good company at our REI Signature Camp each night.

Hike amid spectacular hoodoos in Bryce Canyon. Experience otherworldly tranquility in Canyonlands. Feel small while wading in the magnificent Zion River Narrows. Explore a 100-mile-long wrinkle in the Earth's crust in Capitol Reef. Lose count of the number of incredible arches found in aptly-named Arches National Park. With each bend in the trail comes another breathtaking landscape. Along the way, our guides take care of all of the details. Their skilled interpretation brings the desert to life, instilling in us a lasting love for this remarkable wilderness.

Trip highlights

  • Explore all five of Utah’s national parks in one unforgettable, action-packed trip
  • Visit Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion
  • Set out on some of the most scenic and exhilarating hikes in the Southwest
  • Learn about the ancient cultures that once made this rugged region their home
  • Experience REI Signature Camping! Spacious tents, deluxe comfort, amazing meals and more!

Activities

  • Hiking
  • Camping

Accommodations

Signature Camping, 8 nights.

Program Manager

Andy

Since my first visit to Canyonlands over 25 years ago, I've held a deep love for the national parks of the Southwest. It was great fun creating a trip that gets REI members out on some of the best hikes in Utah's 5 amazing parks.

Expand all days | View map

Our trip begins in Salt Lake City, Utah. We rendezvous with our guides at 8am and, following introductions and a brief orientation, set off for Canyonlands National Park. After a lunch stop in Moab, the vibrant adventure outpost that serves as gateway to the marvelous red-rock country that lies beyond, we continue on to our waiting REI Signature Camp near Canyonlands’ remote Needles District. En route, we stop at Newspaper Rock to appreciate this exceptional rock art panel containing one of the largest collections of petroglyphs in the Southwest. Arriving in late-afternoon, our camp is already pitched and waiting, and we can relax in the comfortable outdoor lounge area or in our spacious tents fully outfitted with cots, sleeping pads, floor coverings, lighting, and an assortment of REI camp furniture. While some afternoon light still remains, we take a short warm-up hike and catch our first glimpses of the fantastic desert playground that surrounds us. Returning to our cozy basecamp at sunset, we enjoy our first dinner under the star-filled Utah sky. We spend the next three nights in our Canyonlands Signature Camp. All meals included beginning with lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 9.

Transfer: 6 hours; Hiking: 2.5 miles with minimal elevation gain/loss.

A hike to Chesler Park is an ideal introduction to the awe-inspiring landscapes and unique geology of Canyonlands National Park. Today’s trail leads us over dirt, sand and slickrock, past the towering pinnacles and fins of the Needles formation and through a series of twisting canyons before emerging at a viewpoint offering fantastic panoramic views of Chesler Park itself. A vast grassy meadow dotted with multi-colored sandstone spires and domes, Chesler Park has a tranquil, otherworldly quality that perfectly showcases the grandeur of this remote national park. After a trailside lunch and some additional time to explore and take photos, we begin our hike back to the trailhead, returning to camp in late afternoon in time for appetizers and a delicious al fresco dinner.

Hiking: 6.5-7miles; Elevation gain/loss: 1,100’; Terrain: slickrock and dirt trails with some stone steps.

Our hike today affords us an opportunity to witness firsthand one of the predominant forces responsible for shaping the landscape of the American Southwest. From its headwaters in the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado River flows across Utah and Arizona en route to its terminus in Baja California. Here, in Canyonlands, the Colorado joins together with the Green River before beginning its relentless, sometimes turbulent descent into Cataract Canyon and through the Grand Canyon. After a hearty breakfast this morning, we set out on foot for the Confluence Overlook, where at trail’s end, we can gaze down at the convergence of these mighty watercourses from a viewpoint a thousand feet above. In addition to bird’s-eye views of the rivers, the overlook also offers panoramic vistas of the cliffs, buttes and mesas of the Maze and Island in the Sky districts of Canyonlands. Hiking back the way we came this afternoon, we return to our familiar camp and relish our final evening in this tranquil desert sanctuary.

Hiking: 11 miles; Elevation gain/loss: 220’; Terrain: slickrock, sand and dirt trails.

We bid a fond farewell to Canyonlands this morning and drive north towards 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 short stop at the visitor center to learn more about the formation of the park’s namesake features, we drive to the Devil’s Garden trailhead from where we begin today’s hike. Winding our way over and through wind-sculpted sandstone, we visit a variety of the park’s iconic arches including Double O Arch and 306-foot-long Landscape Arch, considered one of the longest natural stone spans in the world. After our walk in the “Garden”, we return to our vehicle and transfer to Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint for a view of perhaps the park’s most iconic feature, fabulous Delicate Arch. Rising unexpectedly from the edge of a large sandstone bowl, Delicate Arch’s graceful silhouette and sublime setting make it a lovely sight to behold. Our Arches exploration now complete, we end the day with a final road transfer to Torrey, Utah, a stone’s throw from Capitol Reef National Park. Our mobile camp has reached Torrey ahead of us and is already set up upon our arrival, allowing us to kick back and relax before the dinner bell sounds. We spend the next two nights in our Torrey campground.

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

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 the day exploring some of the highlights of Capitol Reef beginning in historic Fruita, a small farming settlement established by Mormon pioneers in the 1880s with the intent of turning the inhospitable desert into rich farmland and orchards. Following our visit to Fruita, we take 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 in Waterpocket Fold traverses part of the Grand Wash, Frying Pan, and Cohab Canyon trails and gives us access to some of the best views and most interesting sections of backcountry in the park. As we walk, we see examples of Capitol Reef’s four main rock types; tall Wingate cliffs around the Fremont River and Grand Wash, the varied red strata of the Kayenta Formation on the top of the reef, Navajo sandstone domes forming the highest summits, and the multicolored Chinle Formation on the west side of the reef. After a full day of adventure in this untrammeled wilderness, our trail ultimately leads us back to Fruita where our vehicle is waiting to shuttle us back to our nearby campground.

Transfer: Approx. 1.5 hours; Hiking: 11 miles; Elevation gain/loss: 1,000’; Terrain: slickrock, sandy washes and dirt trails.

Although the wonders of Bryce Canyon await at the end of the road, it’s 1.9-million-acre Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument that captures our imagination today as we explore the monument on an invigorating hike to a hidden waterfall. Departing Torrey this morning, we head south and west along Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 stopping at Anasazi State Park to visit the ruins of an Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) village likely occupied from 1050-1200 A.D. and, at that time, one of the largest communities west of the Colorado River. After our village visit, we transfer to the Lower Calf Creek Falls trailhead and begin our 6-mile hike to the enchanting 130-foot waterfalls, a lush oasis concealed deep within the tumbled stone and slickrock of Grand Staircase-Escalante. For lunch we enjoy a special treat—a stop at the charming Kiva Koffehouse—a small café on our route to Bryce, perched atop a cliff with unobstructed views over the surrounding mesas and canyons. Continuing on to Bryce Canyon, we spend the night in REI’s Bryce Canyon Signature Camp, an ideal location for stargazing as we are in one of the darkest nighttime locations in the U.S.

Transfer: 2.5 hours; Hiking: 6 miles; Elevation gain/loss: 200’; Terrain: dirt trails.

Famous for the thousands of striated sandstone pinnacles or “hoodoos” that stand like silent sentinels below its rim, Bryce Canyon provides a delightfully different manifestation of the forces of erosion than any we’ve seen thus far. Gazing into the 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. Getting an early start, we take full advantage of our hiking time in Bryce today by warming up on the shorter Navajo Loop trail before beginning the outstanding Fairyland Loop hike later 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. After completing the Fairyland Loop and returning to the canyon rim, we jump back aboard our van and hit the road for Zion National Park, the final stop on our amazing journey. Located on private land near the east entrance of Zion, we arrive at our exclusive Zion Signature Camp in late afternoon and have the remainder of the day and evening at leisure to enjoy some relaxation time, another excellent camp dinner and the company of newfound friends. We spend the next two nights at Zion Signature Camp.

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

Its first inhabitants tracking mammoth, giant sloth and camels throughout this region over 8,000 years ago, Zion National Park and environs has since been home to a variety of different cultures and peoples including the Anasazi, Fremont, Paiute, and Mormon pioneers. Today, Zion offers sanctuary to outdoor lovers wanting to experience the majesty of the park’s cliffs, canyons and rivers while hiking on some of the most memorable and exhilarating trails in the Southwest. Our introductory hike this morning takes us out to Observation Point (6,521’), one of the park’s best vantage points with breathtaking views stretching out over Zion Canyon. As we gaze across the landscape, we keep our eyes peeled for Peregrine falcons and California condors, known to frequent the area. Hiking from Observation Point down to the canyon floor, we hop aboard the park shuttle and, getting off at the Temple of Sinawava, take the Riverside Walk to the entrance of the spectacular Zion Narrows, the second half of our day’s adventure. Alternating between hiking and wading, our trail is the Virgin River itself as it winds its way between 1,000-foot-tall canyon walls sometimes only twenty or thirty feet apart. 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 retracing our steps to the Riverside Walk. Back at camp tonight, we gather with our traveling companions for a special celebration dinner and reflect on all of the wonders we’ve seen during our time together.

Transfer: 1.5 hours; Hiking: 8-12 miles; Elevation loss: 2,150’; Terrain: dirt trails, river wading (sometimes in thigh to waist deep water).

Before beginning our drive to Las Vegas, one final hike awaits, promising to end our journey on an unforgettable note. The trail to Angels Landing is cut into sandstone walls and follows Walter's Wiggles, a series of 21 switchbacks leading up to Scout Lookout, a viewpoint overlooking Zion Canyon and the Virgin River. The final hike to Angels Landing itself is along a steep, narrow trail set on the spine of a sandstone fin rising almost 1,500 feet above the canyon floor. Chains, for use as handholds, have been installed along the trail for hiker safety on this airy route. The mind-bending 360-degree views from Angels Landing viewpoint are the perfect exclamation point on our epic Southwestern adventure! After our exciting morning hike 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 after 9pm tonight.

Transfer: 3.5 hours; Hiking: 5 miles; Elevation gain/loss: 1,500’; Terrain: dirt trails.

Note on Itinerary

Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

Call 1-800-622-2236 to reserve this trip on the phone

Monday-Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time

Price Includes

Eight nights camping in our REI Signature Camps; guide leadership; van transportation from Salt Lake City, Utah to Las Vegas, Nevada; all meals beginning with lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 9; beverages including coffee, hot tea and hot chocolate; all group camping equipment; park fees and local taxes.

All operations in Grand Staircase National Monument are conducted under the authorized concessionaire permit of Arizona Outdoor Specialists, Inc.

Not Included

Flights to Salt Lake City, Utah/from Las Vegas, Nevada; airport transfers; alcoholic beverages; sleeping bag; optional guide gratuities.

Consider as you sign up

Airline tickets - Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip is confirmed with the minimum number of participants required to operate.

Travel insurance - To protect your travel investment, we highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance. Please contact us or see details.

REI membership - Get a member discount on most REI Adventures trips plus other valuable benefits.

REI MasterCard® - Earn 5 % back on REI Adventures trips and all REI net purchases. Learn more.

Additional Information

Cancellation and Transfer Policy

A refundable deposit of $400 is required at time of booking to secure space. Full payment is required 60 days before departure date.

If you decide to cancel your trip, the following fees apply and are due when we receive notice of your cancellation:
91+ days prior to departure = $0
61 to 90 days = $400
31 to 60 days prior to departure = 50% of the total trip cost is non-refundable
0 to 30 days prior to departure = 100% of the trip cost is non-refundable

If you instead transfer to another trip, the following fees at due at the time of the request:
61+ days prior to departure = $0
31 to 60 days = $400
0 to 30 days prior to departure = 100% of the trip cost is non-refundable

To protect your investment, we recommend that you purchase travel insurance.

Weather

Temperatures in the high desert can vary greatly from location to location (dependent on altitude) and from season to season. Spring and fall departures will likely experience daytime temperatures in the 70s and 80s with evenings dropping into the 40s and 50s. Summer temperatures during the daytime can rise into the 90s with evenings in the 50s and 60s. Bear in mind that the dry air will make the temperatures feel slightly cooler. During most months this region receives very little precipitation but participants should arrive with adequate raingear and be prepared for the possibility of rain.

Single Travelers

Tent accommodations are shared and solo travelers will be paired with a same gender tent-mate. If you request single accommodations, REI will provide you with your own tent at no additional charge if a single tent is available. Please be advised that there are a limited number of tents and single tents are assigned first-come, first-served basis. For more details about traveling solo, see our Solo Travelers page.

General Information

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. Additional trip information will be provided 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. This gear list has been created to help you choose the proper equipment. Try to bring only what is necessary; this will help you and the field staff.

Provided by REI

  • Tent(s)
  • Camp Furniture
  • All Group Cooking Gear
  • Group First Aid Kit
  • Cots and Sleeping Pads

Required

Recommended

Optional

Travel Documents

  • Final Bulletin (Emailed Prior to Departure Date)

Contact Us

Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-622-2236 should you have any questions regarding the gear list. The staff at our stores and Direct Sales (1-800-426-4840) will also be happy to help you with gear questions. Or check out www.rei.com/learn. The Expert Advice section on our "Learn" page has great information to help you prepare for your trip.

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