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Hiking and Camping in Utah

Hiking and Camping in Utah

From $ 4,075 AUD

Description

See the best of Zion, Bryce and Escalante, Utah’s most celebrated national park destinations, on a small group hiking and backcountry camping tour. Daily hikes take you to the must-see highlights of these breathtaking parks as you experience spring-fed creeks, deep canyons, colourful cliffs, and sandstone spires, arches, and towers. Spend two days at Zion National Park then head to Bryce Canyon National Park to explore its famous “hoodoos” (rock spires). You will also spend two days in Escalante, one of Utah’s – and America’s – best kept secrets. Enjoy comforts like showers and cosy sleeping amenities, even while camping, on this diverse backcountry hiking trip.

Trip Name
Hiking and Camping in Utah
Last Updated
2024-08-07
Days
6
Capacity
6
Highlights
  • Have a wonderful outdoor experience while you enjoy comforts like showers and cosy sleeping amenities, even while camping.
  • Zion National Park is a natural playground for adventure lovers where you can explore highlights and hidden wonders like Scout Lookout and the Orderville Canyon.
  • Admire Boat Mesa, the Sinking Ship formation, Tower Bridge, China Wall, Fairyland Canyon and other amazing rock structures in Bryce Canyon National Park.
  • Experience the iconic Virgin River Narrows hike as you walk through moving water with your leader who will help you get your “stream legs” on your way to Orderville Canyon.
  • Take in the beauty of the serene Emerald Pools, named for their glorious green tones, then descend to the lawn of the historic Zion Lodge and enjoy a delicious picnic lunch.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk. In order to travel on this trip, you: 1. Must be able to understand and recognize the risks and hazards inherent in the activities of the trip, must be able to decide to assume those risks and hazards and must actually and voluntarily assume those risks and hazards. 2. Must be able to withstand exposure to the outdoors including exposure to diverse climactic conditions during the trip, including temperatures ranging from below freezing to +100 degrees F, potentially rapidly changing precipitative conditions from dry conditions to precipitation including monsoons and flash floods, for the duration of the Program. 3. Must be able to monitor and evaluate changes in personal health condition including the onset of dehydration, hyponatremia, heat illness or stroke or hypothermia and must be able to communicate any changes in personal health condition or safety concerns to the guide(s). 4. Must be able to participate in all activities at the time scheduled for each activity; e.g. to beat the heat, guest pick-up and hike start times during summer months may range between 3-6 a.m. 5. Must be able to manage all personal care and mobility during extended periods of exertion of 10-plus hours per day, either independently or with the assistance of a companion or an approved assistive device. 6. Must be able to enter and exit a multi-passenger vehicle either independently or with the assistance of a companion or approved assistive device. 7. Must be able to withstand up to eight hours as a passenger in a multi-passenger vehicle, transporting up to 14 passengers at a time, either independently or with the assistance of a companion or an approved assistive device. 8. Must be able to immediately comprehend and follow verbal instructions either independently or with the assistance of a companion or approved assistive device. 9. Must be able to traverse wet and dry, sandy, rocky, uneven and/or unstable ground over a distance of 10-plus miles per day including elevation differential (gain and/or loss) of +3,000 feet per day, for a period of up to 10 hours per day, while carrying: a) BACKPACKING/BACKCOUNTRY TRIPS- a backpack weighing 25-50 pounds, b) FRONTCOUNTRY/LODGE, BASECAMP AND INN-BASED TRIPS - a fully loaded backpack weighing 10-15 pounds, either independently or with an assistance companion or an approved assistive device. 10. Must be able to self-manage and self-navigate unsupervised while in the designated camp area either independently or with the assistance of a companion or approved assistive device. 11. Must be able to perform basic camping activities including sleeping on the ground, consuming water from back country sources, consuming food prepared in a backcountry setting and maintaining personal health and hygiene in accordance with guide directives either independently or with the assistance of a companion or approved assistive device. The use of an assistive device to meet any element of the essential eligibility criteria must be approved in advance by Intrepid Travel.

Day 1 - Zion National Park
After a pick up in St George, drive to Zion National Park and hit the trails on a lesser-travelled track through the lower canyon followed by a hike up to Scout Lookout. Admire unrivalled views of the dramatic canyon system below then follow trails along the canyon walls which offer a fantastic vantage point over the canyon floor. Emerge at the serene Emerald Pools, named for their glorious green tones, then descend to the lawn of the historic Zion Lodge and sit down to a late picnic lunch. From here, you'll make your way down-canyon to pick up hiking gear for tomorrow’s adventure in the Virgin River Narrows before departing for your camp for the evening.
Day 2 - Zion National Park
Your second day’s hike is arguably the most iconic in Zion — the Virgin River Narrows. Your hike begins with a stroll down the paved River Trail, buttressed by water on our left and a 3,000-foot cliff face on the right. After walking along hanging gardens and under the dappled shade of cottonwoods, the sidewalk ends and you will enter the river. Hiking in moving water can be a new and exciting experience so there will be time to get your “stream legs” before walking another 1.5 miles upriver to the turnaround point at Orderville Canyon. Before heading back downstream, snap a few more photos of the Narrows’ beauty and stop-off for a relaxing shoreline lunch.
Day 3 - Bryce Canyon National Park
After breakfast, break camp and make your way to the Escalante country, visiting Bryce Canyon National Park en route. Lace up your hiking boots and enjoy one of the lesser-hiked trails in Bryce which offers some of the most impressive scenery in the park. You will be based in the northern part of the national park which offers superb vistas of Boat Mesa, the Sinking Ship formation, Tower Bridge, China Wall, Fairyland Canyon and other amazing rock structures. After our hike, continue to our Escalante Camp for a tasty dinner and a night of rest and relaxation.
Day 4 - Anasazi State Park
After breakfast, set off on a beautiful hike along a flat, sandy canyon trail to Calf Creek Falls. You will pass Native American ruins and pictographs, and have a good chance of seeing some wildlife. If you’re up for a dip and feeling hearty – this water is surprisingly cold – you can go swimming below the spectacular 128-foot falls. After lunch at the falls, you will have the opportunity to drop into the town of Boulder for an optional visit to Anasazi State Park, home to one of the largest Ancestral Puebloan communities west of the Colorado River. From here, it’s an easy drive back to basecamp.
Day 5 - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Set off down the historic Hole-in-the-Rock Road and explore some local slot canyons in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Some canyons are dark and narrow, some are filled with water, while others contain surprises at every turn, like interconnected potholes, arches, and grottos. If there's time you'll visit the Devil's Garden National Recreation Area where you can admire natural stone arches, rock formations and giant, balancing rocks.
Day 6 - Bryce Canyon National Park
After breakfast, break down camp and head west toward the starting point of our trip, St. George. On the way, you will stop at Bryce Canyon National Park for a second time to enjoy another classic walk through its famous hoodoos and spectacular vistas. This hike takes you down from the rim, through the stunning corridors of Wall Street and past the Silent City to Queen's Garden, before bringing you back to the rim of the Bryce Amphitheatre. After lunch on the rim, gazing into the maze of Wall Street, load up and head back to St. George where your trip will come to an end at approximately 5 pm.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
23-03-202528-03-2025AUD $ 4,075-
31-03-202505-04-2025AUD $ 4,075-
13-04-202518-04-2025AUD $ 4,075-
21-04-202526-04-2025AUD $ 4,075-
05-05-202510-05-2025AUD $ 4,075-
12-05-202517-05-2025AUD $ 4,075-
18-05-202523-05-2025AUD $ 4,075-
26-05-202531-05-2025AUD $ 4,075-
01-06-202506-06-2025AUD $ 4,075-
08-06-202513-06-2025AUD $ 4,075-
24-08-202529-08-2025AUD $ 4,075-
31-08-202505-09-2025AUD $ 4,075-
14-09-202519-09-2025AUD $ 4,075-
21-09-202526-09-2025AUD $ 4,075-
29-09-202504-10-2025AUD $ 4,075-
05-10-202510-10-2025AUD $ 4,075-
12-10-202517-10-2025AUD $ 4,075-

Accommodation

Camping (5 nights)

Transport

Private vehicle

Map