Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: Utah National Parks Hiking
Day 1 Take a Scenic Drive to Moab & Hike in Colorado National Monument
1.5-hour private van transfer
3-4 hours/3-4 miles hiking (multiple trails - longest 2.6 miles)
Welcome to Colorado! Your guides will pick you and your fellow adventures up this morning from your pre-trip hotel. After an orientation meeting, wake up your travel legs with a series of short hikes in Colorado National Monument, a picnic lunch, and an opportunity to learn at the visitor's center. In the afternoon drive a spectacular scenic route to Moab along the Colorado River and past iconic Fisher Towers before arriving in Moab, Utah — your home for the next three nights. Tonight's welcome dinner is at a local's favorite!
Accommodation: Hyatt Place Moab
(L, D)
Day 2 Hiking Arches National Park
4-5 hours/5-7 miles hiking
Meet your MT Sobek guide at breakfast ready for a full day of exploring the magnificent stone arches and giant balanced rocks of Arches National Park. Home to more than 2,000 natural arches, one is so famous that it graces nearly every travel brochure and license plate for the state of Utah. Today hike to Delicate Arch and some of the other amazing arches including Landscape Arch which spans an impressive 306 feet! Return to Moab and a leisurely dinner.
Accommodation: Hyatt Place Moab
(B, L, D)
Day 3 Remote Needles District of Canyonlands National Park
2.5-hour private vehicle transfer
4-5 hours/6 miles hiking 600+ feet of elevation gain and loss
Welcome to the remote Canyonlands' Needles District - where every step tells a story, and every vista is a masterpiece waiting to be discovered. First, stop at the Newspaper Rock, an incredible display of ancient Native American pictographs and petroglyphs, some dating back 2,000 years. Next enjoy a hiker's haven, inviting you to hike over slickrock that stretches as far as the eye can see. Marvel at a panorama of sandstone "needles" piercing the horizon. Your 6-mile trek is an unforgettable exploration of this less visited part of Canyonlands. Tonight enjoy some relaxation or explore Moab's dining options on your own.
(B, L)
Day 4 Islands in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, Goblin Valley & Stargazing
4-5 hours/4-6 miles hiking; 1-hour stargazing
This morning, depart Moab for Grand View Point and Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park. Marvel at towering rock walls, ancient pictographs, and sweeping sandstone landscapes as you journey into the heart of the park. Learn while you lunch at the John Wesley Powell River History Museum. Next explore the phantasmagoric Goblin Valley and marvel at this geologic wonder on your way to Capital Reef National Park. After settling in and an early dinner this evening, learn about Capitol Reef's designation as an International Dark Sky Park as you enjoy a special stargazing experience with an astronomer! The Utah desert's predictable weather, low humidity and dark night skies make it the perfect location for viewing the Milky Way Galaxy, millions of stars, recognizable constellations, and even some far-off galaxies millions of light years away.
Accommodation: Capitol Reef Resort
(B, L, D)
Day 5 Hike Capitol Reef National Park
1-hour private vehicle transfer
3-4 hours/4-6 miles hiking
This morning, set off on a journey to remote and rugged Capitol Reef National Park. Capitol Reef offers hikers not only dramatic desert scenery, but also serenity and solitude due to its light visitation. Experience the wonders of the park as you follow expert guides on a day hike along the Grand View Wash Trail and along the upper portion of the Waterpocket Fold — a massive geological wrinkle in the Earth's surface. Enjoying dinner together is a perfect way to end a day filled with adventures and astounding landscape diversity.
Accommodation: Capitol Reef Resort
(B, L, D)
Day 6 Morning Hike in Bryce Canyon & Head to Zion
3.5-hour private vehicle transfer
4-5 hours/5-6 miles hiking with 800' elevation gain/loss
Depart early for a scenic drive to Bryce Canyon National Park. Words cannot describe the sweeping views from the rim of Bryce's amphitheater, the starting point for the hike along the rim trail to Sunset Point. Descend into this wild land of rock, through a surreal maze of pink hoodoos, spires and, rock windows. After exploring this otherworldly landscape, continue to Zion National Park with its epic trails and narrow slot canyons.
Accommodation: The Lodge at Zion Country
(B, L, D)
Day 7 Hike in Zion National Park
5-7 hours/5-6 miles hiking - in/out of water all day (gear provided)
Meet your guide this morning for a full day bottom-up hike in the Narrows of Zion National Park. On this spectacular slot canyon hike, you will walk along the banks and in the Virgin River to the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. Your feet will get wet, so your day will begin with proper outfitting for the hike. You will be outfitted with special footwear, neoprene socks, a hiking pole and a dry day pack. Relax by the riverside while you enjoy a picnic lunch in the afternoon. This evening, celebrate your journey with a farewell dinner in Springdale.
Accommodation: The Lodge at Zion Country
(B, L, D)
Day 8 Depart Las Vegas
3-hour private vehicle transfer
1-2 hours/3 miles hiking with 370 ft elevation gain (optional)
This morning you can rise early and take in one more hike in Zion or have the option to relax at the hotel before departing for Las Vegas to catch afternoon homebound flights.
(B)
