Itinerary
Day 1: St. George, Utah
Our canyonlands adventure begins in the red rock country of St. George, Utah. This evening we meet for an informal welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Our Expedition Leader offers a brief orientation to the history, geology, wildlife and ecology of the Colorado Plateau, which we explore in depth in the days to come on our foray through three of the world's most magnificent national parks.
Days 2 & 3: Bryce Canyon National Park—Dark Sky Experience
Bryce Canyon’s fantastical landscape offers a portal to another world. Its pink pinnacles, limestone formations and natural amphitheaters capture the imagination with geological surprises. Red rock walls create deep channels while whimsical hoodoos—rock spires carved eons ago by erosion—rise hundreds of feet into the sky. On varied hikes into the canyon’s depths, witness a stunning array of colors as the light reflects off the stone pinnacles, natural bridges and sheer cliffs. Rising early to watch the sunrise and lingering over radiant sunsets, experience the ever-changing grandeur of this astounding landscape.
After dark, another wonder awaits: a chance for some of the best stargazing in North America. The night skies around Bryce are some of the darkest in the United States, thanks to the park’s high elevation at 8,000 feet, its remote location, and its clear, clean air. One evening, joined by a park ranger, we head just outside the park bounds, away from any artificial light, to witness the night sky through telescopes. Offering an extraordinary view of the cosmos, Bryce holds International Dark Sky status, and the absence of light pollution reveals more than 7,500 stars on a clear night, while the Milky Way arcs in a luminous band across the dark tapestry overhead. During a new moon, the sight is otherworldly, as planets, constellations and distant galaxies seem close enough to touch.
Days 4 & 5: Zion National Park—Helicopter Flightseeing
Early Mormon pioneers gave Zion its name—so striking was its beauty that it evoked images of the biblical Promised Land. The U.S. government agreed and made it a national park in ___. Multi-hued sandstone monoliths rise above the valley floor where the Virgin River flows among the cottonwoods, carving a deep canyon over millennia. Trails along the river and rock walls lead to quiet recesses, where we may hear and see many birds unique to the American West. Listen for the haunting cry of canyon wrens, look to the skies overhead for golden eagles and prairie falcons, and find American dippers and phoebes in the willows along the riverbanks. Varied hikes reveal different vantage points on Zion’s geological drama, as we witness the tremendous power of water and wind to sculpt this landscape. A highlight of our visit is a 35-minute helicopter flight in and around Zion National Park, featuring aerial views of Smith Mesa, Kolob Canyons and Red Butte Mountain, in addition to notable landmarks of the park itself.
Days 6 & 7: Grand Canyon National Park—North Rim
The Grand Canyon is one of America’s most iconic national parks, and no western adventurer should miss gazing into its mile-deep chasm in the ethereal light of sunrise and sunset. Its popularity can mean many visitors, too, so we try to avoid the crowds by traveling to the less-visited but no less spectacular North Rim. With two days here, there's plenty of time to explore, walk along the rim, and absorb the drama of one of Earth’s most spectacular natural landscapes, watching it change as the light shifts throughout the day. Our Expedition Leader knows the best trails and viewpoints for a more secluded encounter with this extraordinary geological phenomenon. Stay near the rim in the pine forest at the venerable Grand Canyon Lodge. A classic national park hotel, the rustic beauty of its limestone walls and heavy timbers complements our high-desert surroundings.
Day 8: St. George / Depart
Today we must say farewell to the red rock wonders of America’s canyon country. Our Grand Canyon adventure tour concludes as we arrive back in St. George for afternoon flights home (book no earlier than 12:30 pm).
Please note: This itinerary is subject to change, as departures may visit Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce in a different order than what is outlined above. Your precise itinerary will be communicated to you once your trip dates are confirmed.
Our canyonlands adventure begins in the red rock country of St. George, Utah. This evening we meet for an informal welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Our Expedition Leader offers a brief orientation to the history, geology, wildlife and ecology of the Colorado Plateau, which we explore in depth in the days to come on our foray through three of the world's most magnificent national parks.
Days 2 & 3: Bryce Canyon National Park—Dark Sky Experience
Bryce Canyon’s fantastical landscape offers a portal to another world. Its pink pinnacles, limestone formations and natural amphitheaters capture the imagination with geological surprises. Red rock walls create deep channels while whimsical hoodoos—rock spires carved eons ago by erosion—rise hundreds of feet into the sky. On varied hikes into the canyon’s depths, witness a stunning array of colors as the light reflects off the stone pinnacles, natural bridges and sheer cliffs. Rising early to watch the sunrise and lingering over radiant sunsets, experience the ever-changing grandeur of this astounding landscape.
After dark, another wonder awaits: a chance for some of the best stargazing in North America. The night skies around Bryce are some of the darkest in the United States, thanks to the park’s high elevation at 8,000 feet, its remote location, and its clear, clean air. One evening, joined by a park ranger, we head just outside the park bounds, away from any artificial light, to witness the night sky through telescopes. Offering an extraordinary view of the cosmos, Bryce holds International Dark Sky status, and the absence of light pollution reveals more than 7,500 stars on a clear night, while the Milky Way arcs in a luminous band across the dark tapestry overhead. During a new moon, the sight is otherworldly, as planets, constellations and distant galaxies seem close enough to touch.
Days 4 & 5: Zion National Park—Helicopter Flightseeing
Early Mormon pioneers gave Zion its name—so striking was its beauty that it evoked images of the biblical Promised Land. The U.S. government agreed and made it a national park in ___. Multi-hued sandstone monoliths rise above the valley floor where the Virgin River flows among the cottonwoods, carving a deep canyon over millennia. Trails along the river and rock walls lead to quiet recesses, where we may hear and see many birds unique to the American West. Listen for the haunting cry of canyon wrens, look to the skies overhead for golden eagles and prairie falcons, and find American dippers and phoebes in the willows along the riverbanks. Varied hikes reveal different vantage points on Zion’s geological drama, as we witness the tremendous power of water and wind to sculpt this landscape. A highlight of our visit is a 35-minute helicopter flight in and around Zion National Park, featuring aerial views of Smith Mesa, Kolob Canyons and Red Butte Mountain, in addition to notable landmarks of the park itself.
Days 6 & 7: Grand Canyon National Park—North Rim
The Grand Canyon is one of America’s most iconic national parks, and no western adventurer should miss gazing into its mile-deep chasm in the ethereal light of sunrise and sunset. Its popularity can mean many visitors, too, so we try to avoid the crowds by traveling to the less-visited but no less spectacular North Rim. With two days here, there's plenty of time to explore, walk along the rim, and absorb the drama of one of Earth’s most spectacular natural landscapes, watching it change as the light shifts throughout the day. Our Expedition Leader knows the best trails and viewpoints for a more secluded encounter with this extraordinary geological phenomenon. Stay near the rim in the pine forest at the venerable Grand Canyon Lodge. A classic national park hotel, the rustic beauty of its limestone walls and heavy timbers complements our high-desert surroundings.
Day 8: St. George / Depart
Today we must say farewell to the red rock wonders of America’s canyon country. Our Grand Canyon adventure tour concludes as we arrive back in St. George for afternoon flights home (book no earlier than 12:30 pm).
Please note: This itinerary is subject to change, as departures may visit Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce in a different order than what is outlined above. Your precise itinerary will be communicated to you once your trip dates are confirmed.
