Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in St. George
You'll arrive at either St. George Regional Airport (SGU) or Las Vegas (LAS). If you're flying into Las Vegas, hourly shuttles run to St. George, so that's straightforward. If you're driving, your hotel can arrange parking for you. Get settled and rest up for the hiking ahead.
Optional Activities
- Arrange shuttle transfer from Las Vegas to St. George
- Day 2
St. George to Bryce Canyon Area
Leave St. George at 7:00 am and drive about three hours to reach Bryce Canyon area. Start at Kodachrome Basin State Park where you'll walk through hoodoos and see some interesting geologic formations. From there, check out Grosvenor Arch and hike through Cottonwood Narrows slot canyon. By evening, head to Escalante and check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Scenic drive through Kodachrome Basin State Park with short hikes
- Visit Grosvenor Arch
- Hike through Cottonwood Narrows slot canyon
Landmarks/POIs Kodachrome Basin State Park Grosvenor Arch Cottonwood Narrows Bryce Canyon National Park - Day 3
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Head out early at 7:00 am to Lower Calf Creek Falls before crowds arrive. The 6-mile roundtrip takes you through a lush canyon with colorful walls and a stream running through it. Watch for large pictographs and trout along the way. Grab lunch at Kiva Koffeehouse with views overlooking Escalante Canyon. In the afternoon, hike to Upper Calf Creek Falls, a shorter 1.5-mile roundtrip that drops almost 600 feet on Navajo Sandstone. Total hiking today is about 8 miles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Hearty meal at Kiva Koffeehouse overlooking Escalante Canyon), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls (6-mile roundtrip)
- Hike to Upper Calf Creek Falls (1.5-mile roundtrip)
- Meal at Kiva Koffeehouse
Landmarks/POIs Lower Calf Creek Falls Upper Calf Creek Falls Escalante Canyon Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument - Day 4
Escalante Canyons Area
Start with a hike to Escalante Natural Bridge sitting on cliffs above the Escalante River. Continue on to Cliff House Arch and nearby Native American ruins in the area. You'll have lunch with a nice view, then descend to Phillips Arch. Expect multiple water crossings along this route. Total distance adds up to around 10 miles, though it can be shortened depending on how the group is doing. Return to Escalante for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch)
Included Activities
- Hike to Escalante Natural Bridge
- Visit Cliff House Arch and Native American ruins
- Hike to Phillips Arch with water crossings
- Picnic lunch
Landmarks/POIs Escalante Natural Bridge Cliff House Arch Phillips Arch Escalante River - Day 5
Hole in the Rock Road
Travel along Hole in the Rock Road, the historic route blazed by Mormon Pioneers. You'll see Devil's Garden with its sandstone hoodoos and arches, walk through Zebra and Tunnel Slot Canyons, and check out Twenty Mile Wash Dinosaur Track Site with Jurassic Period footprints. Then explore several slot canyons including Dry Fork Coyote Gulch, Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon, and Spooky Gulch. About 3 to 5 miles of hiking total. Head back to Escalante in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Devil's Garden
- Hike Zebra and Tunnel Slot Canyons
- Visit Twenty Mile Wash Dinosaur Track Site
- Hike Dry Fork Coyote Gulch
- Hike Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon
- Hike Spooky Gulch
Landmarks/POIs Hole in the Rock Road Devil's Garden Zebra Slot Canyon Tunnel Slot Canyon Twenty Mile Wash Dinosaur Track Site Dry Fork Coyote Gulch Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon Spooky Gulch - Day 6
Big Horn Canyon and Bryce Canyon
Explore Big Horn Canyon via Hole in the Rock Road, which has vibrant swirly sandstone worth seeing. Hike 3 to 4 miles up and back (some sections might be blocked, but they're easy to get around). After lunch, visit Covered Wagon Natural Bridge and Cedar Wash Arch, both featuring impressive natural formations. Later, drive to Bryce Canyon for dinner with the group. If you're interested, stick around for stargazing and astro photography at 9:00 pm from the Rim of Bryce Canyon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Group dinner at Bryce Canyon)
Included Activities
- Hike Big Horn Canyon (3 to 4 miles roundtrip)
- Visit Covered Wagon Natural Bridge
- Visit Cedar Wash Arch
- Group dinner at Bryce Canyon
- Stargazing and astro photography at Bryce Canyon Rim (optional)
Optional Activities
- Stargazing and astro photography at 9:00 pm on the Rim of Bryce Canyon
Landmarks/POIs Big Horn Canyon Covered Wagon Natural Bridge Cedar Wash Arch Bryce Canyon National Park - Day 7
Return to St. George
Spend your final day hiking Big Horn Canyon, which has those distinctive swirly, stripy, colorful sandstone formations. The hike is 3 to 4 miles up and back (some slot sections may be blocked but easy to work around). By afternoon, head back to St. George, arriving around 5:00 pm. Schedule your flight or transportation for after 7:00 pm, or think about staying extra days in St. George if you want more time.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Hike Big Horn Canyon (3 to 4 miles roundtrip)
Landmarks/POIs Big Horn Canyon
