BRYCE Canyon, UT

  Southern Utah is home to some of the most eye-popping orange sandstone, unique textures and shapes that keep us returning to this unique place. Hiking through Bryce Canyon National Park is, in our opinion, the best way to see the park’s famous hoodoos, spires and sandstone fins. With an interconnected network of trails that makes it easy to keep hiking all day, Bryce Canyon’s trails won’t disappoint.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Day 1

Lunch & Dinner included:

Your trip begins in Cedar City Utah, billed as "the gateway to Utah's National Parks". After a beautiful drive through the stunning landscapes and 10,000-foot pass of Dixie National Forest, we will continue to Tropic Utah. Our stay for the entirety of our trip is at the Stone Canyon Inn, which borders on the eastern edge of Bryce Canyon National Park. Depending on your arrival time, the remainder of the afternoon is yours to settle into your “Cabin,” and relax after your flight. As our day turns to evening, we take a short walk to the Stone Hearth Grille for the first of five group dinners.

Day 2 

Fairyland Loop Trail, Bryce Canyon NP:

Distance: 9 miles (15km), Elevation Gain: 1,608′ (490m)

We start our day with an early breakfast at the Rustler Restaurant in Tropic, then head to Bryce Canyon, 13 miles away, to begin our first hike. Fairyland Loop Trail begins at Fairyland Point, at the northern portion of Bryce Canyon National Park, and takes you through spectacular hoodoos and scenery along the rim and into the canyon, including a spur trail to Tower Bridge. The Fairyland Loop Trail also includes a portion of the Rim Trail from Sunrise Point to Fairyland Point. We will return to Tropic with a stop at Bryce Canyon Coffee before returning home to relax and unwind after a day in the canyon.

Day 3 

Lower Calf Creek Falls, Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument:

Distance: ~6 miles (10km), Elevation Gain: 531′ (162m)

After breakfast we head about an hour east to Lower Calf Creek Falls, in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. There, we will experience the natural beauty of Lower Calf Creek Falls on a hike through the magnificent landscapes of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, leading to a gorgeous waterfall. Don’t your swimsuit to cool off in the swimming hole beneath the 120’ waterfall. Bring adequate footwear as well, since most of the trail consists of unconsolidated sand. On our return, we will stop in the town of Escalante at Utah Canyon Outdoors for coffee, smoothies and to support local businesses before returning home to relax before dinner.

Day 4 

Panorama and Shepard Trails, Kodachrome State Park:

Distance: ~8 miles (14km), Elevation Gain: 1450′ (442m)

Today we head about 20 minutes east to Kodachrome Basin State Park. As soon as you see it, you will know that the name fits perfectly. With its red-tinged rock formations and incredible blue skies, Kodachrome Basin just begs to be photographed. The National Geographic Society came up with the name, and everyone agreed with it.

Towering monolithic spires or chimneys jut up from the valley floor or protrude from the sandstone rocks that surround the campground and inspire an infinite array of subjects limited only by one’s imagination. This color and contrast prompted the National Geographic Society in 1949, with consent from Kodak Film Corp., to name the park Kodachrome.  

Day 5 

Navajo, Peekaboo & Queens Trail Loop, Bryce Canyon National Park

Distance: ~8 miles (14km), Elevation Gain: 1519′ (463m)

Today, after breakfast, we head back to Bryce Canyon for our last hike of the trip. The Figure-8 combination of Navajo Loop, Peekaboo Loop and Queen's Garden, combines three amphitheater hikes into one ultimate hike! We typically hike this in a counterclockwise direction descending Navajo Loop, thru Wall Street, connecting to the Peekaboo Loop, in a clockwise direction, and ascending Queen’s Garden Loop. From there we complete the trail by hiking back to Sunrise Point along the Rim Trail. This epic loop weaves in and out of some of the most famous red rock formations in Bryce Canyon. These areas are some of the most popular in the park, and some of the most sought after by hikers. 

Day 6

Breakfast & Lunch Included:

We will enjoy our last breakfast at The Rustler’s Restaurant before heading out. After a quick stop to fuel up at Sevier Coffee Co, in the quaint town of Hatch, Utah we then have another wonderful drive back through Dixie National Forest. Your trip ends where it began in Cedar City, Utah.

Please schedule all home bound flights for after 2 pm.