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Map of Hiking Utah's National Parks including United States Of America

See famous landmarks and hike the best Utah National Parks.

Utah is a vast state with some of the USA’s most famous National Parks and you’ll get to see their many highlights with an expert guide. Leave Las Vegas behind to marvel at Arches National Park, explore Monument Valley with a specialist Navajo guide, see the inspiring scenery of Moab, and take in the spires of Bryce Canyon, land of the Navajo people. Uncover the rugged beauty and rich Indigenous history of Utah on a journey to some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring parts of the USA on a nine-day walking trip with Intrepid.

Start
Las Vegas, United States
Finish
Las Vegas, United States
Destination
United States
Style
Original
Theme
Walking & Trekking
Code
SSXZ
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Visit Zion National Park and hike the Angel’s Landing trail (up to Scout’s Lookout), a walk to remember, with its dramatic switchbacks, drop-offs and incredible views.

  • Bryce Canyon is known for crimson-coloured hoodoos which are spire-shaped rock formations. Hike the Navajo Loop to the famous Thor’s Hammer hoodoo.

  • Enjoy a backcountry hike with a team of First Nations guides and learn about native plants, animals, geology, archaeology and most importantly, about indigenous past and present.

  • Sunsets are always beautiful, but nothing can beat the one in Moab – take your time and enjoy the unforgettable sunset scenes at Dead Horse Point.

  • Join a Navajo guide on a jeep tour through Monument Valley and learn about this incredible place from an indigenous perspective.

  • Take the perfect photo at Horseshoe Bend, a horseshoe-shaped incised meander along the Colorado River, which is one of the most photographed places in Utah.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This is a walking trip so a good level of fitness will help you to fully enjoy it.

  • Walking in these national parks can be hot during summer, therefore some of the walks will take place very early in the morning. Regardless, sun protection is a must, along with at least two litres of water per person and comfortable clothing suited for hiking in hot conditions.

  • Your adventure wraps up at 5pm and overnight accommodation is not included on the final day, so please plan your journey home accordingly.

Hiker revelling in views en route to Angel's Landing in Zion National Park, Utah, USA
Horseshoe Bend Panorama, Page, Arizona, USA
Thor's hammer, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
USA_Utah_Hikers-in-Bryce-Canyon_1100x735
Group enjoying view of Horseshoe Bend, Page, Arizona, USA
Scenic Viewpoint at Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah, USA
Jeep excursion in Monument Valley, Utah, USA
Navajo guide in Monument Valley, Utah, USA
Scenic drive through Red Canyon, Utah, USA
Sandstone towers of Capitol Reef National Park in Utah

Itinerary
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Welcome to Las Vegas! Your trip starts with a Welcome Meeting at 6pm followed by a welcome dinner where you will get to meet your fellow travellers. After dinner, you might like to hit the shops, ride a rooftop roller coaster or simply wander along the Strip, soaking up the glitz and glamour. Tomorrow is an early start for an adventurous and active day, so make it a (relatively) early night.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting this evening as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

You’ll be up bright and early this morning for the drive to Zion National Park. After you arrive in Springdale, your base for next two nights, check into your accommodation, grab lunch and head towards Zion National Park for your first hike of the trip. Warm up with a gentle leader-led orientation of the park, and an easy walk to the lower end of the Emerald Pools, passing sparkling waterfalls and streams along the way. Continue on a more difficult trail to the upper section, checking out another waterfall on the way to Zion's 'beach'. This afternoon, you’ll have some free time to relax at your accommodation or perhaps head out and enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants in town.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Zion National Park - Emerald Pools hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s driving time is approximately 3 hours. Today’s walking distance is 4.8 kms (3 miles) with up to 106 metres (350 feet) of elevation.

Depending on permit availability, the guided hike to Angel's Landing (Up to Scout Lookout) may occur on Day 2 of the trip, followed by the hike to Emerald Pools. In this case, the group will hike at Snow Canyon State Park on Day 3 which features a less crowded but no less scenic hiking experience.

Today is an early start for another, longer hike in Zion and one that’s worth getting up early for. In fact, this is one of Zion’s most iconic walks, the famous half-day Angels Landing hike (up to Scout’s Lookout). The stunning views of Zion Canyon's 270-million-year-old rock layers will take you back in time to the Triassic period when this section of the Colorado Plateau was just a flat basin at sea level. Just a heads up, there are some sheer drops and a narrow-ish path you will have to cross, but don’t worry, anyone in an average physical condition can make this trek. However, it can be mentally challenging with its steep switchbacks and sheer drop-offs.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Zion National Park - Angels Landing (up to Scout’s Lookout) hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s walking distance is 8.7 kms (5.4 miles) with 453 metres (1,488 feet) of elevation.

Please note the group will hike up to Scout’s Lookout together. The last stretch (0.5 miles/0.8 kms) of the trail to the top of Angels Landing is not included. If you are interested in continuing to the top independently, you must apply for a permit via the park's lottery system on the following website: https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/angels-landing-hiking-permits.htm

In the morning, drive to Bryce Canyon where wind and water erosion have formed the park's crimson hoodoos – uniquely shaped rock spires rising out of the desert. The park’s main road leads past the expansive Bryce Amphitheatre, a hoodoo-filled depression lying below the Rim Trail hiking path. It has overlooks at Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. After checking into your accommodation, we’ll hike the iconic Navajo Loop Trail which begins and ends at Sunset Point. Travelling by switchbacks between narrow walls of colourful limestone with views of towering Douglas-fir trees, this trail takes you to the park's most famous hoodoo: Thor's Hammer. This trail has two sides - Two Bridges and Wall Street – so the trip out and back is different with unique scenery on each side of the loop.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Bryce Canyon National Park - Navajo Loop Trail hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s walking distance is 2.2 kms (1.4 miles) with an elevation of 157 metres (515 feet).

Today, after breakfast, we’ll hit the road for Moab. On the way, we stop in Capitol Reef National Park to hike to Cassidy Arch, named after – you guessed it – Butch Cassidy. Enjoy this fantastic there-and-back hike to a towering natural arch that is just as admirable from afar as it is from atop it.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Capitol Reef - Cassidy Arch hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today hike is 3.1 miles (5km) with 670ft elevation gain (203m).

Another day, another adventure! Today you will be guided by your leader, who will take you around Arches National Park, home to more than 2,000 natural stone arches, rock formations and giant, balancing rocks. We will definitely visit the Delicate Arch, a stone icon of the park which has become the unofficial symbol of the State of Utah. Along this trail you’ll also see the Wolfe Ranch cabin and Ute Indian petroglyphs. This trail can be very hot so you’ll need at least 2 litres of water, a sunhat, sunscreen and sunglasses. The rest of the day is up to you. By now you will have covered a fair amount of ground so you may like to take it easy in the afternoon. If not, you are free to enjoy some additional hiking through this stunning area. If time allows we’ll head out to Dead Horse Point State Park to take in the beauty of Moab’s sunset as it lights up the cliffs of Canyonlands National Park.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Arches National Park - Delicate Arch hike
  • Moab - Dead Horse Point sunset visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
The trail to see Delicate Arch up close and personal is 4.8 kms (3 miles) roundtrip and climbs 146 metres (480 feet).

Perhaps get up early to see yet another unforgettable scene, a sunrise over Moab desert, then drive south to Canyonlands National Park for a short hike in The Needles. With almost 100 kilometres (60 miles) of interconnecting trails, your leader will help the group choose their own adventure in this spectacular section of the national park. Take it easy along one of the scenic paved trails or challenge yourselves with sandy washes, steep passes, and ladders – the choice is yours. After the walk, we’ll travel south to Bluff, your overnight base, but not before we stop for a very special experience – a guided walk with an expert First Nations guide. Explore beautiful country filled with an abundance of native plants, animals, incredible geologic features, archaeology, and most of all, authentic indigenous stories.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Canyonlands National Park - The Needles hike
  • Butler Wash - First Nations guided hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s walking distances and elevation gain will depend on the group.

After a big day yesterday, it’s time for more adventure! It’s an early start for the trip to Monument Valley where a Navajo leader – one of the Keepers of Monument Valley - will take you around their lands in an open-air vehicle for a very special off-the-beaten track adventure. Learn about the history of the Anasazis, the “Ancient Ones,” as you take in the beauty of Monument Valley’s famous arches, explore significant sites and see ancient petroglyphs. For lunch, you’ll enjoy an exclusive ‘Navajo Taco’ lunch. Tonight is the last night of your trip, so you might like to head out and celebrate your incredible Utah adventure with the rest of your group.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Monument Valley - Navajo guided 4x4 Jeep tour including traditional lunch
Meals Included
  • Lunch

Today, we’ll head back to Las Vegas but there’s still time for one more hike, this time at Horseshoe Bend in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. This horseshoe-shaped incised meander of the Colorado River is the perfect place to wrap up your trip with one final walk which offers unlimited options for incredible photos. We’ll arrive in Las Vegas at around 5pm when your trip will come to an end. No accommodation is provided tonight, however, if you do wish to spend extra time in Las Vegas, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
Included Activities
  • Glen Canyon - Horseshoe Bend hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 6 hours. Today’s walking distance is 2.4 kms (1.5 miles) with minimal elevation.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights)

Included activities

  • Zion National Park - Emerald Pools hike
  • Zion National Park - Angels Landing (up to Scout’s Lookout) hike
  • Bryce Canyon National Park - Navajo Loop Trail hike
  • Capitol Reef - Cassidy Arch hike
  • Arches National Park - Delicate Arch hike
  • Moab - Dead Horse Point sunset visit
  • Canyonlands National Park - The Needles hike
  • Butler Wash - First Nations guided hike
  • Monument Valley - Navajo guided 4x4 Jeep tour including traditional lunch
  • Glen Canyon - Horseshoe Bend hike

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Hiking Utah's National Parks trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. This trip starts with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1 in Las Vegas.
2. This trip finishes upon arrival in Las Vegas on Day 9 around 5pm. There is no accommodation included on the last day in Las Vegas, however we can request any additional nights should you need them.
3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4. MAY 13, JULY 15, SEP 9 & 16 DEPARTURES:
Depending on permit availability, the guided hike to Angel's Landing (Up to Scout Lookout) may occur on Day 2 of the trip, followed by the hike to Emerald Pools. In this case, the group will hike at Snow Canyon State Park on Day 3 which features a less crowded but no less scenic hiking experience.

Essential trip information

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