Utah: Bryce & Zion Walking and Hiking

Day 1

Meet your Backroads Trip Leaders (the folks wearing Backroads T-shirts) either at 10:45 a.m. in the lobby of the Crystal Inn OR at 11 a.m. at the St. George Shuttle office, both located in St. George, Utah. Please arrive dressed in your hiking clothes with your daypack and rain gear handy.

Shuttle to Zion National Park 1 Hour
Emerald Pools Trail 3 Miles (350-foot elevation gain)

Welcome to the Beehive State! After meeting in St. George, we shuttle to the beautiful Virgin River, just outside Zion National Park, for a picnic lunch. From here it’s a quick drive to the park entrance, where we take the park’s shuttle bus to Zion Lodge, the starting point for our warm-up hike to the Emerald Pools. Hiking Zion’s vast network of trails is the best way to experience the park, as they offer spectacular views that can’t be seen from the roads. We begin by passing through a small forest of cottonwood, box elder and Gambel oak en route to the pools, whose pretty cascades are created by a year-round creek out of Heaps Canyon. The higher up you hike, the drier the habitat becomes, with yucca, cacti, scrub oak and the ever-present pinyon-juniper lining your route.

Following the hike, we settle in at our home for the next three nights, the modern Desert Pearl Inn, located in nearby Springdale with incredible views of Zion’s towering cliffs. You’ll find plenty of time during your stay to enjoy the hotel’s steaming hot tub and sparkling swimming pool. Tonight’s dinner at the Switchback Grille is artfully prepared from the finest ingredients.

Lodging: Desert Pearl Inn

Day 2

Observation Point Route 8.2 Miles (2,200-foot elevation gain)
Shorter Option: Echo Canyon 4.2 Miles (950-foot elevation gain)

The best way to experience Zion National Park is by hiking its vast network of trails, which offer spectacular views that can’t be seen from the roads. So fuel up with a hearty breakfast this morning in preparation for today’s scenic hike. Climbing more than 2,000 feet in just over four miles, the trail to Observation Point is the most strenuous of the trip—but the sweeping canyon vistas are worth the effort.

This evening a local naturalist joins us to share his insight on the region’s geology and human history, and answer your questions. Dinner tonight is at the Bit & Spur Restaurant & Saloon.

Lodging: Desert Pearl Inn

Day 3

Scout Lookout Route 4 Miles (1,000-foot elevation gain)
Longer Option: Angels Landing 5 Miles (1,500-foot elevation gain)
Narrows Loop Hike Up to 5 Miles(250-foot elevation gain)

Our morning hike to Scout Lookout begins with a steady steep climb above the river to Refrigerator Canyon before a laborious ascent up Walter’s Wiggles, a series of switchbacks carved into the cliff. From Scout Lookout, you can continue to Angels Landing (if heights don’t bother you), a sheer wedge of rock looming 1,500 feet above the valley floor. The last half-mile to the landing runs along a steep narrow ridge with a dizzying drop-off on either side. Chains bolted into the rock steady you on the way up. It sounds scarier than it is—just take your time and relax. The view from the landing is a 360-degree panorama of soaring rock faces and the yawning abyss of Zion Canyon.

If the weather cooperates this afternoon, you can hike through the Narrows, another Zion classic. Wade into the inner gorge of the Virgin River as it forges through rock. Small waterfalls and hanging gardens drape the canyon walls, which rise 1,000 feet. (Note: You will get wet on this hike, so wear shoes that you don’t mind getting soaked; shoes with sufficient tread and toe protection, such as running shoes, are the best choice.) If you choose not to hike, you can join Zion Adventure Company on a full-day introduction to technical canyoneering (no experience required). See ―During Your Trip‖ for details; this optional activity is not included in the trip price.

For a more leisurely day, spend time in the charming town of Springdale, where you can shop or indulge in an afternoon spa treatment. However you decide to spend the day, you’ll find amazing natural beauty at every turn. Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own in Springdale.

Lodging: Desert Pearl Inn

Day 4

Shuttle to Bryce Canyon National Park 2½ Hours
Fairyland Loop 6 Miles(2,300-foot elevation gain)
Shorter Option: Rim Trail to Fairyland Point 2.2 Miles (250-foot elevation gain)
Optional Bryce Canyon Lodge Route 3.1 Miles (250-foot elevation gain)

Bryce Canyon is a vast gaping bowl of rock filled with geologic oddities, including stone spires, minarets and soaring natural bridges in brilliant hues of orange, pink and red. A morning shuttle brings us to this bizarre wonderland, which Ebenezer Bryce once described as ―a hell of a place to lose a cow!‖ The park visitor center is worth a visit, with naturalist programs, slide shows, exhibits illustrating the formation of the Bryce Amphitheater and displays on Paiute Indians and early explorers. Following a picnic lunch on the rim, descend into the canyon via Fairyland Loop, a seldom-visited section of the park filled with fantastical hoodoos, the totem pole-shaped rock spires that characterize Bryce.
Tonight we settle in at a higher elevation, enjoying the cooler air and tall stands of ponderosa pine. Our home, the rustic Lodge at Bryce Canyon, is a short walk from the canyon rim.

Lodging: The Lodge at Bryce Canyon

Day 5

Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop Hike 3.4 Miles (500-foot elevation gain)
Longer Option: Peek-A-Boo Loop 7.2 Miles (1,800-foot elevation gain)
Optional Rim Trail Extension Route 4.4 Miles (240-foot elevation gain)

After a hearty breakfast, explore Bryce Canyon National Park’s most famous formations. Hike down into the canyon, where whimsically shaped rocks huddle beneath Queen Victoria hoodoo. At times, you’ll feel as if you’re walking through a petrified forest—or even on another planet. Look for a ridge covered with bristlecone pine, some of the oldest living organisms on earth, which thrive in this barren environment. From Queen’s Garden, you’ll join the Navajo Loop Trail and hike through a narrow canyon punctuated by two stone bridges. Prepare for a steep climb to the rim at Sunset Point—or take a detour on Peek-A-Boo Loop, a strenuous trail with plenty of ups and downs, as well as views of Fairy Castle, Alligator, Silent City and Wall of Windows.

You can also opt to explore the canyon on horseback (this activity is not included in the trip price, and reservations should be made in advance; see ―During Your Trip‖ for details). There’s plenty of time this afternoon to take in the views, walk along the canyon rim or just relax at the lodge.

Lodging: The Lodge at Bryce Canyon

Day 6

Morning Hike 1.5–2 Miles (0–500-foot elevation gain)
Shuttle to St. George 3 Hours

Based on today’s weather conditions, your leaders will choose the most appropriate route for a morning walk. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to St. George, where the trip ends.