Utah National Parks Hiking Adventure - 5 Days – United States

Join us in beautiful and scenic Utah for a fully guided 5 day hiking and camping tour of Zion, Bryce and Escalante. With comfortable camping and a highly qualified guide, this is a perfect trip fora group of friends, active families and singles. The complex details are taken care of, including access to hard to reach areas of the Utah wilderness, gear, food and permits. So relax, hike, and enjoy this epic and intriguing landscape!

Trip Start: Meets in Las Vegas at 7 am on Day 1

Trip End: Drops off in Las Vegas between 3:00-6:00 pm on Day 5.

Departures: May - September

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Las Vegas to Kodachrome Basin State Park

Hiking 3-6 km (2 - 4 mi)

Today we will meet in Las Vegas, and after introductions we will head north from Las Vegas to Cedar Breaks National Monument for our first hike of the trip. This “preview hike will give us a change to fine tune our hiking gear, and get warmed up for the week ahead. Cedar Breaks will greet us with a taste of the canyon walls and epic rock formations that we will be soon camping amongst.

Cedar Breaks will treat us to a lunchtime scenic overlook, and after lunch we will begin our drive to our home away from home, enjoying the sights of volcanic formations, quaint mountain towns and lakes as we do.

In the afternoon we will arrive at Kodachrome Basin State Park. Our campsite is surrounded by warm shades of yellow, brown, red, white and pink, contrasting beautifully with the deep blue sky. This area was hence named “Kodachrome Basin” by the National Geographic Society. Specifically known for its unique rock spires or chimneys, this is the perfect introduction to camping in this unique and fascinating landscape. After a guide-prepared dinner in camp, relax and watch the colors change around you as the sun bids farewell for the evening.

Meals-Breakfast on own, lunch and dinner included

Lodging-Established campground in Kodachrome State Park

Day 2: Explore Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Hiking 5-8 Miles

After breakfast and some well deserved coffee, today will see the group heading into the expansive Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Your guide will educate you on your surroundings, while hiking along the Escalante River’s clear water and towering cliffs that surround us. This world-class hike is always a favorite for kids and adults, and will also feature ancient petroglyphs and Anasazi Ruins.

‍

Meals-All meals included

Lodging-Established campground in Kodachrome State Park

Day 3: Explore Bryce Canyon National Park, Drive to Zion National Park

Hiking 8 Miles

After fueling up with a hearty breakfast in camp, we will start our journey to the indescribable beauty that is Bryce Canyon National Park. We will intrude ourselves to the park by enjoying a leisurely hike along the rim, enjoying the expansive views of the rock formations below. After a bit we will descend into the canyon through an otherworldly landscape of rock formations including slot canyons, hoodoos, windows and fins. Your guide will give you a good sense of the genesis of the formations, and what this landscape has meant to the people that lived here, and still do. Our hike will take us to the mouth of the spectacular Bryce amphitheater. After our exploration of Bryce Canyon, we will hop back in the van and relax on our way to Zion National Park

Named by the early Mormon settlers, Zion means “the pure in heart”. The early settlers were so inspired by the beauty and purity of the region and it’s red rock, they named it Zion.

Once we arrive at camp, you will have the opportunity to wonder close by, and get a feel for your surroundings while dinner is being prepared. Tonight we will play fireside games and enjoy the serenity of our new camp-home, and get some rest for tomorrows adventures!

Meals-All Meals Included

Lodging-Established campground in Zion National Park

Day 4: Zion National Park: Hike Observation Point and Zion Narrows

Hiking 13-16 km (8-10 mi)

One of the best viewpoints in the long list of Zion trails, Observation Point is a challenging, yet engaging and spectacular goal for today. Well maintained zig-zag trails take us up the steep mountainside, before venturing through Echo Canyon. Beyond Echo Canyon, we will have stunning views, and at the trails end, you will have a view of the whole of Zion Canyon, making the strenuous hike seems like a distant memory. From here, you will have a view of the famous Angels Landing, and the West Rim trail. This is a challenging trail, with steep drop offs, so please discuss concerns with us before planning your trip!

After we enjoy a much deserved lunch break, we will board the park shuttle to the upper reaches of Zion’s main canyon to experience and explore the world famous Zion Narrows. Wading through knee to waist deep water, this is an experience that is tons of fun for adults and children alike! As we walk, gazing up at the towering sandstone cliffs above is surreal, as they rise 2,000 feet from our own.

Tonight we celebrate our adventurous week back at camp!

Meals- All Meals Included

Lodging-Established campground in Zion National Park

Day 5: Spend the morning in Zion, Depart for Las Vegas

Hiking 8 km (5 mi)

After breakfast, and some hot coffee, we will head into Zion National Park one last time, to experience the one and only Angel’s Landing!

Taking us through a gentle walk beneath shady cottonwood and sycamore trees, our trail gives us a chance to warm up near the banks of the Virgin River. After stretching our legs, our accent begins in hopes of reaching the top before the sun peeks over the ridgeline. Angels Landing is perhaps one of the most unique, and visually stunning day hikes in the world. We think that you’ll agree that this is the perfect way to cap off this incredible trip, exploring the wonders of southern Utah.

Ascending 1,488 feet in about 2.5 miles, this is a breathtaking monolith with a summit of 5,790 feet. Flanked on three sides by the erosive North Fork of the Virgin River at its base, Angels Landing commands breathtaking north-south views from its summit. Your guide will point out notable features, such as Virgin River Gorge, Cathedral Mountain, Observation Point, Cable Mountain and the Great White Throne.

After we descend from the summit, it is customary to take a cold plunge into the Virgin River, and we will prepare our final lunch together as we relax under the cottonwoods. After lunch, we will hop in the van and head back to the bright lights of Las Vegas. We plan to arrive between 3:00 and 6:00 pm.

Meals-Breakfast & Lunch

Lodging- On your Own

Additional Information:

Comforts of Home

Cell Service & Electricity: While camping at on this trip, cell phone service will be limited and you will only have electrical outlets in the public restrooms at the campground. Bring a portable phone charger so you’re not reliant on this power source.

Bathrooms: Our campsites will have standard bathrooms, but it’s possible while hiking in Southern Utah that “nature calls” while on the trail. In this case you may need to use a Wag Bag to pack out any waste and ensure we Leave No Trace.

Showers: There are hot showers available on this trip, at Zion it requires a walk of about 10 minutes to reach them.

Van Transports

The first day of this trip requires a long drive to reach our campground near Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Expect to be in the van for about 4.5-5 hours.

Zion Crowds

Zion is a beautiful destination, and you’re not the only one who thinks so. On weekends from spring to fall, the park can be very busy and we may have trouble finding parking for our van and experience wait times while waiting for the park shuttle. We always look for opportunities to get the trails to ourselves, but Zion has strict permitting regulations so we will need to stay together as a group when inside the park.

Hikes & Weather

The hikes on this trip may change at the last minute due to weather. Southern Utah experiences seasonal monsoon storms from July – September which can cause canyons to flood and become dangerous. We have many back-up options available to make sure that we have an incredible Utah experience no matter the weather.

Trip Ratings

Fitness 3 | Comfort 3 | Solitude 2 | Guest Participation 4

‍

Additional Trip Info

4 nights camping (2 in Kodachrome Basin State Park and 2 in Zion National Park)
Round-trip ground transportation from Las Vegas
Basecamp Group Gear (personal mess kit, kitchen equipment, hand washing station, dish washing station, camp chairs, etc.)
Meals starting lunch Day 1 through lunch Day 5
Water and snacks
Professional Wilderness First Responder certified guide

Permit & Land Use Fees Include

Zion National Park entry and commercial fees
Escalante National Monument commercial fees
Bryce Canyon National Park entry and commercial fees

Travel Insurance - We recommend World Nomads, or Global Rescue
Air transportation to and from Las Vegas
Pre- or post-trip lodging
Breakfast Day 1, dinner Day 5
Tent (available to rent )
Sleeping pad (available to rent)
Sleeping bag (available to rent)
Day hiking pack (available to rent)

info@flashpackerconnect.com

+1 206-892-8877

United States

Utah National Parks Hiking Adventure - 5 Days

Explore the Hidden Gems of this Incredible Desert Wonderland