Canyonlands & Arches National Parks Hiker
Hiking/Trekking in Utah with Escape Adventures
Highlights
- Hike the incredibly scenic Canyonlands and Arches National Parks
- Stand in awe of one of the largest concentrations of sandstone arches in the world in Arches National Park
- Travel with the world's first carbon-neutral outfitter
Full Description
Hike through the hidden arches, deep canyons, and towering spires and enjoy the surreal landscapes of the Canyonlands up close on this six-day tour.
Our heart and home for this hiking tour is in Moab, Utah, where we have been operating backcountry adventures for more than 16 years. Join Escape Adventures through the mystical land of the ancient ones where we hike our way through Canyonlands and Arches National Parks!In the very heart of the Colorado Plateau lies Canyonlands National Park, a fantastic tableau of bizarre rock formations and colorful slickrock mesas. Within the park, Cataract Canyon lies at the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers. This is where the three districts of the Park are defined; The Needles, Island In The Sky, and The Maze.
Arches National Park embraces one of the largest concentrations of sandstone arches in the world, in excess of 2000 individual formations. Over 100 million years of water and ice erosion, extreme temperature changes, and underground salt movement are responsible for this spectacular landscape! Canyonlands and Arches National Parks are also rich with signs of past human occupation. Native Americans have been present in the area for thousands of years. Archaeological sites, petroglyphs, pictographs, ancient handprints and artifacts such as arrowheads are often discovered or seen within the Parks. It is said that these ancient people inhabited these canyons as far back as 6000 B.C. Most of the sites are found in the alcoves and caves of the cliffs. And along many of our hikes we will see these mystical and often undisturbed sites!
This hiking adventure has fairly easy terrain with some mild scrambling which makes a great trip for most anyone!
Trip Amenities
All camping on this trip is in campsites with no running water and pit toilets. There are no shower facilities, but solar showers will be available. Cell phone service is available when in Moab. Inns on this trip are often remote, appropriate to the locations in which we ride. They are chosen for comfort, scenery, and proximity to our activities. Meals All meals on this camping trip are prepared by your guides. All dinners and breakfasts on this Inns tour are in local restaurants, with the exception of one dinner and breakfast on your own. Picnic lunches will be prepared by your experienced guides.
Rentals
Camping Gear: $90.
Includes:
- Two guides
- All meals starting with lunch on the first day through lunch on the last day
- Support vehicle
- Snacks
- First-aid
- Community gear
- Souvenir shirt
- Gratuities to local restaurants, hotels, transportation, and additional activities mentioned on this itinerary are paid by Escape Adventures. If you engage in an activity that is not part of this trip as outlined, then you are responsible for tipping.
Excludes:
- Airfare to and from our departure point
- Lodging before or after the tour, personal camping gear
- Rental bike
- Gratuities to Escape Adventures guides
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Needles District, Canyonlands National Park
Our group assembles at 9:00 a.m. at our tour center at Moab Cyclery. After introductions we’ll shuttle to the Needles District in Canyonlands, where we lace up our hiking boots and stride through the beautiful and colorful sandstone features of Elephant Canyon. The canyon opens onto the grassy meadow of Chesler Park, a pastoral amphitheater enclosed by walls of colorfully banded sandstone “needles” and spires. Time permitting the more adventurous can give it a go on the Joint Trail, a hiking experience that can be found in few other places in the country. The trail follows a long stretch of connecting “joints” and deep, narrow crevices in a massive rock expanse; some passages are only 2-3 feet wide! Total Mileage | 8-11 miles Camp | Hamburger Rock Inns | A local hotel in Monticello, UT
Day 2: The Confluence
After a hearty home-cooked breakfast we're off for the breathtaking overlook of the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers and the awesome 1,000 foot-deep gorges these great rivers have carved through the rugged Colorado Plateau landscape. This hike is along an old jeep road that is dotted with junipers and slickrock mesas. Total Mileage | 12 miles Camp | Hamburger Rock Inns | A local hotel in Monticello, UT
Day 3: Arches National Park
We will begin the day with a shuttle back to Moab where we head to Arches National Park with its astounding array of sandstone arches. We'll hike the beautiful loop through the fantasy land of Devil's Garden. Perhaps Utah's best-known and certainly most-photographed natural feature is Delicate Arch in Arches and that's our destination for our final hike of the day. And since we're in the neighborhood, we won't leave before visiting Double Arch and Windows. Total Mileage | 8 miles Camp | Sand Flats Recreation Area Inns | A local Moab B&B
Day 4: Canyoneering
Today we have a special adventure planned. We’ll explore one of Moab’s finest canyons led by our experienced canyoneering guides. Located in a remote area of Moab, the canyons’ five-mile journey includes two of the most spectacular places for rappelling found anywhere in Moab. We’ll enjoy views of an awesome array of petrified sand dunes, while learning about basic rappelling techniques, the geology, ecology, history and folklore of the region. We’re sure you’ll enjoy the unique thrill and sense of satisfaction that comes from canyoneering! Total Mileage | 5 miles Camp | Sand Flats Recreation Area Inns | A local Moab B&B
Day 5: Fiery Furnace, Arches National Park
Our day begins once again deep in Arches National Park; we explore the mysterious Fiery Furnace, a labyrinth of sandstone fines and spires, named for its brilliant deep red reflective rock. The path winds through slickrock grottos and narrow crevices hundreds of feet deep as needle-like pinnacles define narrow slits of blue sky. Endless in its color palette, form and texture, the Fiery Furnace is a photographer’s dream. After a hearty lunch we’ll explore another area of the park, and another famous arch – Landscape Arch. Here we’ll make a scenic loop on a little known primitive trail. Total Mileage | 8 miles Camp | Sand Flats Recreation Area Inns | A local Moab B&B
Day 6: Tusher Canyon
This morning we head to the hidden slickrock of Tusher Canyon. This area is known as "Rainbow Rocks" because of the alternating hues of gray, white, yellow, and blue in the rock. From a distance the slickrock appears to be salmon in color until you get up close to see the rainbow that has formed over millions of years. After lunch we will shuttle back to our tour center arriving approximately 2:00 p.m. Total Mileage | Varied
About The Operator:
Escape Adventures
Headquarters:
Las Vegas, Nevada
Specializing in western North America, Escape Adventures is a leader in first-class eco-friendly cycling and multi-sport adventure. In 2006, we became the world's first carbon neutral outfitter, bringing sustainable adventure to all the places we visit, from Alaska to Belize and beyond. By simply joining a tour with us, outdoor enthusiasts are now helping to preserve the beautiful backcountry areas they enjoy.
Whether cycling, hiking, climbing, or rafting, tour our guests claim that improving the environment has never been more fun. For example, by eating delicious organic menus prepared fresh on the trail, guests are supporting local and organic growers. They also do not contribute to pollution when riding in our brand new support vehicles powered by 100% renewable vegetable oil. And, by simply joining a tour and riding their bikes through some of the finest natural treasures of North America, guests are supporting the many efforts made by Escape Adventures to enhance and protect these areas.
With proven conviction for the land and people we serve, Escape Adventures maintains the highest standard of service in the industry. With over 16 years of experience and 50 destinations, we offer a wide variety of tours for a wide variety of active travelers. From road bikers to mountain bikers, from hikers to multi-sport enthusiasts, from first timers to accomplished athletes, Escape Adventures has just the adventure for you.
Escape Adventures is a proud partner of the Leave no Trace program, a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our wildlands.