Day 1

Meet your Backroads Trip Leaders (the folks wearing Backroads T-shirts) in St. George, Utah, either at 11 a.m. at the St. George Shuttle office or at 11:15 a.m. in the lobby of the Courtyard by Marriott. Please bring a small bag or daypack containing your biking clothes, rain gear and any other items you’d like to have for today’s ride (sunglasses, camera, etc.)

Shuttle to Cedar Breaks National Monument 2 Hours
Cedar Breaks Route 13 Miles

We begin our Southwest adventure with a shuttle to Cedar Breaks National Monument, stopping along the way in Cedar City for a gourmet picnic spread. Three miles across and 2,000 feet deep, Cedar Breaks National Monument is a stunning natural amphitheater showcasing a colorful collection of stone spires, canyons, columns and arches. Amid this setting your Trip Leaders fit your bike and give a brief talk on biking techniques and safety. Then set out on a warm-up ride through the high country to the resort town of Brian Head, perched at 10,285 feet. Don’t let the route’s low mileage fool you; the altitude makes this seemingly short ride more challenging, so be prepared! You’ll be richly rewarded with your first glimpses of the dramatic landscapes that characterize the plateaus of Utah.

If you’d rather acclimate to the altitude out of the saddle, you’re welcome to shuttle directly to the lodge and enjoy a leisurely afternoon with a walk in the woods or a swim. You may even want to indulge at the spa (not included in the trip price).This evening we get further acquainted over a festive welcome dinner at the lodge.

Lodging: Cedar Breaks Lodge

Day 2

Bryce Canyon Route 64 Miles (2,400-foot elevation gain)
Shorter Options: Panguitch 37 Miles with Shuttle (1,000-foot elevation gain) or Trading Post 45 Miles with Shuttle (1,100-foot elevation gain)

Today’s ride begins with a short but steep climb out of Brian Head and continues along rolling terrain past several scenic overlooks—make sure to pull off for a different perspective of Cedar Breaks National Monument. Then savor a long descent out of Dixie National Forest, dropping 3,850 feet over 36 miles to the valley floor and the community of Panguitch, the Paiute Indian word for ―big fish.‖ The final swift downhill spin into town offers panoramic vistas of the desert and surrounding mountains. Feel free to enjoy your packed lunch here or farther down the road.

Leaving Panguitch you’ll pass through pine, aspen and juniper forests that give way to high-desert grasses and sagebrush. Headwinds are common along this level section, so don’t be surprised if your progress doesn’t match your effort. Soon you turn out of the wind and begin ascending through the vivid rock formations of Red Canyon on a quiet bike path, crossing over the Paunsaugunt Plateau and ultimately zipping into Bryce Canyon National Park. On the home stretch to Bryce Canyon, you may want to stop at the trading post to shop for souvenirs.
We spend the next two nights at the rustic Lodge at Bryce Canyon, nestled in a lush pine forest only a stone’s throw from the canyon rim. The park’s namesake, Mormon settler Ebenezer Bryce, deemed this magnificent region ―a hell of a place to lose a cow.‖ Take one look at the amphitheater’s maze of spires, hoodoos, windows, walls and pinnacles, and you’ll know exactly what he meant.

Lodging: The Lodge at Bryce Canyon

Day 3

Rainbow Point Route 33 Miles (2,160-foot elevation gain)
Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop Hike 3.4 Miles (500-foot elevation gain)
Longer Option: Peek-a-Boo Loop 7 Miles (800-foot elevation gain)

Test your pedaling prowess with a 33-mile out-and-back through forests and meadows to Rainbow Point. Loaded with hills, this route serves up lots of elevation gain and incredible scenery. Stop at overlooks along the paved route for dazzling views of the canyon’s pinnacles and spires.

Recharge your batteries with a picnic lunch before setting out to explore Bryce Canyon National Park on foot. Make your way down into the canyon filled with whimsical rock formations that huddle beneath the watchful gaze of the Queen Victoria hoodoo. You’ll feel as if you’re walking through a petrified forest—or even on another planet. Bristlecone pines, some of the oldest living organisms on earth, thrive in this barren environment; keep on the lookout for a ridge covered with these ancient trees. From Queen’s Garden, join the Navajo Loop Trail and hike through Wall Street, an impressive slot canyon with overhanging walls that are only ten feet apart in some places. Prepare for a steep climb to the rim at Sunset Point or take a detour on Peek-a-Boo Loop, a strenuous up-and-down trail with vistas of Fairy Castle, the Alligator, the Silent City and the Wall of Windows.

Instead of hiking this afternoon, you can discover Bryce as the early explorers did: on the back of a horse or mule. For that matter, if you’d prefer to skip the morning ride and spend the whole day on horseback, that’s also an option.

Back at the lodge, relax with a book or catch a ranger program before we sit down to another delicious meal in the dining room.

Lodging: The Lodge at Bryce Canyon

Day 4

Mount Carmel Route 49 Miles with Shuttle (1,000-foot elevation gain)
Shorter Option: Red Canyon 28 Miles with Shuttle (300-foot elevation gain)
Longer Option: Zion Canyon 86 Miles (1,600-foot elevation gain)
Shuttle to Zion National Park 1½ Hours

After breakfast, head out on a fantastic downhill ride through Red Canyon. Follow a bike path through a shallow valley brimming with pinnacles, spires and hoodoos before leveling out and continuing along rolling terrain through valleys formed by the Sevier and Virgin Rivers. Weathered farms and sleepy towns dot the high-desert landscape. As you approach the town of Mount Carmel, look for the Elkhart Cliffs, a remarkable wall of white Navajo sandstone.

If you’re ready to put your feet up by the time you reach Mount Carmel Junction, jump in the shuttle and enjoy an air-conditioned lift to our hotel. If you’re just hitting your stride, set your sights on the Desert Pearl Inn and keep pedaling! As you near the entrance to Zion National Park, notice that the cliffs—and even the road—change to vibrant shades of pink and red. As you fly around long swooping curves with great monoliths rising all around, it’s hard to imagine a more dramatic or rewarding finale to the ride. The Desert Pearl Inn is just inside the park’s entrance, and its swimming pool and steaming hot tub offer welcome relief after a long day in the saddle. You’re on your own tonight to dine at one of Springdale’s charming restaurants.

Lodging: Desert Pearl Inn

Day 5

Hiking Options:
Scout Lookout 4 Miles (1,000-foot elevation gain)
Shorter Option: Emerald Pools 2 Miles (500-foot elevation gain)
Longer Option: Angels Landing 5 Miles (1,500-foot elevation gain)
or Observation Point 8.2 Miles (2,200-foot elevation gain)
Shorter Option: Echo Canyon 4.2 Miles (950-foot elevation gain)
or The Narrows 5 Miles (60-foot elevation gain)

Biking Options:
Zion Tunnel 10 Miles (1,160-foot elevation gain)
or Kolob Terrace 21 Miles with Shuttle (3,000-foot elevation loss)

The best way to discover Zion Canyon is by hiking its extensive network of trails, which reveal views that are hidden from the road. Angels Landing is one of the most remarkable hikes in the park, taking you on a precipitous climb above the river to Refrigerator Canyon before challenging you with the ascent to Scout Lookout via Walter’s Wiggles, a series of switchbacks carved into the cliff. From here you can continue (if heights don’t bother you) to Angels Landing, a sheer wedge of rock looming 1,500 feet above the valley. The last half-mile of trail runs along a steep narrow ridge with a dizzying drop-off on either side. (Chains bolted into the rock steady you on your ascent.) The vista from the landing is a 360-degree panorama of soaring rock faces and the yawning abyss of Zion Canyon.

A different way to get the blood pumping is the hike to Observation Point, which serves up more than 2,000 feet of vertical gain along with spectacular views of Zion’s backcountry. A less strenuous option is the shaded trail to Emerald Pools, a natural spring with small cascades during parts of the year.

Yet another fantastic option is experiencing The Narrows, Zion’s most popular hike. Wade into the inner gorge of the Virgin River as it forges through rock, surrounded by small waterfalls and hanging gardens that tumble down the canyon walls—1,000 feet high in some places. (Note: This hike is dependent on the river’s water level and the weather. If you do this hike, you will get wet, so be sure to wear shoes with good tread and toe protection that you don’t mind getting soaked. See ―During Your Trip‖ for additional details.)

Note: Due to permit restrictions in Zion National Park, your Backroads leaders are not able to act as interpretive guides during today’s hikes. Instead, they’ll give an orientation to the flora, fauna, terrain and trails of the area before you start hiking on your own.

And what if you’re not in the mood to hike? You’re welcome to head out on two wheels—this is a biking trip after all! Begin with a climb out of the valley and follow the red road as it zigzags through the rock toward the park’s east entrance. If downshifting doesn’t appeal to you, the leaders can shuttle you to Kolob Terrace; from here it’s all downhill back to Springdale.

Whenever you wrap up your activities, kick back at the Desert Pearl. A refreshing dip in the hotel pool may be just the ticket! Tonight we celebrate our adventures with a farewell dinner at a favorite local restaurant.

Lodging: Desert Pearl Inn

Day 6

Zion Canyon Biking Route 19 Miles (500-foot elevation gain)
Shuttle to St. George 1 Hour

Cap off the week with a bike ride along traffic-free Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Pedal along the Virgin River amid walls of sheer Navajo sandstone rising 2,000 feet from the canyon floor—it’s quiet, peaceful and absolutely breathtaking! Or, if your legs have had all the biking they can take, consider a visit to Zion’s Human History Museum or shopping in Springdale.

Late morning, after returning to the inn to freshen up, we enjoy a final picnic on the lawn before shuttling to St. George, where the trip ends.