The ‘River City’ extends a warm welcome as your launch pad to an in-depth encounter with the Mighty Five National Parks of Utah. Relax after your arrival or explore on your own before joining your Travel Director and fellow travelers this evening for a dinner.
Head to Dead Horse Point State Park this morning to reach great heights with stellar views. Have your cameras ready at the famed Dead Horse Point to capture your own perspective from one of the most famous scenic vistas in the world. Next up at Canyonlands National Park, see first-hand the power of the Colorado River carving its way through the rocky red landscape. Ascend to the top of the Island in the Sky Mesa and admire Canyonlands' spectacular landscape below. Choose to continue further on foot with a two-mile hike to Grandview Point Overlook where, standing at the “edge of the world,” you’ll be greeted with desert vistas for hundreds of miles. Continue to Green River Overlook for another incredible vista.
Admire the exquisite natural sandstone shapes that dot the landscape in Arches National Park. Learn how Mother Nature’s magic touch has left her indelible mark with wind and rain when you view Delicate Arch. Continue your exploration with a walk to Double Arch, Landscape Arch or Turret Arch. Take a well-deserved break this afternoon or explore the town of Moab at your leisure.
Get ready for the other-worldly hoodoos of Goblin Valley State Park. These mushroom-shaped rock pinnacles referred to locally as “goblins” make for memorable photo opportunities before you arrive at Capitol Reef National Park. Visit Gifford Homestead and opt to explore on your own. In the evening, enjoy the rustic charm of the Capitol Reef Resort, located on the edge of the park, offering truly spectacular landscapes and breath-taking views.
Unlock the best of Capitol Reef National Park, where colorful canyons and capitol-shaped domes provide the perfect backdrop for an adventure, with the option to hike on your own. Continue your journey along an "All American Road", Highway 12, one of America’s most scenic highways, before arriving in Kodachrome Basin State Park. Here, you'll have the opportunity to explore the Visitor Center and marvel at the unique sandstone spires and columns known as "sand pipes," formations believed to exist nowhere else in the world.
You’ll have a full free day to relax or explore the eerie landscape of Bryce Canyon National Park today. Everyone will be able to self select hikes and walks that best suit them. Admire the rusty red limestone spires that rise up surreally from the desert floor to meet Utah’s skies from scenic viewpoints or follow one of the many trails into the hoodoos and beyond. Or choose to blaze your own trail on a one-hour horseback ride in the Dixie National Forest, climbing Bristlecone Pine Ridge with 1,500-year-old Bristlecone Pines (one of the oldest living things on the North American continent).
A pink, red and orange canvas awaits visitors to Coral Pink Sands State Park. Take a short hike to see Horseshoe Bend and the flowing Colorado River which has carved its way through the red-colored sandstone. Then embrace today's MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as we explore Antelope Canyon in Navajo Tribal Park. Our local Diné (Navajo) guides will explain to us how slot canyons are formed as we are awed by the dramatic beauty surrounding us. Finish the day connecting to the soul of the land over a Be My Guest meal on the Navajo Nation, hosted by Dine tribe local Baya, her husband Paul and storyteller Eli Secody.
Enjoy a full free day to spend as you wish in the water wonderland that is Lake Powell. Relax and rejuvenate as you explore on your own or consider joining one of the organized optional activities, like our famed Colorado River Float Trip or a helicopter ride up to the top of Tower Butte for 360' views of the world below you. This evening, enjoy an unforgettable dinner at Sunset 89 with unbeatable views of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon.
One spectacular natural sight gives way to another when you drive along the Vermillion Cliffs and witness the striking colors as you wander westward. Arrive at Zion National Park in the late morning, then enjoy lunch at Zion Lodge before selecting from many fantastic hikes ranging from easy to strenuous including Emerald Falls Trail, Weeping Rock trail, or Riverside Walk. Or, opt to take it easy and sightsee at your leisure using the complimentary Zion National Park shuttles. The rest of the evening is at leisure.
Wake up early to catch the sun rise, go for a leisurely stroll appreciating the quiet sounds of morning, or just relax enjoying a peaceful morning in Springdale. You have the whole morning to spend as you wish before departing for Las Vegas around mid-day.
