Hiking Utah's Majestic Parks
Utah
Hiking
Make It Your Adventure
Turn any trip into a private experience for your group, or let us design a custom itinerary just for you! Whether it’s friends, family, or colleagues, we’ll make your journey unforgettable.
Southern Utah is home to some of the most well known National Parks, State Parks, and National Monuments; each with its own special magic and unique attractions. Zion National Park is famous for its soaring red Navajo Sandstone cliffs. Nearby Bryce Canyon is a testimonial to the erosive power of ice and rainwater, carving its colorful limestone into windows, fins, and soaring spires called hoodoos. Capitol Reef is a monument to the amazing power of uplift. Snow Canyon offers a strikingly fragile and unique desert environment, all provided by multiple volcanic eruptions in the areas tens of thousands of years ago. While we need to drive between parks (on some of the most scenic highways you will ever have the pleasure to drive on), this is not primarily a driving trip. We will hike between 3 and 6 hours every day and see each park as only hikers can. Maximum group size: 10
Highlights
- Exploring the Emerald Pools Trail in Zion National Park
- Walking among the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park
- Take in the glory of the deep canyons around Escalante
- Marvel at the geological formations of southern Utah
- Enjoying the remoteness and solitude of Capitol Reef National Park
Inclusions
- 1 - 2 experienced AGC guides based on group size
- Seven nights of double occupancy accommodation (unless you upgraded to a single)
- All meals as listed on the itinerary
- Transportation during the trip
- National Park entry fees
Not included: Airfare to/from St. George, alcoholic beverages, guide gratuities and travel insurance
Trip Info
We have rated this trip as a 3 because of the choice of a longer and shorter hike on most days. This trip is a great choice for women in very good physical condition with some hiking experience who are looking for hiking, some of it challenging, in a desert environment. Prior to beginning the trip, participants should be engaged in aerobic conditioning such as walking vigorously up hills, jogging, or stair stepping for 30 - 45 minutes at least 3 - 4 times a week. If you are planning on the longer hikes, we recommend aerobic exercise for 40-50 minutes 4-5 times a week and additional endurance exercise (e.g. going for a 2 hour hike once a week) and/or strength training. If you are looking for a trip in this area with shorter hikes or have very limited prior hiking experience, please look at Exploring the National Parks of Utah. Rating: 1 2 3 4 5.
This trip combines hiking with an immersion into the unique geology of this fascinating area - there is no better way to understand the different geologic processes that formed each Park than to explore them on foot. It is an excellent trip for intermediate and advanced hikers.
We stay at a variety of accommodations on this trip, starting with one night at a Best Western Plus in St. George. We then stay at lodges that are located right inside the parks, one night at Zion Park Lodge and two nights at a hotel just outside Bryce Canyon National Park, a 5 minute drive from the rim. Then there are two nights at a resort just at the edge of Capitol Reef National Park in Torrey, UT. We finish our trip at the hotel in St. George.
Trip Resources
Below is the proposed itinerary for the trip. As is true on any adventure travel trip, plans for any specific day may be modified due to weather considerations, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests.
Overnight: St. George
Hiking: 5 miles, 4 hours, 1,000 ft of elevation gain. Overnight: Zion National Park Lodge. (B, L, D)
Hiking: 5 miles, 4 hours, 1,200 ft of elevation gain. Overnight: Bryce Canyon National Park. (B, L, D)
**Angel’s Landing is now permit-only, and you must apply on the NPS website prior to starting the trip: https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/angels-landing-hiking-permits.htm.
Hiking: 6 - 8 miles, 4 - 5 hours, up to 2,100 ft in elevation gain. (B, L, D) Overnight: Bryce Canyon National Park
Hiking: 3 - 6 miles, 3-4 hours, 1,000 ft of elevation gain. Overnight: Capitol Reef Resort, Torrey, UT (B, L, D)
Hiking: 3- 6 miles, 4 - 5.5 hours, 1600 ft of elevation gain Overnight: Capitol Reef Resort, Torrey, UT (B, L, D)
Hiking: 4 miles, 3-4 hours, 700 ft of elevation gain Overnight: St. George. (B, L, D)
5
(13 reviews)*These are the unfiltered reviews of women who have been on this trip in answer to the question "What made this trip special for you?". We take reviews very seriously and often tweak itineraries based on feedback. Please feel free to contact us about any questions you have.
Spending most of each day outside in amazing places with really nice women. Lots of hiking. Accommodations mostly away from cities.
This was my first time on an AGC trip and it was such an outstanding experience from start to finish. Hiking Utah's national parks was something of a bucket list item for me and the trip ended up being so wonderful and so many amazing memories made. I am in a phase of my life where trip planning on my own feels somewhat daunting and taxing and it was such a gift to have it all done for me and to just show up with my gear and be able to focus on each day at a time instead of all the many details that go into a hiking trip.
The scenery and hikes were incredible. It was wonderful to share the adventure with special women with similar interests. The guides were perfect.
Gorgeous setting, perfect weather, great group of participants and terrific guides
All 3 parks were fantastic. Being surrounded by such beauty and challenging hikes, made me feel like I was in another world. Plus I had the opportunity to doit with my friend and meet 5 wonderful hikers and 2 super guides.
Anne and Andre were truly awesome individuals who worked well together to plan a wonderful trip overall. Both were very organized with planning and meals, (they always offered the best lunches and snacks). They worked in tandem, were extremely knowledgeable, and experienced to say the least. I can't explain how amazing Andre and Ann were. What a great trip it was the best!!!!
This was my first AGC trip, and I could not have been more pleased with the whole experience. I was definitely challenged, as a newer hiker, but I loved every part of the week, and left with such a sense of accomplishment. The women I met were the best! We all bonded immediately and thoroughly enjoyed our time together. The guides, truly experienced with planning, organizing, as well as team building were remarkable. The food too, was incredible. And the mountains were breathtaking, with each park offering a very different experience.
This trip was the perfect combination of skilled, compassionate guides, an AMAZING group of fellow hikers, a National (and state) Park system that makes me proud to be an American and the natural beauty only God could create.
The itinerary, scenery, fellow travelers, guides, etc were all wonderful. We had such a great time getting to know one another and enjoying the adventure together.
The instant camaraderie between every wonderful woman on this trip! It wasn't even 24 hours before it felt like we were all good friends on an incredible adventure with two excellent and knowledgeable guides in charge of making it all easy for us to enjoy the glorious scenery and superlative hiking that Utah's Majestic Parks offered in abundance.
Great guides, wonderful group of women attendees, fantastic weather and food was so much more than expected.
Both guides were excellent and southwest Utah is gorgeous.
-
I have never hiked before. Would this be a good trip for me?
This trip is designed for women with some hiking experience. That being said, if you have a good level of fitness and love a challenge, then please join us. - Where do we eat?
Breakfasts and dinners will be in restaurants where you can order off the menu or are buffet style. Before you leave in the morning the guides will put out lunch 'fixings' and you will take a packed lunch to eat along the trail. -
What dietary preferences or restrictions can you accommodate on this trip?
If we know well in advance, we can accommodate vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten-sensitive diets. We cannot guarantee a completely gluten-free diet and we cannot provide a kitchen guaranteed to be free of cross-contamination. If you are vegan, we ask that you bring some additional protein bars; and if you are gluten-sensitive, please bring some gluten-free snacks. If you have severe allergies, Celiac disease and/or other significant dietary restrictions, please call the office before you register. -
I will be coming by myself. Do I need to pay a single supplement?
You only need to pay a single supplement if you want to guarantee you have your own room. Otherwise we’ll pair you up with someone and then switch roommates every time we switch lodging.
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