Zion And Bryce Lodge Based Tour

Shuttle to trailhead: 1.5-hour drive from St. George, Utah Hiking Mileage: 5 miles Difficulty: easy to moderate Accommodations: Zion Mountain Ranch or Cliffrose Lodge This Inn-based hiking tour of Zion and Bryce begins in St. George, Utah where we shuttle directly to Zion National Park. After arriving in Zion we’ll make our way to the first day’s hike. Starting at the Temple of Sinawava, we’ll hike up the Riverside Walk trail and then continue hiking up the river to see some of the best “narrows” sections of the North Fork of the Virgin River. We’ll come prepared to get wet, as the hike up the Narrows is entirely in the water. Your afternoon will be filled with the towering walls of Zion, crystal clear spring water, brilliant red sandstone and rocks polished over tens of thousands of years. After our hike we’ll check-in to our cabins at Zion Mountain Ranch and settle down for a great dinner, a possible evening hike for those interested and a good night’s sleep. Please note: in the event of high water, the Virgin River Narrows hike will be rerouted to a different trail in Zion. The Park is full of unforgettable hiking and scenery, so it’s easy to find an excellent substitute.

Hiking Mileage: 8 miles Difficulty: moderate to strenuous Accommodations: Zion Mountain Ranch or Cliffrose Lodge Day 2 features a hike you’ll never forget! We’ll make our way up a mountainside to one of the best viewpoints offered in Zion. This challenging, thrilling trek is complete with fantastic drop offs and awe-inspiring scenery looking down into Zion Canyon. Our route – on a maintained trail – switchbacks its way up through red Navajo sandstone before cutting into Echo Canyon, a picturesque gorge filled with sandstone pockets. Beyond Echo Canyon the walls drop sharply, allowing truly breathtaking views. Finally at the top, looking down into Zion Canyon at a spectacular scene of stone sculptures contrasted by blue skies, you’ll likely feel that your hard work has never been rewarded this richly! Important Note: due to rock fall damage and temporary consequential trail closure, for the foreseeeable future the hike of Observation Point (described above) will be rerouted to a combination of Scouts Lookout and the Watchman. These alternate hikes provide comparable elevation gain and distance, and incredible views of both the upper and lower Zion Canyon.

Shuttle to Bryce NP: 3-hour drive from Zion Hiking Mileage: 5.5 miles Difficulty: moderate to strenuous Accommodations: Bryce Canyon Lodge On Day 3 we’ll make our way to the Bryce Canyon. We’ll hike one of the lesser-traveled trails in Bryce, but one that offers some of the most impressive scenery in the Park. We’ll be in the northern part of Bryce, where we’ll enjoy superb vistas of Boat Mesa, the Sinking Ship formation, Tower Bridge, China Wall, Fairyland Canyon and other amazing rock structures. After our hike we’ll settle into our historic lodging and enjoy a wonderful meal at a local Canyon Country restaurant.