Our journey begins today at the St. George Regional Airport (SGU), a small but active gateway set against the striking red rock landscapes of southwestern Utah. Please plan to arrive by 3:30 PM to meet the group by 4:00 PM. Recognized as one of the best places to live in the U.S. and listed among Fortune 500’s “Great Places to Retire,” St. George offers a welcoming introduction to the region. This evening, we’ll gather for a trip orientation and our first group dinner, offering a chance to get acquainted and review the exciting days ahead. Expect an early night as we prepare for the adventure to come.

Included Meals: Dinner
Accommodations: Best Western Plus Abbey Inn or similar

After an early breakfast, we will embark on a scenic drive to Snow Canyon State Park, a 7,400-acre natural sanctuary nestled among ancient lava flows and towering sandstone cliffs, showcasing a vibrant and delicate desert landscape. Our inaugural hike will traverse a diverse loop of 4.8 miles with a 639-foot elevation gain, linking the Butterfly, Lava Flow, West Canyon, Red Sands, Whiptail, and Petrified Dunes trails, offering a comprehensive experience of the park’s unique geological and ecological features. Surrounded by striking red rock formations and sagebrush, we will pause for a picnic lunch before proceeding to Zion. The day will conclude with dinner in the lodge’s open-air dining area, where we can savor our meal while witnessing the sun set below the horizon and the stars emerge in the evening sky.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Zion Lodge
Travel Time: Driving (1.5 hours)
Daily Activities: Hiking (4.8 miles, 639 feet elevation change)

This morning, we will collect the necessary gear for navigating the Narrows before proceeding to Zion National Park for a wading hike through this remarkable slot canyon. The Narrows, a breathtaking gorge stretching 16 miles and plunging up to 2,000 feet deep within Zion Canyon, offers unparalleled natural beauty. Our intended destination is Orderville Canyon, approximately two hours upriver, renowned for some of the most striking vistas in the area. As this is an out-and-back route, turning back earlier remains an option based on weather conditions and group energy levels. Should the weather or water conditions prove unsuitable for the Narrows, our guides will lead an alternative, equally stunning hike elsewhere in Zion.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Zion Lodge
Travel Time: Park Shuttle (20 minutes round-trip)
Daily Activities: Hiking (4-6 miles, minimal elevation change)

Today’s hike begins with the ascent to Scout’s Lookout, a paved trail that climbs steadily via switchbacks for two miles, offering sweeping views of Zion Canyon. For those seeking a greater challenge and comfortable with exposure, the trail continues another 0.5 miles out and back along a narrow ridge to Angels Landing, one of Zion’s most iconic and thrilling viewpoints, complete with support chains. Alternatively, hikers may opt to pause at Scout’s Lookout or continue more moderately along the West Rim Trail. A peaceful walk along the Virgin River is also available for those preferring a gentler pace this day. After regrouping, we’ll drive to Bryce Canyon on a scenic two-hour route through the Zion Tunnel and past Checkerboard Mesa. Upon arrival, we’ll settle in and, with lodging just minutes from the Rim, enjoy our first look at Bryce’s striking landscape before dining at the park’s historic lodge.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: The Lodge at Bryce Canyon
Travel Time: Driving (2 hours)
Daily Activities: (3.5-5 miles, 1,827 feet elevation change)

We can choose between two spectacular hiking loops that showcase the otherworldly geology of Bryce Canyon, perched at 8,000 feet atop the Grand Staircase. The 8-mile Fairyland Loop offers a quieter, less-traveled path through a vibrant maze of hoodoos and eroded formations, with highlights including the Chinese Wall, Sinking Ship Mesa, and a short spur to Tower Bridge. The trail begins gently before descending into the heart of Fairyland Canyon, revealing the striking complexity of Bryce’s landscape—technically not a canyon, but a natural amphitheater carved by erosion.

Alternatively, the 6-mile Peekaboo Loop combines sections of the Navajo, Peekaboo, and Queens Garden trails, featuring dramatic switchbacks, sculpted hoodoos, and natural "windows" carved into the rock. As evening falls, we’ll witness a stunning sunset over this surreal terrain, followed by the chance to experience Bryce’s famously dark skies, perfect for stargazing.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: The Lodge at Bryce Canyon
Travel Time: N/A
Daily Activities: Hiking (Fairyland: 8 miles, 1,555 feet elevation change or Peekaboo: 6 miles, 1,528 feet elevation change)

After breakfast, we will depart Bryce Canyon and travel south for a day of exploration through some of the Southwest’s most dramatic desert landscapes. Depending on weather and trail conditions, our journey may include a hike through the world’s longest slot canyons or a trek among the surreal rock formations of the Vermilion Cliffs and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments—regions renowned for their geological complexity and stark beauty. Should conditions be unfavorable for slot canyon exploration, we will instead enjoy an additional scenic hike within Bryce Canyon before continuing on to our accommodations in Northern Arizona.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Cliff Dwellers Lodge or similar
Travel Time: Driving (3-4 hours)
Daily Activities: Hiking (3.5-5 miles, 250 feet elevation change)

Today is dedicated to experiencing the natural grandeur of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, home to some of the Southwest’s most iconic landscapes. We’ll begin with panoramic views from the dramatic overlook at Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado River curves in a sweeping arc beneath towering sandstone cliffs. From there, we’ll explore riverside trails and take in the scale of the Glen Canyon Dam before embarking on a guided tour of Antelope Canyon, renowned for its narrow passageways and sculpted, wave-like rock formations bathed in shifting light. As the day draws to a close, we’ll gather for a celebratory farewell dinner in Page, Arizona, reflecting on the unforgettable week we’ve shared journeying through the wonders of the Grand Staircase.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Cliff Dwellers Lodge or similar
Travel Time: Driving (2 hours)
Daily Activities: Hiking (Horseshoe: 1.5 miles, 137 feet elevation change; Glen Canyon: 2.6 miles, 108 feet elevation change or 3.9 miles, 1,650 feet elevation change; Antelope Canyon: 1 mile)

On our final day, we’ll begin with a heartwarming visit to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, a nationally renowned refuge for rescued animals, set amidst the striking red rock canyons near Kanab. This uplifting tour offers a glimpse into the compassionate work being done to rehabilitate and rehome animals in a breathtaking desert setting. Time permitting, we’ll cap off the journey with one last adventure—an easy hike and picnic lunch amid the rolling, rose-colored dunes of Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, where shifting sands and vibrant hues offer a fitting farewell to the region’s dramatic landscapes. We will then make our way to St. George Regional Airport (SGU), arriving by 3:30 PM for departures scheduled after 5:00 PM.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Travel Time: Driving (3 hours)
Daily Activities: Sanctuary Tour, Hike