Utah's Mighty Five National Parks

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Day 1

Greetings Grand Junction

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 travellers this evening for a Welcome Dinner.

Day 2

Uncover Canyon Country Connect with Locals

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 with the option of three different hikes. Ascend to the top of the Island in the Sky Mesa and admire Canyonlands' spectacular landscape below. A high point may be the 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 opt to tackle shorter hikes at Whale Rock and Green River Overlook.

Day 3

Astonishing Views At Arches National Park

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.

Day 4

Unmask Capitol Reef National Park

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. Explore the area down through the canyons or up to the overlooks in sections of the park including Sulphur Creek, Cohab Canyon, Hickman Bridge, Rim Overlook, 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.

Day 5

Explore Capitol Reef National Park

Unlock the best of Capitol Reef National Park, where colourful 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 will have the opportunity to explore the Visitor Centre, sightsee with your Travel Director or select the trail that best suits your adventurous spirit. This dramatic landscape features striking layered stone spires which are a sight to behold.

Day 6

Stretch Your Legs In Bryce Canyon

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, if you’re looking for a scenic tour of Bryce Canyon region, opt for a 1-hour ride into Dixie National Forest and the rim of Water Canyon Amphitheater, the first canyon in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Day 7

Discover the Mysteries of the Navajo Nation Make Travel Matter

A pink, red and orange canvas awaits visitors to Coral Pink Sands State Park.

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. Then take a short hike to see Horseshoe Bend and the flowing Colorado River which has carved its way through the red-coloured sandstone. 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.

Day 8

Unwind In Page and Lake Powell

Enjoy a full free day to spend as you wish in the water wonderland that is Lake Powell.

Relax and rejuvenate on the lake 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 Farewell Dinner at Sunset 89 with unbeatable views of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon.

Day 9

Hike Zion National Park

One spectacular natural sight gives way to another when you drive along the Vermillion Cliffs and witness the striking colours as you wander westward.

Arrive at Zion National Park in the late morning, then enjoy a picnic lunch at Zion Lodge before selecting from many fantastic hikes ranging from easy to strenuous including Watchman Trail and Hidden Canyon. Or, opt to take it easy and sightsee around the park with your Travel Director. The rest of the evening is at leisure.

Day 10

Watch the Sunrise in Zion National Park

Wake up early to catch the sun rise over Zion, go for a leisurely stroll appreciating the quiet sounds of morning, hike into the canyon or just relax.

You have the whole morning to spend as you wish before departing for Las Vegas mid-afternoon.

Dining Summary

3 Dinner (D)

9 Breakfast (B)

2 Lunch (L)

Be My Guest

Grand Canyon National Park: Enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience at Shash Dine Eco Retreat on the Navajo Nation. Meet your hosts Baya and Paul for an under-the-stars, traditional meal of mutton stew, frybread, vegetables, melon, coffee and Navajo tea. Your local dining experience is enhanced by Navajo storytelling by storyteller and award-winning Diné recording artist Eli Secody, whose fun and fascinating stories are steeped in his Dine’ roots. Cap off the evening walking up to a remarkable vista on the very land where Baya can trace her lineage back over 20 generations.

Iconic Experience

Canyonlands National Park: There’s no better spot to witness the power of the Colorado River carving through rocky red landscapes than at Canyonlands National Park. Take in the sights of Mesa Arch, views from the Green River Overlook, and be inspired by the vast expanse of high desert canyons at Grand View Point.  

: Utah’s Canyon Country is an endless playground. Travel to Dead Horse Point State Park in San Juan County for a dramatic overlook of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park. Opened to the public in 1959, the Park covers 5,362 acres of high desert at an altitude of 5,900 feet. You’ll love getting back to nature making stops at the Colorado River Overlook and the famed Dead Horse Point for sweeping views of the high desert.  

Arches National Park: Nature's creations spring to life at Arches National Park, home to the greatest concentration of natural arches in the world. Some 6,000 natural sandstone arches can be found within the boundaries of the national park. On your visit, unlock all the science and history of how these 6,000 natural sandstone arches were formed by rain and wind. Take in the sights of Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock while admiring the ever-changing landscapes as you traverse the park. 

Goblin Valley State Park: The park's most distinctive feature is its thousands of mushroom-shaped hoodoos, which stand anywhere from a few feet to several meters tall. These rock formations were shaped by erosion over millions of years and resemble a gathering of otherworldly figures, hence the park's nickname, "Goblin Valley." Get an up-close look at these hoodoo formations paving your own trail throughout the park.

Capitol Reef National Park: Magnificent scenery awaits at Capitol Reef National Park, best known for its Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile-long (160 km) warp in the earth's crust. Established in 1971 as a National Park the park today is popular due to it's landscape of colourful canyons, ridges, buttes, and monoliths. Learn about the park at the Visitor Centre before taking a stroll along one of the various trails around the park.

Bryce Canyon National Park: Hello, hoodoos. As you arrive at Bryce Canyon National Park, enjoy seeing the pink, orange and rusty-red limestone spires, known as hoodoos, rise up from the valley floor. Explore the visitor center to learn more about the history and geology of the park before a scenic drive along Bryce Canyon Road with possible stops at Sunrise Point, Sunset Point and Inspiration Point. You’ll love seeing how Bryce Canyon, home to the largest collection of these spires in the world, is in a league of its own.

Kanab: Time to climb in the Coral Pink sand dunes, and to be a kid again. This is the place to take your boots off and just scramble around on the curiously colored sand.

Glen Canyon Dam: Enjoy a walk to the rim of Glen Canyon where you will get the chance to visit Horseshoe Bend.

Zion National Park: Unlock geological history as you walk the paths and trails of Zion National Park, following in the footsteps of Native Americans and the earliest pioneers. The lush vegetation, wild rivers, roaring waterfalls and towering cliffs of this park will have you reaching for your camera over and over again. You’ll even drive through the amazing 1.1-mile, sandstone Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel built from the late 1920s through 1930, when it was the longest tunnel of its type at the time.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Antelope Canyon: Embrace today's MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you hike down into Antelope Canyon in The Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park. Your local Navajo guides will explain how slot canyons are formed as you stand in awe of the dramatic beauty surrounding.

Must-see Highlights

Hike to Grand View Point Overlook & Goblin Valley in Utah then hike Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend in Arizona plus many more

Visit Utah's Mighty Five iconic national parks: Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks as well as four Utah State Parks; Dead Horse Point, Goblin Valley, Kodachrome Basin and Coral Pink Sands.

See the world famous Delicate Arch from the Viewpoint Trail.

Scenic Drive along an "All American Road", Utah's State Highway 12, Zion Canyon Road

: Chose to hike Angel's Palace Trail or Panorama Trail. Kodachrome Basin State Park, with its red tinged rock formations and incredible blue skies, just begs to be photographed.

Trafalgar Difference

Antelope Canyon tour with Navajo guide

Capitol Reef National Park: Experience a world of difference at the 58-acre Capitol Reef Resort in Torrey, Utah, just one mile from the entrance of Capitol Reef National Park. From your room, you’ll take in stunning views of the Red Rock Cliffs. You can relax and refresh in the outdoor hot tub and seasonal outdoor pool or get energized in the fully equipped fitness centre. Indulge in comfort food at the Pioneer Kitchen surrounded by Capitol Reef National Park and the high desert of the Colorado Plateau.

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