Bryce & Zion Biking
Utah's Red-Rock Canyons
No postcard can possibly prepare you for the amazing natural beauty of Bryce Canyon and Zion National parks. Join Backroads and experience the monolithic oddities of Bryce Canyon, the stunning cliffs of Zion and the brilliant colors of Cedar Breaks National Monument. Pedal through pine forests at dawn and catch the sunset over desert landscapes. Find inspiration in wildflower meadows, groves of red-barked manzanita, quaking aspen and spruce. Be dazzled in every direction by the ever-changing orange, amber and red sandstone glow on this spectacular two-wheeled journey.
Trip Planning Links
- Jaw-dropping Cedar Breaks National Monument, a lesser-known red-rock gem
- Rides past whimsically shaped rock formations and Navajo sandstone cliffs
- Hike amid the hoodoos and spires of Queen’s Garden in Bryce
- Spin past intriguing Checkerboard Mesa, sculpted and etched by weathering and erosion
- Angels Landing, with views of Zion's soaring rock faces and yawning canyon abyss
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1 brian head
Meet in St. George 
Take in Utah’s dramatic scenery en route to Brian Head, perched at 10,285 feet, stopping along the way for a gourmet picnic.
Days 2-3 bryce canyon
Ride to the Cedar Breaks viewpoint, where a stunning natural amphitheater showcases stone spire, canyons, columns and arches From Dixie National Forest, savor the long descent into meadows encircled by quaking aspen and ponderosa pine Spin across the high desert to Bryce Canyon, where visibility on a clear day can exceed 100 miles! Explore the park floor on a hike past colorful, whimsically shaped hoodoos, spires and monoliths on aptly named trails such as Sunrise, Queen’s Garden and Peek-a-Boo Grab your camera and a seat on the canyon rim to watch the sun set over Bryce - the dance of light and color over the mystical spires is a performance you’ll remember forever.
Days 4-6 zion
Bike through Red Canyon and past white Navajo sandstone cliffs Enjoy a downhill spin to the desert floor, then on to the red-and-pink cliff walls of Zion National Park A hike to Angels Landing brings you nearly 2,000 feet above the valley for a 360-degree panorama of soaring sandstone Spin along the car-free Zion Canyon Scenic Drive or experience an exhilarating river hike through the Narrows, where small waterfalls and hanging gardens tumble down the canyon walls Return to St. George.
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
Other Trips You Might Like:
Crater Lake Biking Arizona Biking Glacier BikingOther National Park Trips
Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
What can I say?!?! This trip was the BEST!! It was awesome, amazing, seamlessly run, super challenging, and all around unbelievable. Every time I sign up for another Backroads trip (this was my 4th) I question how one trip can outdo my previous trip and once again, it happened. Time to start planning my next trip!- New York, NY More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. For biking tours in , trust our in-depth connections. To see all our biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning multisport tours click here.
Bryce & Zion Biking
A WARM WELCOME: Casual Inns
Cedar Breaks Lodge
Brian Head (1 night) This mountainside hotel offers a full spa, an indoor pool and spacious guest rooms.
Bryce Canyon Lodge
Bryce Canyon (2 nights) Listed on the National Historic Register, this simple park lodge sits in a pine forest on the canyon rim.
Desert Pearl Inn
Zion (2 nights) Guest rooms at this welcoming riverside lodge have balconies facing the stunning cliffs of Zion.
Bryce & Zion Biking
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Day 1
- Start of Trip
Day 2
- Levels 3 to 5 3 Route Options Available
- Biking 37, 45, 64 miles
- 1000 - 2400 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
- Biking 33 miles
- 1000+ feet elevation gain
- Hiking 3.4, 7 miles
- 500 - 800 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 2 to 5 5 Route Options Available
- Biking 28, 49, 62 miles
- 300 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 3 5 Route Options Available
- Hiking 2, 2.2, 4, 5, 8.2 miles
- 500 - 2200 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Levels 1 to 2 2 Route Options Available
- Hiking 5 miles
- 60 feet elevation gain
- Biking 19 miles
- 500 feet elevation gain