icon Trip Overview

icon Lodging

Route Rating Level 1 to Level 3

PDF iconDetailed Itinerary

RESERVE THIS TRIP!

Casual Inns
Trip Price:
  • $2,398 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$590 for sgl. occ.)

Special Kids Prices

6 DAYS, 5 NIGHTS
ROLL OVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2010 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
TRIP NOTES

All meals included except 1 dinner.

Cancellation Policy

View cancellation policy

Meet / Depart

St. George, Utah

Special Interest

Geological Wonders, Horseback Ride, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife, Swim

Recommended Reads

Essential trip reading

Search
Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

Utah Family Multisport

Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion Multisport

Family Trip: Explore the Natural Wonders of the Southwest on Bike & Foot

Big fun on a big scale is yours for the taking in the spectacular playgrounds of Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion. Your family will enjoy discovering the high-desert landscape, otherworldly rock formations and jaw-dropping vistas of three of the nation’s most colorful natural parks. Immerse yourselves in the beauty of the Grand Canyon following scenic trails on foot (and perhaps even on the back of a mule!), and hike among the spindly spires and pinnacles of Bryce. Venture along one of the many footpaths that zigzag through Zion Canyon. Plenty of options, time to explore at your leisure and Backroads leaders who know the native flora and fauna inside and out make this a fantastic journey for the whole family!

Days 1-2 Grand Canyon

Meet in St. George  Journey to the Grand Canyon across the high-desert landscape with spectacular views of the Kaibab Plateau Revel in the vastness of the canyon as you walk to our historic lodge, perched right on the North Rim  While kids discover the canyon the way early explorers did - on the back of a mule! - adults hike into its depths If you're up for more, follow the secluded Widforss Trail for wide-open vistas across the canyon or take the scenic drive to Cape Royal, where you can see superb views of the Colorado River as it slices through the Earth. 

Days 3-4 Bryce Canyon

En route to Bryce Canyon National Park admire expansive high-desert views of the Grand Staircase, stop for a picnic and walk to the remarkable Vermillion Cliffs Hike along the rim of Bryce Canyon  On a trek to Queen’s Garden, discover pink hoodoos and vivid rock formations sprouting from the canyon floor  Adults and older kids with strong legs can opt to bike a hilly route to Rainbow Point, the highest spot in Bryce Keep your eyes open for desert creatures, like lizards and chipmunks, as they dart playfully across the landscape  Relax at our lodge set amid the pines.

Days 5-6 Zion

Savor a breezy descent out of Bryce and along a quiet bike path through red rocks and spires toward Zion National Park Venture into the Virgin River on one of Zion’s most famous hikes, the Narrows Kids learn canyoneering basics from experienced guides and instructors, while adults cap off the trip with an easygoing walk past Emerald Pools, a thrilling climb to Angels Landing or a challenging hike to Observation Point - all with spectacular views   Return to St. George.

Guest Trip Reviews

This was the best trip ever—it combined the right amount of adult time with family time, exercise and leisure. Given the five-year difference in our kids' ages, combined with our younger son's endless energy, we wanted to find the family vacation that satisfied all our needs and goals, and Backroads fulfilled this in every way. Additionally, our leaders' willingness to be flexible with regard to our itinerary made the trip even more tailored to us. A perfect blend of activity, downtime, family, new friends. We are new fans!
Janet Myers - Menlo Park, CA

More Reviews of this Trip

All Guest Reviews

For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. For multisport tours in , trust our in-depth connections. To see all our multisport tours click here. For our selection of award-winning biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning walking and hiking tours click here.

Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion Multisport

WILD WEST: Casual Inns

Grand Canyon Lodge-North Rim
Grand Canyon Lodge-North Rim

Grand Canyon (2 nights)
Perched above the grandeur of the North Rim, this rustic stone-and-wood lodge is conveniently located near numerous hiking trails.

Bryce Canyon Lodge
Bryce Canyon Lodge

Bryce Canyon (2 nights)
Listed on the National Historic Register, this simple park lodge is nestled in a pine forest just steps from the canyon rim.

Cliffrose Lodge & Gardens
Cliffrose Lodge & Gardens

Zion (1 night)
A riverside oasis in the Southwest, featuring lush gardens, an inviting pool and hot tub, play areas and a riverside beach.

Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion Multisport

Route Rating: Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Trips 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
Insider Trips
Explore at a leisurely pace—on village walks, market strolls, art history excursions, hands-on cooking classes and more.
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
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • Walking 1.5 miles
  • 50 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 1 to 4  3 Route Options Available
  • Hiking 2 - 10.2 miles
  • 100 - 1500 feet elevation gain
  • Mule Ride (Kids) 1 hour
Day 3
  • Level 1 3 Route Options Available
  • Walking 1.4, 1.5, 3.7 miles
  • 100 - 600 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Levels 1 to 3 4 Route Options Available
  • Hiking 3.4, 7.2 miles
  • 500 - 800 feet elevation gain
  • Biking 16, 33 miles
  • 550 - 1000+ feet elevation gain  
Day 5
  • Levels 1 to 4 4 Route Options Available
  • Biking 8, 16, 49 miles
  • 100 - 900 feet elevation gain
  • Hiking 5 miles
  • 250 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Levels 1 to 2  4 Route Options Available
  • Hiking (Adults) 2, 4, 5, 8.2 miles
  • 500 - 2200 feet elevation gain
  • Canyoneering (Kids) 5 hours

On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle terrain with no significant gain or loss in elevation. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.