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Bryce, Zion & Grand Canyon Family Multisport

Overview
Lodging
Reviews
Route Rating
More Trips
Trip Highlights
  • Astonishing rock formations, river-carved canyons and sheer sandstone cliffs
  • Pedal among crimson rocks and desert wildflowers to Red Canyon
  • An impressive slot canyon in Bryce, whose walls are only ten feet apart in places
  • Kids make like early pioneers, exploring the Grand Canyon's rim by mule
  • Splash your way through the Narrows in Zion

Biking & Hiking in Utah & Arizona's National Parks

Hovering hoodoos. Walter's Wiggles. Spindly spires. Kids in giggles. Seems right out of Dr. Seuss. But this fantastical world exists. Right here. In the Southwest. You'll rub your eyes. Once. Maybe twice. To believe the whimsical rock formations. The spectacular views. The red and orange and yellow hues. And in this wonderland of slot canyons, pinnacles and bristlecone pine, your family gets to hike, bike, mule ride and rock climb. Watching the sun set at the surreal gorge's rim, you might just hear Dr. Seuss say: "Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one."

Days 1-2 Bryce Canyon's maze of spires, windows and pinnacles  Hike through a slot canyon whose walls are only ten feet apart in places  Discover a labyrinth of hoodoos and vivid rock formations sprouting from the floor of Queen's Garden  Grown-ups spin to Red Canyon, where youngsters join them for a breezy ride What was that? Desert critters, like lizards and chipmunks, scamper across your path Journey through an arid landscape with the spectacular Kaibab Plateau rising ahead.

Day 3 Kids make like early pioneers, exploring the Grand Canyon's rim by mule Adults enjoy an up-close look at the beauty of the Grand Canyon during a hike Youngsters delight in a special dinner with the Kid Coordinator while adults sit down to a satisfying meal at the Grand Canyon Lodge.

Day 4 Splash your way through the Narrows in Zion  Admire expansive high-desert views of the Grand Staircase en route to Zion, a hiker's paradise  It's an exhilarating river hike through the Narrows, one of the most renowned slot canyons in the world, with small waterfalls and hanging gardens cascading down the rock faces.

Days 5-6 The thrilling hike to Angels Landing, bringing you nearly 2,000 feet above the valley for a 360-degree panorama of soaring sandstone  Opt for an easygoing walk past Emerald Pools if heights aren't your thing  Experienced canyoneering instructors show kids the ropes Pedal a traffic-free route amid towering walls of sheer Navajo sandstone.

Guests Reviews About This Trip

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
What an amazing family experience!! We could never have accomplished near this amount of activities, left to our own devices. Nor have challenged ourselves as much. We enjoyed the entire experience, and hold its memory dear!
Cathy Kaempfer - Saint Augustine, FL
Backroads is the way to travel - it was great having all the logistics taken care of. We could just relax and enjoy the trip. The sights were incredible and the activities fun. My children, ages 6-17, all had a wonderful vacation. I cannot say enough nice things about our leaders - they were awesome. I would recommend this trip to anyone who likes to be active and appreciates nature.
Pat English - Wauwatosa WI

Casual Inns

The Lodge at Bryce Canyon
The Lodge at Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (1 night) Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this simple park lodge is mere steps from the canyon's edge. 

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

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (2 nights) This 1920s rustic stone-and-wood lodge is perched above the grandeur of the remote North Rim.  

Cliffrose Lodge & Gardens
Cliffrose Lodge & Gardens

Zion National Park, Utah (2 nights) A riverside oasis with a beach and lush gardens. (pool)

More Trips

California: Yosemite Multisport New!

Nature's Glorious Spectacle in the Sierra Nevada

Utah & Arizona: Bryce, Zion & Grand Canyon Multisport

Biking & Walking A National Park "Triple Crown"

Wyoming: Yellowstone & Tetons Multisport

Biking, Walking & Kayaking in the Wyoming Wilderness

This Trip Is Rated Level 1-3

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.

Daily Route Options
Day Activity EASYGOING ACTIVE AVID
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5
miles feet gain miles feet gain miles feet gain miles feet gain miles feet gain
1 Walking 3.4 500
2 Biking 9* 100 26 1000
Biking 16 100
Walking 1.5 100
3 Walking 1.5 500 7.4 1500 10.2 500
Walking 5.0 100
Other Point Imperial scenic drive (2.5 hours round-trip)
Kids Mule ride (1 hour)
4 Walking 2.0 0 5.0 200
5 Walking 2.8 400 4.0 1000 5.0 1500 8.2 2200
Walking 4.2 1000
Kids Canyoneering (6 hours)
6 Biking 19 500
 
note:

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.

* Includes a shuttle

For 34 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Utah & Arizona tour experts. See our award-winning USA multisport tours, USA biking tours and USA walking and hiking tours.