Riders love a challenge. Long climbs. Rugged descents. Switchbacks. And with every worthwhile challenge comes a reward. Yours will be paid in the form of breathtaking canyons, incredible rock formations and a whole lot of downhill. See the setting sun change the landscape before your eyes. Marvel at how wind and water can produce such strange, beautiful places. But most of all, just enjoy it. The long rides, warm dry air, brilliant sun and staggering natural grandeur around every corner. And when you return home, the challenge becomes finding routes that can live up to these.
Days 1-2 Awe-inspiring Cedar Breaks National Monument,
a lesser-known red-rock gem with stone towers, canyons, columns and arches 
After descending into meadows encircled by quaking aspen and ponderosa pine, spin across the high desert to Bryce Canyon, where visibility on a clear day exceeds 100 miles.
Day 3 The whimsically shaped hoodoos and spires of Bryce Canyon
Explore the otherworldly wonderland of the park on a ride to Rainbow Point and hikes on such aptly named trails as Sunrise, Inspiration and Queen's Garden Grab your camera and a seat on the canyon rim to watch the sun set - the dance of light and color over the mystical monoliths makes for an unforgettable performance.
Day 4 Ride past extraordinary rock formations, sculpted and etched by weathering and erosion
The route to Zion National Park begins along a bike path through Red Canyon, brimming with crimson-colored pinnacles, spires and hoodoos Approaching Mount Carmel, watch for the impressive white-sandstone Elkhart Cliffs.
Days 5-6 Angels Landing, with views of Zion's soaring rock faces and yawning canyon abyss
- at nearly 2,000 feet above the valley, it's quite a climb! The exhilarating river hike through the Narrows, where waterfalls and hanging gardens cascade down the gorge walls, is not to be missed Take in the red and pink cliffs from the saddle as you bike along the car-free Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
Trip Highlights
- 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
Casual Inns
Cedar Breaks Lodge (1 night): A mountainside hotel with views of pristine alpine forests and flower-filled meadows. (pool, spa)
Lodge at Bryce Canyon (2 nights): Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this simple park lodge is mere steps from the canyon's edge.
Desert Pearl Inn (2 nights): Guest rooms at this welcoming riverside lodge have balconies overlooking the stunning red cliffs of Zion. (pool)
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 | 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 | 24 | 800 | ||||||||
| 2 | 37* | 1000 | 45* | 1100 | 64 | 2800 | ||||
| 3 | 16* | 800 | 32 | 2200 | ||||||
| Afternoon hiking (3.4, 7.2 miles) | ||||||||||
| 4 | 24* | 300 | 42* | 1000 | 86 | 1600 | ||||
| 5 | Zion Canyon Hiking (2.8 - 8.2 miles) | |||||||||
| 6 | 19 | 500 | ||||||||
* Includes a shuttle
2013 Dates & Pricing*
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 6/2-7 Price: $2698 pp dbl. occ., (+ $540 for sgl. occ.)
- 6/9-14 Price: $2498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $540 for sgl. occ.)
- 6/16-21 Price: $2498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $540 for sgl. occ.)
- 6/30-7/5 Price: $2698 pp dbl. occ., (+ $540 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/11-16 Price: $2498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $540 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/25-30 Price: $2598 pp dbl. occ., (+ $540 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/8-13 Price: $2498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $540 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/15-20 Price: $2498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $540 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/22-27 Price: $2598 pp dbl. occ., (+ $540 for sgl. occ.)
Plus 6.25% Utah state sales tax.
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Guest Trip Reviews
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
Bravo Mr Hale! We send our kids on teen tours and they have the time of their lives. Finally an adult trip for us to enjoy the same.- Pine Brook, NJ
Life is simply too short not to experience the absolute joys of a Backroads adventure. From the highest peaks to the most stunning valleys, from challenging bike climbs to exhilarating hikes to cathartic kayaking, these trips have an amazing knack for tapping into the soul. There is something for everyone. I close my eyes at night and wish I were back on my bike, cruising into Zion National Park or hiking up through Wall Street in Bryce. I'm fortunate to have had the opportunity, had the world's best guides and would return in a heartbeat. Thanks for a wonderful vacation.- Chevy Chase, MD
This trip vastly outdid my expectations. I was unaware that these parks were so beautiful and accessible.- Bethesda, MD
AN incredible trip! Wonderful vistas, great guides, and a great group of people and lots of heavy duty biking and hiking make for a memorable trip!- Jackson, WY
This is an excellent trip, Bryce and Zion are gems, and cycling and hiking are wonderful modes thru which to experience this slice of the U.S.- Scotia, NY