Snow Canyon State Park and Zion National Park set an incredible stage for our newest adventure in southwest Utah. Sculpted and scoured over hundreds of millions of years, these lands reveal the depths of geologic time with dramatic clarity. Soaring sandstone walls and monoliths. Deep fissures and vast mesas. All in a palette of pinks, reds, oranges and browns, almost too brilliant to believe. It's a boundless panorama of geologic eye candy. With the power to spellbind.
Days 1-2 Sand dunes, cinder cones and towering cliffs in Snow Canyon State Park
Hike along the canyon rim amid red and white Navajo sandstone and black lava rock, then descend into its depths Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife such as coyotes, roadrunners and quail Scramble on petrified dunes for superb views of ancient lava flows, serpentine washes and massive stone domes Follow part of the St. George Ironman route on your way to Gunlock State Park You can spot the rim of Zion Canyon from here!
Day 3 Get set for an exhilarating adventure in the Narrows
- one of Backpacker magazine's "Best Hikes Ever" - a trek through the inner gorge of the Virgin River amid waterfalls, hanging gardens and sheer sandstone up to 1,000 feet high Hike to a well-preserved collection of petroglyphs, chiseled into the soft rock thousands of years ago by ancestral Puebloans With crimson cliffs and enormous monoliths soaring around you, it's only natural to be awestruck in Zion National Park!
Days 4-5 It's a thrilling hike to Angels Landing, bringing you nearly 1,500 feet above the valley
for a 360-degree panorama of soaring sandstone Or, if heights aren't your thing, you can experience the park's grandeur on a stunning hike through cottonwood, box elder and Gambel oak trees to Emerald Pools Take in towering rock walls as you bike along the car-free Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
Trip Highlights
- Sand dunes, cinder cones and towering sandstone cliffs in Snow Canyon State Park
- Splash your way through the Narrows in Zion
- A thrilling hike to Angels Landing, bringing you nearly 2,000 feet above the valley
Premiere Inns
Red Mountain Resort (2 nights): Blending seamlessly into a landscape of vivid red rock formations and black lava gardens, this resort features a world-class spa, tailored fitness programs and an adventure concierge. (pool, spa)
Desert Pearl (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 | 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 | 3.5* | 50 | 8.5 | 150 | ||||||
| Walking | 5.0* | 150 | |||||||||
| 2 | Biking | 20* | 750 | 40 | 2500 | ||||||
| Walking | 3.0 | 350 | |||||||||
| 3 | Walking | 2.0 | 0 | 5.0 | 200 | ||||||
| Walking | 2.0 | 300 | |||||||||
| 4 | Walking | 3.0 | 400 | 5.0 | 1500 | ||||||
| Walking | 4.0 | 1000 | |||||||||
| 5 | Biking | 17 | 500 | ||||||||
* Includes a shuttle
2013 Dates & Pricing*
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 10/6-10 Price: $1998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $380 for sgl. occ.)
- 10/20-24 Price: $2098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $380 for sgl. occ.)
- 10/27-31 Price: $1998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $380 for sgl. occ.)
- 11/3-7 Price: $1998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $380 for sgl. occ.)
- 11/10-14 Price: $1998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $380 for sgl. occ.)
- 11/17-21 Price: $1998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $380 for sgl. occ.)
SINGLES-SOLOS TRIPS
- 10/13-17 Price: $2098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $380 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
Backroads' long history in southwest Utah - as well as our Trip Leaders who return year after year to share their local knowledge, lore and affection for the area - ensures that you enjoy the most rewarding experience possible. This new trip is no exception. We've transformed the natural splendor of Snow Canyon and Zion National Park into an amazing adventure showcasing our favorite spots to hike and bike. And we embellish nature's handiwork with creature comforts, from luxurious lodging to memorable cuisine. You can indulge in a soothing spa treatment at Red Mountain Resort; and on the banks of the Virgin River, the Desert Pearl is indeed a gem, with vistas of Zion's soaring amber cliffs from room balconies.- Regional Manager, North America