DURATION:
5 Days/4 Nights
AVAILABILITY:
Mar – Oct
GROUP SIZE:
Max 12
STARTS IN:
Salt Lake City
ENDS IN:
Salt Lake City
TRIP STYLE:
Lodging
March through the end of October is the perfect chance to explore Utah’s world renowned landscapes while resting at the day’s end in rustic luxury accommodations. Experience what southern Utah is all about as we travel through “Canyon Country” and work our way up the Colorado Plateau to some of the most incredible sights in the American Southwest. One iconic site after another, this tour will provide an unforgettable experience to see all 5 of Utah’s National Parks including Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef.
Today, we’ll depart from Salt Lake City and drive through the beautiful Wasatch mountains en route to the incredible canyons of southern Utah. First up for the five National Parks is Canyonlands, known for being rough, rugged, and desolate…but with much beauty to behold! We will explore the district called Island In The Sky where we’ll hike to some outstanding viewpoints and see an iconic natural arch.
Additionally, we will stop at Dead Horse Point State Park for one of the most awe-inspiring views of the mighty Colorado River. This amazing place has been featured in many movies and television shows ranging from “Thelma & Louise” to HBO’s recent series “Westworld”.
This evening we’ll arrive to our rustic lodge and have a nice dinner.
Driving time: 4 Hours
Hiking: 3+ miles – Minimal elevation gain
Accommodation: Red Cliffs Inn, Hilton Moab, or similar in Moab, Utah
Wake up to breakfast included at your lodge and get ready to explore one of the greatest collections of natural arches on the planet at Arches National Park! We will depart early to view the Windows, Double Arch, and hike 3-miles round-trip to one of the most famous features in the entire southwest, Delicate Arch.
“A weird, lovely, fantastic object out of nature like Delicate Arch has the curious ability to remind us—like rock and sunlight and wind and wilderness—that out there is a different world, older and greater and deeper by far than ours” – Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire
After some additional active options in Arches National Park, we make a trip to their visitor center before returning to Moab for a couple hours of down time at our campsite. Depending on group preference, some additional options this afternoon may include a visit to Castle Creek Winery and/or a visit to Castle Valley just outside of Moab. This evening, you will be dropped off in the town of Moab for an opportunity to shop and dine on your own. We’ll then pick you up and take back to your rustic lodge and allow you to relax for the rest of the night.
Driving time: Local
Hiking: 3-5 miles – 700+ feet elevation gain
Accommodation: Red Cliffs Inn, Hilton Moab, or similar in Moab, Utah
Departing from Moab, we drive 2 hours to our first adventure for the day at Goblin Valley State Park. This place is out of this world! It is hard to envision a more “alien-like” landscape than what you’ll see here. Small hoodoos, locally known as goblins, fill a former tidal plain and make for one of the most unique destinations in the American Southwest.
After Goblin Valley, we’ll enjoy one of America’s most scenic drives as we explore Capital Reef National Park for a possible hike to view a famous Natural Bridge. Capitol Reef National Park includes 241,904 acres of amazing red rock formations, cliffs, canyons and natural bridges. It is Utah’s wilderness at its best. Capitol Reef is also the least visited of Utah’s National Parks, so it’s definitely worth checking out! This evening we’ll arrive to our rustic lodge near Bryce Canyon National Park.
Driving time: 5 Hours
Hiking: 2-3 miles – 400+ feet elevation gain
Accommodation: Ruby’s Hotel or similar near Bryce Canyon City, Utah
This morning we will enter Bryce Canyon National Park just in time to capture the sun rising over a collection of sandstone spires called “hoodoos”. Explore several viewpoints before we descend into the Bryce Amphitheatre on “The world’s best 3-mile hike”. This trail is rated as moderate and is a wonderful way to view a variety of geology, flora, & fauna.
Later in the day we’ll head to our lodge just outside of Zion National Park! You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the property before we have an incredible dinner.
Driving time: 2 Hours
Hiking: 3-4 miles – 600+ feet elevation gain
Accommodation: Lodging at Majestic View Lodge or similar
Today we explore our 5th National Park in 5 days at Zion National Park! Marvel at the giant red cliffs that rise over 2,000 feet above the blue-green waters of the Virgin River. We’ll spend the day exploring much of what this park has to offer before making our return trip to Salt Lake City.
*Due to many natural variables in the outdoors, we take what mother nature provides for us when deciding on which hike we will do. Depending on the weather options include: Upper Emerald Pools, Observation Point, The Narrows or similar.
After several hours of optional hiking and exploring, we depart from Zion National Park and begin our return 4.5-hour drive to Salt Lake City.
Driving time: 5 Hours
Hiking: 3-6 miles – minimal elevation gain
Return to Salt Lake City: We plan to return to SLC by approximately 7:00pm. If you plan to depart from Salt Lake International Airport after the trip, be sure you do not book a flight prior to 10:00pm or 22:00 due to various circumstances out of our control.
Check out a more in-depth list of what to bring here.
I did the Southern Utah Hiker trip with MountainBased from Sep 2-6, 2019 and I cannot say enough good words about my overall experience. My guides for this trip were... read more Nick and Nick and they run the whole 5 day trip with the most effortless professionalism and expertise I have seen. Very friendly. Engage the whole group. Prepared the most awesome food. Drive us to every site in their van with enough breaks for snacks and refreshments. Time the hikes to perfection depending on weather and sun. This was my first time hiking, camping and in Utah and I cannot possible imagine having a better introduction to hiking that this trip with MountainBased. The whole trip has just been one high after the other. I highly recommend doing a trip with MountainBased and look forward to doing another one myself. More
I just got back from the Mighty 5 trip to Utah (leaving from Vegas) and can't say enough about Mountain Based. These guys are complete professionals, and the... read more trip was amazing from start to finish. Definitely a week I'll never forget. Huge thanks to best guides ever, Jared and Nick! Hope to see you both somewhere down the road.
Trip exceeded my expectations. Justin and Eric (our guides) were competent, caring and a whole lot of fun. Thank you for creating a trip I will always treasureCan’t wait for... read more Tetons 2019!
Had an incredible trip visiting 5 national parks in 5 days. My guides, Nick and Jared, were great and well prepared for the trip. Would recommend this trip to anyone.
My friends and I went on the Mighty Five Lodging trip and had an amazing experience! We didn’t quite know what to expect but it far exceeded our expectations... read more and would not hesitate to recommend MountainBased. Everything from registering with James, email communication leading up...More
I went on the Mountain Based new hiking trip offered to Bryce, Zion, and Grand staircase with my sister. It was a wonderful trip! Justin and Eric were our guides... read more and we had Steve and Nick who were guides in training. They were amazing! We...More
What an adventure. We did the southern Utah hiking adventure and no doubt, the parks are awesome and stunning and all that. But most of all, these guys made this... read more adventure spectacular!! They make sure you get the best experience!! Seriously, they will taylor the...More
It has always been a lifelong dream to see the National Parks. This trip exceeded our expectations in so many ways. It was well organized and action packed. ... read more Our guides moved us at a good speed to see the great sites and hike the trails....More
Despite the fact that I was ill the first two days (nothing to do with MountainBased), the staff guys really took care of me, allowed me to rest and take... read more shorter hikes. The travel was efficient. And the parks we saw were amazing. I highly...More
Experience all five of Utah’s National Parks in just five days. The sandstone formations, dramatic coloration, and spectacular hiking trails will leave you awe-inspired.
Witness the astounding geology of ancient rock shaped by the rushing force of water as you hike through our favorite places in the desert of Southern Utah: Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.
Join us on our last Las Vegas Utah Mighty 5 trip! Experience all five of Utah’s National Parks in just five days. The sandstone formations, dramatic coloration, and spectacular hiking trails will leave you awe-inspired.