Utah's Canyons of the Escalante

You can fly into either St. George or Las Vegas and make your way to our hotel in St. George. Once you've arrived, the rest of the day is yours to explore St. George at your own pace.

Please note: Airport transfers are not included, but if you are arriving at the airport in Las Vegas then we can arrange a transfer for you on request - please contact us for this.

Please also note: This tour involves extensive hiking on uneven terrain, covering an average of 5 to 8 kilometres at a time, but sometimes more. Elevation changes range from 50 to 1,000 feet, and both touring and overnight locations are situated at altitudes between 5,000 and 8,000 feet above sea level. Due to the physical demands of this itinerary, participants should be prepared for significant activity.

St. George - Kodachrome Basin State Park - Escalante. We depart St. George at 7:00, travelling for approximately three hours to reach the outskirts of Bryce Canyon National Park. On arrival, we’ll enjoy a scenic drive through Kodachrome Basin State Park, with a few shorter hikes to explore hoodoos and other fascinating geological formations. National Geographic named this area after the Kodak film they were using in 1949.

Afterwards, we’ll head east to Grosvenor Arch, a striking natural formation that originally symbolised the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Next, we’ll transfer to nearby Cottonwood Narrows, our first slot canyon. This secluded canyon offers stunning sandstone formations, giving you a taste of the week ahead.

Once we’ve finished exploring, we’ll transfer to Escalante and settle into our hotel for the next few days.

Escalante - Kiva Koffeehouse - Upper Calf Creek Falls - Escalante. Today we're setting off early at 7:00, hiking to Lower Calf Creek Falls, often regarded as the crowning jewel of the monument. This iconic hike takes us through nearly 5 km of lush canyon scenery, featuring vibrant canyon walls and a flowing stream. Along the way, we’ll spot ancient pictographs, some nearly human-sized, and keep an eye out for trout in the river, which may even appear on the menu tonight.

After completing the 10 km roundtrip hike, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch at the Kiva Koffeehouse, which overlooks Escalante Canyon. With the stunning views to fuel us, we’ll prepare for our afternoon hike to Upper Calf Creek Falls. To reach the trailhead, we’ll cross the renowned Hogback of Highway 12. This shorter, less-visited trail to the waterfall is just 1.2 km one-way, but it involves a 180-metre descent along solid Navajo Sandstone. Altogether, we’ll cover about 13 km of hiking today - p[lease speak to us before booking if you are concerned about your fitness.

Escalante - Escalante Canyon - Escalante. After travelling to the Escalante Canyons region of the national monument, we’ll hike through Escalante Canyon to discover two remarkable geological formations. Our first stop will be Escalante Natural Bridge, which sits atop the cliffs bordering the Escalante River. A little further on, we’ll visit Cliff House Arch and the small Native American ruins located beneath it. Following a picnic lunch, we’ll continue our hike down the canyon to Phillips Arch. After completing the hikes, we’ll head back to Escalante for the evening.

Please Note: Today's hike involves water crossings, so wear suitable footwear. Contact us in advance for help with footwear that will be suitable. The total hike is around 16 km but can be shortened to suit the group.

Escalante - Dry Fork Coyote Gulch - Escalante. Today, we’ll explore the renowned Hole in the Rock Road, famously trailblazed by Mormon pioneers to settle parts of southeast Utah and Arizona. Our journey begins with a visit to Devil’s Garden, where we’ll see striking sandstone hoodoos and arches, before heading to the Zebra and Tunnel Slot Canyons, known for their unique and captivating rock formations.

Next, we’ll stop at the Twenty Mile Wash Dinosaur Track Site, home to a series of prehistoric footprints left behind by two different species during the Jurassic Period. Finally, we’ll hike through a series of slot canyons, including Dry Fork Coyote Gulch, Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon, and Spooky Gulch, renowned for their narrow passages and dramatic sandstone walls. We’ll return to Escalante in the evening, ready to relax after a day of discovery.

Please Note: The total hiking distance today is 5 to 8 km.

Escalante - Big Horn Canyon - Cedar Wash Arch - Bryce Canyon City. On our final day in the Escalante area, we’ll venture down the Hole in the Rock Road once more. Our first stop is Big Horn Canyon, a slot canyon with striking swirly, stripy, and colourful sandstone. While some sections may be blocked, they are easy to navigate around, unlike other slot canyons. We’ll hike 5 to 6 km through this incredible landscape before retracing our steps.

After lunch, we’ll visit Covered Wagon Natural Bridge, a series of impressive natural bridges, and then head to Cedar Wash Arch, nestled in a beautifully sculpted canyon.

Once our hikes are complete, we’ll make our way to Bryce Canyon City for the evening. After enjoying a group dinner in town, you’ll have the option to join us for stargazing and astrophotography on the Rim of Bryce Canyon at 21:00.

Bryce Canyon - St. George. This morning, we’ll explore Willis Creek Slot Canyon, a “user-friendly” slot canyon where we’ll encounter several waterfalls, providing a glimpse of how these canyons are shaped by natural forces. We’ll walk along Willis Creek, which is typically only a few inches deep and a foot or two wide, for about 3 to 4 km before returning to the trailhead.

Next, we’ll continue a few more miles to Bull Valley Gorge, a more dramatic and imposing site. Here, you’ll spot a 1950s car incorporated into the road bridge over the gorge.

After spending the day exploring these two fascinating slot canyons, we’ll begin our return journey to St. George, a 3-hour drive.

We’ll arrive in St. George by 17:00. Please schedule any flights or transportation after 19:00 in the case of any delays or consider spending an additional day or two enjoying St. George.