Endurance Feats in Utah

Hours aren't listed.

Call (385) 201-2000 before you go.

Ages 16+

Ages 16 and older.

Be proficient in freestyle, able to swim 500 yards continuously, and be evaluated by a coach.

• Masters swimming is an organized adult swim workout, run through Lehi City's aquatic programs.
• The program page lists two flyers: "2026 Winter Adult MWF Masters Swim Team" (MWF means Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and "2026 T Th Fall Adult Masters Swim Team" (T Th means Tuesday and Thursday).

• The program page describes the team as for advanced swimmers.

Be proficient in freestyle, able to swim 500 yards continuously, and be evaluated by a coach.

• This is a workout for advanced swimmers, not a lesson. If you are still building fundamentals, the Legacy Center also lists Adult Swim Lessons for ages 18 and older, covering the fundamentals of swimming, technique and fine tuning.

Be proficient in freestyle, able to swim 500 yards continuously, and be evaluated by a coach.

Contact: (385) 201-2000 · [email protected]

Website: lehi-ut.gov

Hours aren't listed.

Booking required

How to bookReserve a backcountry permit for your overnight trip.

Permit availability is highly competitive in spring and fall.

In peak season you may have to reserve your permit up to four months in advance.

Spring break (March) is an especially busy time for Needles permits.

Website: visitutah.com

Backcountry permit required for all overnight trips.

Bring a map from the NPS showing exact backcountry campsite locations.

Bring a commercial human waste disposal bag to carry out all solid human waste.

A major backpacking trip covering most of the outstanding features of the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park.

The route

• Start and finish: Squaw Flat Trailhead; the route is a loop
• Distance: 23.2 miles, plus side trips
• Direction: the loop can be done either way with no real advantage; the trail description follows the clockwise route
• Maps: Trails Illustrated Needles and USGS The Loop and Druid Arch
• Other trailheads: you could also start or finish at Elephant Hill or Cave Springs/Salt Creek and cover the same territory. Squaw Flat is the most accessible and any vehicle can get there
• With two vehicles, leave one at Elephant Hill Trailhead to cut 2.3 miles off the trip

Stages

• The first 1.1 miles are flat and easy, with several slickrock sections
• Next comes a Peekaboo Trail junction, then about 1.5 miles that are mostly slickrock, a small ladder down and a sandy trail into a narrow canyon
• The route climbs up Lost Canyon, where a stream often flows in spring
• A side trip up Elephant Canyon leads to Druid Arch, a half mile off the main route
• The Chesler Park backcountry campsites sit among large boulders around Chesler Park
• The Joint Trail runs through a giant crack between rock formations and passes the short side trail to Chesler Park Overlook, where the view of Chesler Park and its ring of sandstone spires is far more dramatic than from camp or the trail
• After Chesler Park Trailhead (vault toilet and picnic tables) the Devils Pocket Trail climbs through a pass in the Pinnacle Formation into Devils Pocket
• Devils Kitchen Camp has a vault toilet, picnic tables and four vehicle campsites
• The route ends back at Squaw Flat Trailhead

How many nights

• The full description covers three nights and four days; two-, four- and five-night versions are also outlined
• Suggested side trips by trip length: two nights, Upper Lost Canyon and Chesler Park Overlook; three nights, Druid Arch; four nights, Peekaboo Spring; five nights, Elephant Canyon
• On the three-night plan, DP1 is probably the best last campsite, which leaves 7.7 miles for the fourth day. Continuing to EC1 instead means 7.4 miles on the third day and 4.1 on the last
• Backcountry campsites on the route are Lost Canyon LC1 to LC3, SQ2, Chesler Park CP2 to CP5, DP1 and EC1

The Big Needles Loop is rated Difficult.

What the route asks of you

• Plan on a heavy pack, at least for the first two days, because of the amount of water you need to carry
• How many miles you can cover in a day, how much water you can carry and how much time you have decide the length of your trip
• Slickrock sections are marked by sometimes small cairns, so be alert not to miss the correct route
• You climb down a small ladder and make a fairly serious climb through a pass in the Pinnacle Formation
• The Joint can be tight enough to make getting a big pack through difficult
• The trail out of Devils Kitchen is confusing; check the topo map and compass so you don't have to backtrack

Water

• There are very few water sources in the Needles backcountry, and what is available is best preserved for the natural organisms that rely on it
• The amount of water you need is the limiting factor for your trip length, so plan on a heavy pack early
• The park encourages backpacking groups to pack in water whenever possible
• Many springs marked on topographic maps may no longer exist or may dry up in drought; you may find water seasonally in many canyons east of Chesler Park
• Ask for current water source information at the email below

Remote travel and navigation

• Much of Canyonlands is undeveloped land
• Small cairns mark the route over slickrock, and the trail out of Devils Kitchen is confusing because visitors have made several unofficial trails

Camping and food storage

• Most backpackers in the Needles stay at designated campsites
• To keep your food undetectable and unobtainable to wildlife, use a ratsack or bear canister; the Needles District and the Backcountry Reservation Office rent them free to those with backcountry permits

Permit availability is highly competitive in spring and fall.

In peak season you may have to reserve your permit up to four months in advance.

Spring break (March) is an especially busy time for Needles permits.

Backcountry permit required for all overnight trips.

Bring a map from the NPS showing exact backcountry campsite locations.

Bring a commercial human waste disposal bag to carry out all solid human waste.

Email: [email protected]

From the Needles entrance station, drive about 2.7 miles west and turn left into Needles Campground. The road then forks and both forks reach the same trails; the left-hand fork goes to the trailhead with the shortest route to the backcountry, while the right-hand fork is used mostly by campers staying in the campground. Trailhead GPS coordinates: 38.143406, -109.803336. Squaw Flat is the most accessible trailhead and any vehicle can get there.

Contact: (435) 719-2313 · [email protected]

Website: visitutah.com

Tuition, 8-day course

Tuition, varies by location and year$2,930–$3,020

Mar 20–27, 2028 session, Grand Junction, CO$3,020

Tuition may vary by location or year.

NOLS lists AmeriCorps and 529 College Savings Plans among its outside financial aid options.

See Trip details

Equipment deposit

Equipment deposit$200

See Trip details

See Before you go

Mar 20–27, 2028 course session (Mar 20–Mar 27)

Check the NOLS course page for other session dates.

Ages 18+

Ages 18 and up.

• Length: 8 days
• Where: the sandstone canyons of the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah, on the ancestral lands of the Hopi, Navajo, Ute Mountain Ute, Uintah Ouray Ute and Zuni tribes
• Route: some days in the depths of the canyons or along the tops of mesas, other days finding the twists and turns of the canyon entrances and exits
• Course location: Grand Junction, CO
• Listed session: Mar 20, 2028 – Mar 27, 2028; the course page has a Find available dates button for other sessions
• Along the way: rabbitbrush, cottonwood, buffaloberry, desert trumpet and prickly pear cacti

Tuition, 8-day course

Tuition, varies by location and year$2,930–$3,020

Mar 20–27, 2028 session, Grand Junction, CO$3,020

Tuition may vary by location or year.

NOLS lists AmeriCorps and 529 College Savings Plans among its outside financial aid options.

Equipment deposit

Equipment deposit$200

Ages 18 and up.

• The terrain is a labyrinth of sandstone canyons, with both rewards and challenges
• The course page describes the week as including challenging adventures
• The course page offers four downloads to read before you sign up: Course Description, Equipment List, Travel and Logistics, and Essential Eligibility Criteria
• Admissions advisors answer questions Mon–Fri, 8 AM–5 PM MT

Equipment deposit

Equipment deposit$200

Ages 18 and up.

Phone: (800) 710-6657

Contact: (800) 710-6657

Website: nols.edu

4-day guided trip

Twin-share tents$1,250

The price is based on twin-share tents; a single-occupancy tent can be arranged for an additional fee. Leave a note at checkout.

See Trip details

Spring (Apr 1–Jun 30)

Fall (Sep 1–Nov 30)

Check the 57hours trip page for current departure dates.

Booking required

How to bookReserve a listed date online with a 30% deposit, or send an inquiry or book a call.

A 30% deposit secures your spot.

The remaining 70% is due at least 90 days before departure.

If you book within 90 days of departure, the full amount is due at booking.

Cancel within 48 hours of booking for a full refund.

Cancel 60 or more days before departure for a 70% refund of the total trip price.

Cancel within 59 days of departure and no refund is given.

Booking fees are non-refundable after the 48-hour grace period.

Private group trips can be customized: dates, group size, terrain, guides and accommodations.

Book on the website: 57hours.com

Anyone older than 16 can join.

Minors under 16 may be allowed to join case by case, with a parent or legal guardian present.

Bring a backpack large enough to carry all your gear.

Bring a sleeping bag.

Bring a sleeping pad.

Bring well broken-in hiking footwear.

Bring water bottles and/or a hydration bladder, minimum 4 L capacity.

Bring comfortable hiking clothes.

Bring spare clothes for layering.

Bring a rain jacket.

Bring a sunhat.

Bring camp shoes or sandals.

Bring an eating bowl and utensils.

Bring a headlamp or flashlight.

Bring sunglasses.

Bring toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, tissues, etc.).

Bring hiking poles if you want them; they're optional.

• Four days and three nights of tent camping in Coyote Gulch near Escalante, Utah, with up to 9 people and usually 4 clients per guide.
• Larger groups can be arranged, and a fully private trip can be booked with your own dates.

Day by day

• Day 1: meet the guides at 7 am in Escalante for orientation and a gear check, then ride about 90 minutes to the trailhead. Hike 9.7 km (6 mi) down into Coyote Gulch and camp in a side canyon.
• Day 2: climb up and cross King Mesa, drop into Escalante Canyon and camp near Stevens Arch. 16.9 km (10.5 mi).
• Day 3: two side trips to explore Stevens Canyon and Stevens Arch, then up Coyote Gulch to camp near Coyote Bridge. 13.4 km (8.3 mi).
• Day 4: hike up and out of the gulch to the trailhead around noon, then drive back to Escalante, where the trip ends. 5.3 km (3.3 mi).
• Elevation: the trailhead sits at 1,433 m (4,700 ft) and the route drops to about 1,128 m (3,700 ft) before climbing back out; the operator lists up to 305 m (1,000 ft) of elevation gain or loss.

When it runs

• Season: April through June and September through November.
• Listed 2027 departures: Apr 28–May 1, May 5–8, May 19–22, Sep 15–18, Sep 22–25 and Oct 6–9. More dates are to be announced.

Included

• Wilderness First Responder-certified guides
• 3 nights in tents, with tents and ground cloths
• 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners
• All required permits
• Cooking equipment and group gear
• Water filters, wag bags (portable toilet bags) and first aid kits

Not included

• Travel to and from Escalante, Utah
• Lunches and snacks
• Travel insurance, which the operator recommends
• Guide gratuities, which are optional
• Gear you bring yourself, listed below

4-day guided trip

Twin-share tents$1,250

The price is based on twin-share tents; a single-occupancy tent can be arranged for an additional fee. Leave a note at checkout.

Anyone older than 16 can join.

Minors under 16 may be allowed to join case by case, with a parent or legal guardian present.

Bring a backpack large enough to carry all your gear.

Bring a sleeping bag.

Bring a sleeping pad.

• The operator calls this a strenuous, challenging backpacking trip and says solid preparation is required: "Excellent fitness required."
• Expect up to 16–19 km (10–12 miles) a day, often on rocky, steep, unmaintained terrain, carrying a pack of around 16 kg (35 lbs) plus 4–5 kg (8–10 lbs) of shared gear.
• Train specifically for backpacking: hike long distances over uneven terrain with a weighted pack, in the same footwear you'll wear on the trip.
• You'll walk in and cross water regularly, so get used to hiking in wet shoes.
• Some sections have exposure near cliffs and brief Class 3 scrambling, so you should be comfortable with heights and moving over uneven terrain. The operator says the trip is not recommended for anyone with vertigo.

Bring well broken-in hiking footwear.

• This is remote backcountry: the operator warns that evacuations are complex and not always guaranteed, so being physically ready matters.
• You carry your own pack the whole way, around 16 kg (35 lbs) plus shared gear.
• Expect sand, regular creek crossings and wet feet.
• Some sections have exposure near cliffs and brief Class 3 scrambling.
• Guides are Wilderness First Responder certified, and first aid kits, water filters and wag bags (portable toilet bags) are provided.
• All required permits are included and handled by the operator.
• The operator highly recommends travel insurance, which can be added at checkout.

Bring water bottles and/or a hydration bladder, minimum 4 L capacity.

Meet your guides at 7 am on Day 1 in Escalante, Utah; the group is then driven about 90 minutes to the trailhead. Most people fly into Salt Lake City (SLC) or Las Vegas (LAS) and rent a car to reach Escalante.

Website: 57hours.com

Per person, 4 days / 3 nights

Starting price$2,025

Peak departure dates may cost more; date-specific prices are on the trip page.

See Trip details

See Booking

Deposit, per person (multi-day trips)

Deposit to confirm your reservation$500

The final balance is due 90 days before departure; trips booked within 90 days are paid in full at booking.

Check with the venue before you go.

See Booking

Solo travelers, per person

Single supplement, if required (amount varies by trip)$45–$450

See Trip details

Ask for a quote: call (928) 525-1552 or email [email protected] about private or custom trips.

Hours aren't listed.

Check the trip page (View Dates) for departure dates.

Booking required

How to bookRequest your dates from Four Season Guides; once availability is confirmed, you get an online registration link and pay the deposit online.

Book 6+ months ahead for your preferred dates; last-minute inquiries are welcome.

Pay the deposit online by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover or ACH transfer.

Cancel in writing.

Before the final balance due date, cancelling costs $250 per person, or you can apply your $500 per person deposit to a future trip within two years.

Cancellation penalties rise within 90 days of departure, up to the full trip cost within 45 days. Check with the venue before you go.

There are no refunds for late arrivals, early departures or voluntary withdrawal.

Trip insurance is strongly recommended to protect against cancellation costs.

Booking link: https://www.fsguides.com/backpacking/coyote-gulch-backpacking

Per person, 4 days / 3 nights

Starting price$2,025

Peak departure dates may cost more; date-specific prices are on the trip page.

Deposit, per person (multi-day trips)

Deposit to confirm your reservation$500

The final balance is due 90 days before departure; trips booked within 90 days are paid in full at booking.

Check with the venue before you go.

Many Four Season Guides trips suit anyone over 12 and some suit children as young as 8; trips vary, so ask about this one.

Every guest signs a waiver before final payment.

Bring clothing, raingear and footwear.

Wear shoes you don't mind getting wet.

Bring personal toiletries and sunscreen.

Bring a water bottle or hydration bladder.

Bring a headlamp or flashlight.

Rules: https://www.fsguides.com/terms-and-conditions

The trip

• 4 days / 3 nights, about 25 miles of hiking, rated Level 5 out of 10 on the operator's own difficulty scale
• You hike down Coyote Gulch to its confluence with the Escalante River, past alcoves, arches, archaeological sites and pictographs
• Departure dates are listed under View Dates on the trip page

Itinerary

• Day 1: depart St. George early for a drive of about 4 hours to the Escalante area, with a lunch stop at Devil's Garden. Then hike about 6 miles, descending 600 feet to the canyon bottom, and camp.
• Day 2: hike about 6 miles downstream with little elevation change, through giant alcoves and under natural arches. Camp near Coyote Natural Bridge.
• Day 3: hike 8–10 miles with small day packs, leaving camp behind, to the confluence with the Escalante River and views of Steven's Arch. You may swim in spring-fed pools. Lunch is on the river bank, then you return to camp.
• Day 4: hike 6–7 miles with a 600 foot climb, leaving by another tributary canyon, to the rim and trailhead. After lunch you head back to St. George.
• The route can change for permit or campsite availability, closures, weather and road conditions.

Group size

• Most Utah backpacking trips take 5 guests plus one guide; a group can be as large as 10 guests with 2 guides
• Most trips need at least 2 guests to run

Meeting point and transportation

• Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in St. George, UT to the trailhead is included; you arrange your own travel to and from St. George and your lodging the night before and after
• You get a detailed trip information packet when you book

Included

• A professional, licensed and medically trained guide
• All necessary gear (see Rentals and equipment)
• All meals through lunch on the last day, plus trail snacks; your guide prepares them. Which meals Day 1 includes: check with the venue before you go.
• Entrance fees and backcountry permits

Not included

• Transportation to and from St. George, UT
• Lodging the night before and after the trip
• Clothing, raingear and footwear, personal toiletries and sunscreen, a water bottle or hydration bladder, and a headlamp or flashlight
• Guide gratuity: never expected but appreciated; a typical gratuity is 15–20% of the trip's cost

Solo travelers

• Singles are welcome to join an existing trip

Per person, 4 days / 3 nights

Starting price$2,025

Peak departure dates may cost more; date-specific prices are on the trip page.

Solo travelers, per person

Single supplement, if required (amount varies by trip)$45–$450

Book 6+ months ahead for your preferred dates; last-minute inquiries are welcome.

Booking link: https://www.fsguides.com/backpacking/coyote-gulch-backpacking

More information: https://www.fsguides.com/frequently-asked-questions

Camping gear is provided, so you don't buy or pack a tent, sleeping bag or pack.

Provided

• Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad and trekking poles
• All cooking and eating gear: bowls, cups and utensils
• For backpacking trips the operator supplies Deuter backpacks, Thermarest inflatable sleeping pads, MSR, Sierra Designs or Kelty tents, Marmot, Big Agnes or Kelty sleeping bags, and Black Diamond trekking poles

Your own gear

• You are welcome to use your own equipment; if it doesn't meet the operator's requirements, the guides ask you to use theirs. Ask the trip specialists before you pack.

What you bring

You bring your own personal items, listed below.

Bring clothing, raingear and footwear.

Wear shoes you don't mind getting wet.

Bring personal toiletries and sunscreen.

Bring a water bottle or hydration bladder.

Bring a headlamp or flashlight.

More information: https://www.fsguides.com/frequently-asked-questions

Fitness and terrain

• You don't need hiking or backpacking experience, but you should be in good physical shape
• Backpackers carry at least 30 pounds, often 5–7 miles a day over varying terrain; an average pack on a 3 or 4 day trip weighs 30 to 35 lbs (13.5 to 16 kg)
• Day 3 is done with small day packs
• A recent physical exam from a doctor is highly recommended

Weather

• Weather in and around the canyons can change at any time; in spring and fall, be ready for warm and cold
• Trips go rain, snow or shine; the operator can change the itinerary for weather or conditions beyond its control, and can cancel for extreme weather
• Trip duration and price don't change once you're registered, but destinations and routes may

Arrival

• Arrive at the meeting location the evening before departure; same-day arrivals can't be accommodated
• Most trips begin with a short welcoming orientation the evening before
• Airport pickups aren't offered

Emergencies and medical

• Tell friends and family to call the operator's office in an emergency; depending on the trip, it can take up to 24 hours or more to get a message to you in the backcountry
• You cover the costs of medical care, rescue or emergency evacuation, and evacuation in remote areas may be delayed, difficult and expensive
• Guides may remove anyone who can't continue or whose participation jeopardizes the group's safety or experience, with no refund

Photos

• The operator may photograph or record trips for promotion; to opt out, notify them in writing before departure

If a trip doesn't run

• Trips need a minimum number of guests; if enrollment falls too low, the operator can cancel and gives a full refund, including the deposit
• If the operator cancels for extreme weather or other events beyond its control, you get a trip credit for your payments minus expenses it has already incurred, not a refund; trip credits expire 24 months from issue

Cancel in writing.

Before the final balance due date, cancelling costs $250 per person, or you can apply your $500 per person deposit to a future trip within two years.

Cancellation penalties rise within 90 days of departure, up to the full trip cost within 45 days. Check with the venue before you go.

There are no refunds for late arrivals, early departures or voluntary withdrawal.

Trip insurance is strongly recommended to protect against cancellation costs.

Many Four Season Guides trips suit anyone over 12 and some suit children as young as 8; trips vary, so ask about this one.

Every guest signs a waiver before final payment.

More information: https://www.fsguides.com/frequently-asked-questions

Rules: https://www.fsguides.com/terms-and-conditions

Phone: (928) 525-1552

Four Season Guides offers private tours and custom itineraries (costs vary) for small and large groups. To request one, call or email with your request, including the trip or area you want.

• Custom trip pricing is based on the agreed group size, and the operator may adjust it if the group shrinks
• Cancellation penalties for custom and private trips start earlier: the full trip cost can be forfeited within 60 days of departure

More information: https://www.fsguides.com/frequently-asked-questions

Rules: https://www.fsguides.com/terms-and-conditions

Phone: (928) 525-1552

Email: [email protected]

Four Season Guides builds custom itineraries for small and large groups. To request one, call or email with your request; the contacts below reach the trip specialists.

• Standard Utah backpacking departures take 5 guests plus a guide, and sometimes up to 10 guests with 2 guides

More information: https://www.fsguides.com/frequently-asked-questions

Phone: (928) 525-1552

Email: [email protected]

Your guide's roundtrip transportation starts at your hotel in St. George, UT; book your own travel to St. George and a room for the night before. Ask the operator's trip specialists for the meeting time and place; a detailed trip information packet comes with your booking.

Contact: (928) 525-1552 · [email protected]

Website: fsguides.com

Entry to the Dark Canyon Wilderness

Entry, no feeFree

See Trip details

See Before you go

Hours aren't listed.

Bring at least a full day's water supply (one gallon or more per person), plus food and equipment for a five- to seven-day trip.

Bring a way to treat any water you find by filtering, boiling or chemical treatment.

• 40-mile loop backpack in the Dark Canyon Wilderness, south of Canyonlands National Park; plan five to seven days
• Start: the trailhead at the end of Woodenshoe Road. The nearest town is Blanding
• Finish: the loop ends at the Peavine Trailhead (FR 081), 37 miles in. If you left a car there, your hike is over; otherwise hike the 3 miles back to the Woodenshoe trailhead
• Trail surface: wash bottom. You start at about 8,000 feet on the plateau and descend 2,200 feet to the dry streambed
• Side excursions can easily stretch the trip to twice the distance
• Seasons: late spring to early summer, and fall. Spring is the best time, though hikers make the trip throughout the year

Route, by mile

• 0: Woodenshoe Road trailhead
• 4: Cherry Canyon on the right; good camping
• 6: "Keyhole Arch Canyon"
• 11.5: Wates Pond, an excellent camping spot
• 15: Hanging Garden spring. Check with the ranger district before you go
• 16: Woodenshoe Canyon meets Dark Canyon; turn right (east) into upper Dark Canyon
• 21: Trail Canyon on the left and Warren Canyon on the right
• 26: Rig Canyon on the right
• 27: Turn right onto FR 089 into Peavine Canyon
• 32: Kigalia Canyon junction; bear right onto the Peavine Canyon Trail
• 37: Peavine Trailhead
• 40: Back at the Woodenshoe Road trailhead

What you'll see

• Cliff dwellings about a mile down Woodenshoe Canyon beyond Cherry Canyon, with three well-preserved petroglyphs on the walls above. These ancient remains are protected by federal law, so keep your impact minimal
• An arch shaped like a keyhole in an unnamed canyon entering from the east
• Tracks of cougar, bear, deer, raccoon and ringtail cat in the sandy streambeds
• Lush vegetation in Peavine Canyon

Maps

USGS Woodenshoe Buttes, Poison Canyon, Warren Canyon and Black Steer Canyon quads, and the National Geographic Trails Illustrated Manti-LaSal National Forest map.

Visitors to designated wilderness are asked to Leave No Trace.

Entry to the Dark Canyon Wilderness

Entry, no feeFree

• The trip is only for experienced backpackers
• Difficulty: moderately difficult
• Map-reading skills are required
• No technical climbing equipment is needed, but the route is rugged and undeveloped
• The hike is relatively dry and can be stressful for people unaccustomed to desert hiking and summer temperatures

Water

• The lack of water is one of the biggest concerns for backpacking here
• Water may be available from springs, seeps and intermittent streams, but don't count on it
• Cherry Canyon usually runs in spring but stops running down canyon in fall
• Wates Pond has a large pothole and spring that usually holds water year round
• Hanging Garden spring usually has a pool beneath it
• Springs near Trail Canyon usually run, but were reported completely dry in fall 2019
• Peavine Canyon often runs in spring but dries up quickly in summer; later in the year the only water is usually a cattle trough about 3.5 miles below the Peavine Canyon Trailhead
• This is wild country: pack enough water to last several days in case the next source is dry

Heat and weather

• Summer temperatures can reach 100°F. Fall daytime temperatures can be in the mid- to low 90s, dropping into the 40s at night
• Thunderstorms occur in summer and early fall. The canyon bottoms are relatively broad, so flash-flood danger is not as severe as elsewhere in canyon country, but there have been flooding problems in early spring
• A 2003 fire burned nearly all of the Cherry Canyon drainage, increasing flash-flood runoff there
• Some snow accumulates on the plateau in winter; access to the Dark Canyon area is limited when winter moisture arrives

Permits and rules

• No permit is required for the Dark Canyon Wilderness at this time
• Hikers are encouraged to ask about current weather and water conditions before starting, and to sign in at the trailhead registers
• No fires are allowed on the BLM portion of the canyon at any time of year
• Potable water is not available at the site

Remoteness

The wilderness is a remote section of the Colorado Plateau, and the route is rugged and undeveloped.

Entry to the Dark Canyon Wilderness

Entry, no feeFree

Bring at least a full day's water supply (one gallon or more per person), plus food and equipment for a five- to seven-day trip.

Bring a way to treat any water you find by filtering, boiling or chemical treatment.

Phone: (435) 587-2041

From UT 95, take northbound UT 275 (signed Natural Bridges National Monument and Manti–La Sal National Forest — Elk Ridge Access). It becomes FR 88 and climbs to Bears Ears Pass. Turn left onto FR 108 (signed Woodenshoe–6), continue on FR 181, then turn right onto a narrow dirt road signed Woodenshoe Canyon and Trail 165 and follow it 0.9 mile to a spur road that leads 100 yards to the signed trailhead. The road up to the pass is generally good and usually passable to cars in dry weather; the last dirt road is rough and rocky in places. If you arrive late in the day, there are many undeveloped campsites on Maverick Point and South Elk Ridge.

Website: visitutah.com

Monticello Ranger District (USFS): (435) 587-2041

Monticello BLM Field Office: (435) 587-1500

Manti-La Sal National Forest Supervisor's Office: (435) 636-3500

Website: visitutah.com

Per person, 4 days / 3 nights

Starting price$2,025

Date-specific pricing is listed on the trip page; peak departure dates can cost more.

See Trip details

Solo travelers

Single supplement, if required (varies by trip)$45–$450

Solo travelers can join an existing trip. Ask whether a supplement applies to this trip.

Deposit, per person

Deposit to confirm a reservation$500

Check with the venue before you go.

See Booking

Price list: https://www.fsguides.com/backpacking/egypt-to-golden-cathedral

Hours aren't listed.

Call (928) 525-1552 before you go.

Booking required

How to bookContact the company to check availability; once it's confirmed you receive an online registration link and pay the deposit online.

The final balance is due 90 days before departure. A trip booked within 90 days of departure is paid in full at booking.

Book 6 or more months ahead to secure your preferred dates.

Cancel in writing. Before the final balance is due the fee is $250 per person, or you can apply your deposit to a future trip within two years.

Cancellation fees rise as departure nears and can reach the full trip cost within 45 days of departure; see the terms page for the schedule. Check with the venue before you go.

There are no refunds for late arrivals, early departures or voluntary withdrawal.

If the company cancels for too few guests, you get a full refund including the deposit.

Booking link: https://www.fsguides.com/frequently-asked-questions

Phone: (928) 525-1552

Reservations: (928) 585-5382

Email: [email protected]

Deposit, per person

Deposit to confirm a reservation$500

Rules: https://www.fsguides.com/terms-and-conditions

Every guest signs a waiver.

Bring clothing, raingear and footwear.

Bring personal toiletries and sunscreen.

Bring a water bottle or hydration bladder.

Bring a headlamp or flashlight.

Rules: https://www.fsguides.com/terms-and-conditions

• 4 days / 3 nights of guided backpacking, rated Level 5/10 for difficulty, about 25 miles in all
• Most Utah backpacking trips take 5 people plus one guide; a group can occasionally reach 10 people plus 2 guides
• Most trips need two or more guests to run
• Round-trip transportation from your hotel in St. George, Utah, to the trailhead is included
• Most trips begin with a short welcoming orientation the evening before departure; ask the company for this trip's meeting place and time

Route

• Day 1: A 4-hour drive to Egypt Bench, down Hole In The Rock Road in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Hike 6 miles across open slickrock, descending 1,000 feet into Fence Canyon, and camp along the Escalante River at an old cowboy camp.
• Day 2: Continue down the canyon to Neon Canyon and the Golden Cathedral, a sandstone alcove with a triple arch in its ceiling. Hike 6 miles with little elevation change; the afternoon offers optional overland routes with views of Navajo Mountain, Chop Rock and the Straight Cliffs.
• Day 3: Follow the Escalante River gorge past ancient rock art, with time to explore side canyons and slot canyons. Backpacking miles are short (6 miles, up to 800 feet of climbing and descending) to leave room for day hikes.
• Day 4: Watch the sunrise, then hike 6 miles up and out to the rim for views of the Escalante River canyons, Capitol Reef and the Henry Mountains. Lunch at the trailhead, then the ride back to St. George.
• Routes can change for permit or campsite availability, park restrictions or closures, weather or road closures.

Included

• A professional, licensed and medically trained guide
• Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, trekking poles and all cooking and eating gear
• Meals from Day 1 through lunch on the last day, plus trail snacks; your guide prepares them. Check with the venue before you go.
• Entrance fees and backcountry permits

Not included

• Transportation to and from Flagstaff, Arizona
• Lodging the night before and after the trip
• Guide gratuity: never expected, but 15–20% of the trip's cost is typical

Per person, 4 days / 3 nights

Starting price$2,025

Date-specific pricing is listed on the trip page; peak departure dates can cost more.

Booking link: https://www.fsguides.com/frequently-asked-questions

Price list: https://www.fsguides.com/backpacking/egypt-to-golden-cathedral

Phone: (928) 525-1552

Email: [email protected]

The company provides the gear for backpacking trips, so you don't need to buy or rent anything: backpacks, inflatable sleeping pads, tents, sleeping bags, trekking poles and all cooking and eating gear. You can use your own equipment if it meets the company's requirements; if it doesn't, you'll be asked to use theirs. Ask the trip specialists before you pack your own.

You bring the personal items below, plus the footwear: in Escalante the company likes boots, or shoes you don't mind getting wet, because many hikes involve creek and river crossings. Your detailed trip packet arrives when you book.

Bring clothing, raingear and footwear.

Bring personal toiletries and sunscreen.

Bring a water bottle or hydration bladder.

Bring a headlamp or flashlight.

Booking link: https://www.fsguides.com/frequently-asked-questions

• Fitness: no previous backpacking experience is needed, but be in good physical shape. Backpacking trips mean carrying at least 30 pounds, often 5–7 miles a day over varying terrain; a typical pack on a 3- or 4-day trip weighs 30–35 pounds (13.5–16 kg).
• Weather: trips go rain, snow or shine, and canyon weather can change at any time. The company can change the itinerary or cancel for extreme weather.
• Remote country: if there's an emergency at home, family should call the company; a message can take 24 hours or more to reach you in the backcountry.
• Medical: the company isn't a medical provider. You pay for any medical care, rescue or emergency evacuation, and help in remote areas can be delayed. A recent physical exam is highly recommended.
• Insurance: the company strongly recommends trip insurance for cancellations, interruptions, medical expenses, evacuation and travel delays.
• Getting there: arrive the evening before departure; same-day arrivals can't be accommodated, and the company doesn't offer airport pickups.
• Photos: the company may photograph or video guests for promotion. To opt out, tell them in writing before departure.
• Age limits: they vary by trip, so contact the company about this one.
• Minimum to run: if too few guests sign up, the company can cancel and give a full refund.

Every guest signs a waiver.

Booking link: https://www.fsguides.com/frequently-asked-questions

Rules: https://www.fsguides.com/terms-and-conditions

Phone: (928) 525-1552

The company offers private trips and custom itineraries for small and large groups; costs vary. To request one, call or email.

Booking link: https://www.fsguides.com/frequently-asked-questions

Phone: (928) 525-1552

Email: [email protected]

Round-trip transportation from your hotel in St. George, Utah, to the trailhead is included. Arrive the evening before departure and confirm the meeting place and time with the company; airport pickups aren't offered.

Website: fsguides.com

Trip details: (928) 525-1552

Reservations: (928) 585-5382

Trip details: [email protected]

Website: fsguides.com

Backcountry use permit, overnight trips

Backcountry use permitFree

Available at any monument visitor center and at the self-registration box at the Egypt Trailhead.

See Before you go

Hours aren't listed.

A free backcountry use permit is required for overnight trips.

Wear footwear that stands up to wet conditions and provides sufficient ankle support.

Bring a backpacker stove.

• 20-mile loop; out-and-back options are possible instead of the full loop
• Time: a minimum of two long days; the recommended, more leisurely trip with time to explore takes four to five days. Side trips change the length
• Start and finish: Egypt Trailhead, at about 5,650 feet, in Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. Nearest town: Escalante
• Route: from Egypt Bench, descend about 1,000 feet via Fence Canyon to the Escalante River, head downriver to Twentyfive Mile Wash, follow the wash up, exit to the north and cross country over slickrock back to the trailhead
• Trail surface: slickrock, sand and wash bottoms
• Seasons listed: spring and fall
• Land: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument (Bureau of Land Management)
• Possible side trips: Choprock Canyon, about a mile upstream on the Escalante, and Baker Bench, reached by an old stock trail
• Maps: USGS Sunset Flat and Egypt quads; Southeastern Utah Multipurpose Map; National Geographic Trails Illustrated Canyons of the Escalante Map

Miles and directions

• 0.0: Start at the Egypt Trailhead on Egypt Road
• 2.0: Descend to the junction of Fence Canyon
• 2.5: Reach the mouth of Fence Canyon and the Escalante River; turn right (downstream)
• 3.5: Pass an old stock trail leading east to Baker Bench
• 8.0: Twentyfive Mile Wash enters from the right (west) after a right-hand bend in the river
• 14.0: Exit Twentyfive Mile Wash on the right (north)
• 20.0: Arrive back at the Egypt Trailhead

• Rated strenuous because of its length and because you hike through water and dense vegetation
• Plan for at least two long days of hiking; four to five days is recommended for a more leisurely trip
• Finding the way includes cross-country travel over slickrock and sand, with Egypt Bench as the landmark on the return

• Flash floods: several places on this hike can be extremely hazardous during flash floods, so get an up-to-date forecast and watch the weather. Twentyfive Mile Wash drains a large area, and its narrow, winding lower 2 miles offer little chance to climb to higher ground
• Bad weather: don't hike into Choprock Canyon when bad weather threatens
• Water in the canyon: you will hike in water along a good part of the trek and walk in and out of knee-deep water. River levels vary
• Drinking water: water availability varies considerably from season to season. Check conditions with the Escalante Interagency Visitor Information Center when you get your permit. Boil all surface water, adding iodine or using an appropriate filtering technique. Fence Canyon, only a mile long, has a small stream flowing most of the year
• Vegetation: wash bottoms and the river canyon are heavily vegetated, and dense growth can make passage difficult. The route up the first large side canyon in Twentyfive Mile Wash is extremely brushy, with deep beaver ponds to wade; a better route continues about 0.75 mile farther west and exits the wash on the right (north)
• Poison ivy: watch for it in the small side canyons off lower Twentyfive Mile Wash
• Camping: camping in wash bottoms can be dangerous. Fires are not permitted
• Access road: the road to the trailhead is usually passable for vehicles with moderate clearance, but check current road conditions with the Escalante Interagency Visitor Information Center

Backcountry use permit, overnight trips

Backcountry use permitFree

Available at any monument visitor center and at the self-registration box at the Egypt Trailhead.

A free backcountry use permit is required for overnight trips.

Wear footwear that stands up to wet conditions and provides sufficient ankle support.

Bring a backpacker stove.

More information: https://www.blm.gov/visit/escalante-interagency-visitor-center

Phone: (435) 826–5499

Drive east from Escalante on Highway 12 for 5 miles to Hole-in-the-Rock Road. Turn right and drive 15 miles to The Egypt turnoff. Turn left onto Egypt Road. Within 3.5 miles Egypt Road crosses the upper portion of Twentyfive Mile Wash. Continue another 5.5 miles and bear right. Egypt Trailhead is 1 mile farther. Trailhead GPS: 37.593213, -111.218473. Check road conditions with the Escalante Interagency Visitor Information Center before you drive.

Contact: (435) 826–5499

Website: visitutah.com

Per person, 5-day trip, Bullet Canyon to Kane Gulch

Adults$1,296

Youth$1,152

See Trip details

Hours aren't listed.

Call (505) 239-8505 before you go.

• Five-day guided backpacking trip through Grand Gulch, from Bullet Canyon to Kane Gulch
• Led by Indigenous guides from Ancient Wayves
• Grand Gulch is a canyon system with great canyon walls, native wildlife and plant life
• Several natural springs along the trail are where water is gathered
• Included: backpack meals, a tent, a backpack and a sleeping bag
• Own backpacking gear is welcome if you prefer it, so you don't have to use the provided gear
• A fresh-made Navajo Taco is provided at the trailhead after the journey
• The trip runs on set departure dates; ask Ancient Wayves about the next one
• Daily distance, group size and the meeting point aren't listed; ask Ancient Wayves

Per person, 5-day trip, Bullet Canyon to Kane Gulch

Adults$1,296

Youth$1,152

Phone: (505) 239-8505

Email: [email protected]

• This is remote canyon country, and water on the trail comes from natural springs where it is gathered
• Ancient Wayves says its guides are Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and CPR certified, and carry first-aid kits and In-Reach satellite communication devices for emergencies
• A Utah's Canyon Country travel alert says the southern part of San Juan County, including Bluff, Montezuma Creek and Aneth, has been heavily affected by recent heavy rain and flooding, with possible road, park and business closures
• Ask Ancient Wayves about permits, cell service and weather for this trip; its page doesn't list them

Phone: (505) 239-8505

Email: [email protected]

Contact: (505) 239-8505 · [email protected]

Website: tourancientwayves.com

Hardcore Hayduke, 9-day tour

Hardcore Hayduke tour$2,645

Includes guide service to move camp and support the tour each day, the support truck, all meals, energy food, liquid refreshments, water bottles, shuttles and mechanical support.

Alcoholic beverages and bike rental cost extra.

See Trip details

Rentals, 9-day tour

Pedal bike$295

E-MTB (electric mountain bike)$450

Camping gear$85

See Trip details

Midpoint motel night in Hanksville, Utah, per person, added to the tour cost

Shared accommodations$85

Private accommodations$170

See Trip details

Hardcore Hayduke departure (Big Water to Moab) (May 4–May 12)

Booking required

How to bookSign up for a tour date on the Lizard Head Cycling Guides website.

Not every listed date runs. Opening a date means choosing your preferred departure; there is no penalty if the tour does not run.

Wait for your official email confirmation before booking non-refundable travel reservations.

Note any dietary preferences or allergies on the registration form.

Book on the website: lizardheadcyclingguides.com

Phone: (970) 728-5891

Email: [email protected]

Bring your own bike, or rent from Lizard Head Cycling Guides.

Bring your own gear for the nights of camping, unless you take the operator's rental.

Bring a pack for your lunch and water.

• Nine days: eight days of riding plus one contingency day, used for weather, mechanical problems or group speed
• Route: the Hayduke Trail from Big Water to Moab, Utah, on small, rugged, remote jeep roads, with some rocky streams, sand and mountain dirt
• About 440 miles with about 31,000 feet of elevation gain and loss. Check with the venue before you go.
• Pace: an average of about 55 miles a day on dirt
• Group size: 5 to 11 riders. Check with the venue before you go.
• Support: a 4-wheel-drive support truck carries luggage, food and equipment. One guide rides while the other drives the truck, and guides prepare all meals at camp.
• Nights: you camp at undeveloped campsites, with one night in a motel in Hanksville, Utah, at the midpoint
• Meeting point: the operator's guidance logistics for the route's first week meet on Day 1 in Page, Arizona, with a shuttle from Grand Junction, Colorado, to Page on Day 0, the day before the tour officially starts. The exact logistics for your tour are in your confirmation documents; check them before you book travel.

Daily stages

• Day 1: Smoky Mountain Road, 23 mi, +2430 ft / -1410 ft
• Day 2: Hells Backbone, 70 mi, +6100 ft / -5165 ft
• Day 3: Burr Trail and Waterpocket Fold, 64 mi, +4930 ft / -5870 ft
• Day 4: Capitol Reef to Henry Mountains, 27 mi, +3840 ft / -1050 ft
• Day 5: Henry Mountains to Dark Canyon, 81 mi, +7350 ft / -8880 ft
• Day 6: Dark Canyon to Hammond Canyon, 32 mi, +3325 ft / -1780 ft
• Day 7: Hammond Canyon to Lockhart Basin, 67 mi, +2200 ft / -6470 ft
• Day 8: Hurrah Pass and Moab, 44 mi, +3025 ft / -3130 ft
• Day 9: contingency day

Daily routes are an outline and can change with the season, accommodations, road closures and other factors.

Hardcore Hayduke, 9-day tour

Hardcore Hayduke tour$2,645

Includes guide service to move camp and support the tour each day, the support truck, all meals, energy food, liquid refreshments, water bottles, shuttles and mechanical support.

Alcoholic beverages and bike rental cost extra.

Rentals, 9-day tour

Pedal bike$295

E-MTB (electric mountain bike)$450

Camping gear$85

Midpoint motel night in Hanksville, Utah, per person, added to the tour cost

Shared accommodations$85

Private accommodations$170

Bring your own bike, or rent from Lizard Head Cycling Guides.

Bring your own gear for the nights of camping, unless you take the operator's rental.

• The operator says the Hardcore Hayduke is rated level 4, the hardest tour type it offers, and "is not for the timid cyclist."
• It is designed for Upper Intermediate to Advanced cyclists.
• It is only for cyclists who have previously ridden this type of mileage on consecutive days.
• Riders must have experience on a similar length road or dirt tour.
• Five of the stages are the dirt equivalent of 100-mile days on the road.
• Expect to pedal about 5 to 6 hours a day, not including rest time.
• The riding is fun and challenging but not overly technical; an experienced mountain or road biker with decent technical skills is within the tour's ability level.
• If a rider is worn out, they can ride in the support truck to the next camp.
• For questions about the tour's demands, call the number below.

Phone: (970) 728-5891

• Remote: the route rides through one of the most inaccessible areas in the lower 48 states and crosses only a few paved roads in its 440 miles.
• Elevation: the route crosses two mountain ranges with elevations peaking at 10,000 feet, so it is not simply a desert tour.
• Weather: May, September and early October are the operator's best months. With no clouds, expect highs in the low to mid 80s below 6,000 feet and the upper 70s above 8,000 feet.
• Itineraries can change for weather, wildfires, flooding, landslides, road construction and road closures.
• Early starts: on the Hardcore Hayduke, breakfasts are early so riders can roll out with the morning sun.
• Resupply: when possible, the support truck meets riders at lunch to resupply.
• Cleaning up: the guides bring solar showers.
• Electronics: the guides have a battery device for charging smaller devices. High-capacity USB battery packs (16000mAh or greater) also work well for multiple recharges.
• Bikes: ship them at least 8 days before your tour if sending across the continental US.
• Travel insurance: the operator suggests considering it, and recommends Generali/Trip Mate.

Bring a pack for your lunch and water.

Contact: (970) 728-5891 · [email protected]

Website: lizardheadcyclingguides.com

5-day guided tour, per person

Hayduke North: Castles & Goblins$1,670

Includes 5 days of guide service, a support truck, all meals, energy food, liquid refreshments, shuttles and mechanical support. Alcoholic beverages and bike rental cost extra.

Tour discounts are not stackable with any other discounts or promotions.

For a discount to apply, the tour minimum must be met.

See Trip details

Departure Apr 25–29, 2027 (Apr 25–Apr 29)

Departure May 2–6, 2027 (May 2–May 6)

Departure May 9–13, 2027 (May 9–May 13)

Departure May 16–20, 2027 (May 16–May 20)

Departure May 23–27, 2027 (May 23–May 27)

Departure Sep 2–6, 2027 (Sep 2–Sep 6)

Departure Sep 16–20, 2027 (Sep 16–Sep 20)

These are potential departure dates; not all of them will run, and unopened dates will be closed.

Booking required

How to bookSign up for a tour date on the website.

Opening a date means picking your preferred departure; there is no penalty if the tour does not run.

The operator can also hold a spot for you on another tour date, and there is no fee to switch to another tour date.

Tour Opened means rider minimums are not yet met.

Tour is Go means the rider minimums are met.

Even if the website says a tour is a Go, wait for your official email confirmation before booking non-refundable travel reservations.

Read the operator's tour and cancellation policies before booking.

Book on the website: lizardheadcyclingguides.com

Phone: (970) 728-5891

Email: [email protected]

• Five days of cycling, point to point from Wedge Camp to Goblin Valley State Park. Total listed: 170 miles, with additional mileage options available. Check with the venue before you go.
• Routes shown are an example and a general outline; the actual routes go to registered participants before the tour.

Day by day

• Day 1, Wedge Camp to Rio San Rafael Camp: 35 miles, up to 1,100 feet of climbing, 2,250 feet of descending. A 14-mile stretch of flat, non-technical singletrack along the Little Grand Canyon rim trail, then Buckhorn Wash, where two walls of Native American rock art can be seen. Check with the venue before you go.
• Day 2, Rio San Rafael Camp to Dutchman Arch Camp: 26 miles, up to 2,610 feet of climbing, 650 feet of descending. An optional technical slickrock route adds 17 miles and 1,660 feet of climbing and descending (the operator calls it the E.F.I. option).
• Day 3, Dutchman Arch to Hidden Splendor Camp: 39 miles, up to 2,250 feet of climbing, 4,610 feet of descending. A descent into Reds Canyon, a climb out, then a descent to Muddy Creek and camp. Check with the venue before you go.
• Day 4, Hidden Splendor to Goblin Valley State Park: 32 miles, up to 3,900 feet of climbing, 3,720 feet of descending. A rolling day with an optional stroll inside a slot canyon, ending at camp in Goblin Valley State Park.
• Day 5, exploring Goblin Valley State Park: 7 to 10 miles of lightly rolling singletrack loops, with a hiking option, then a shuttle back to Grand Junction in the mid-afternoon.

Start and finish

• Arrive at Grand Junction, Colorado; the shuttle returns there on day 5.

Group size

• A departure needs a minimum number of riders to run; one listed 2027 departure needs 4. A Custom Week on an unopened date needs 9 riders.

Bikes

• The operator rents the Scott Spark 930 mountain bike and the Strike eRIDE 920 e-bike. Rental make, model and specifications may differ from what the page describes; ask about specific needs.

5-day guided tour, per person

Hayduke North: Castles & Goblins$1,670

Includes 5 days of guide service, a support truck, all meals, energy food, liquid refreshments, shuttles and mechanical support. Alcoholic beverages and bike rental cost extra.

Tour discounts are not stackable with any other discounts or promotions.

For a discount to apply, the tour minimum must be met.

• The operator rates this tour's ability level as Upper Intermediate (3), Advanced (3/4).
• Its description calls day 4 "a rolling day and a tough ride", with steep trails that roll up and down.

• This is a back country trip through a remote landscape.
• Itineraries can change for the group, available accommodations, road construction, road closures and unforeseen circumstances including weather, wildfires, flooding, hurricanes and landslides.
• Distances and elevation profiles on the page may not match what you ride; treat them as a general outline.
• The operator suggests considering travel insurance and recommends Generali/Trip Mate. Its Premium Plan is the only one with pre-existing coverage, and only if bought before final payment.

Even if the website says a tour is a Go, wait for your official email confirmation before booking non-refundable travel reservations.

Arrive at Grand Junction, Colorado (Grand Junction Regional Airport); the tour shuttles back there on day 5.

Contact: (970) 728-5891 · [email protected]

Website: lizardheadcyclingguides.com

Week 1, 6-day guided tour

6-day tour$1,990

Includes guide service, a support truck, all meals, energy food, liquid refreshments, water bottles, shuttles and mechanical support. Alcoholic beverages and massage therapy cost extra.

Reptile Rewards, tour and group discounts exist; only the highest one applies, and the tour minimum must be met for a discount to apply.

See Trip details

Optional rentals for the 6-day tour

Pedal bike rental$250

E-MTB (electric mountain bike) rental$395

Camping gear rental (tent, ground cot or pad, sleeping bag)$85

Tent only, 1 week$55

The rental tent sleeps 2 comfortably, and the sleeping bags are rated for 20 degrees.

Rental bike makes, models and specifications can differ; contact the operator with specific needs.

See Trip details

Week 1 departure (6 days) (Apr 25–Apr 30)

Call (970) 728-5891 before you go.

Listed dates are potential departures, and not all of them will run.

Booking required

How to bookSign up for a tour date on the operator's website.

When you open a date you pick your preferred departure, and there is no penalty if the tour does not run.

The operator can also hold a spot for you on another tour date, with no fee to switch.

Wait for your official email confirmation before booking non-refundable travel, even if the website says the tour is a go.

Read the operator's tour and cancellation policies before you book.

The operator suggests considering travel insurance and recommends Generali/Trip Mate.

Book on the website: lizardheadcyclingguides.com

Bring your own bike, or rent from Lizard Head Cycling Guides.

Camping gear (tent, ground cot or pad and sleeping bag) can be rented from the operator if you don't bring your own.

• Week 1 of the Hayduke Trail: 6 days, 220 miles, with 17,600 feet of climbing and 16,400 feet of descent.
• Departure: April 25 to 30, 2027.
• Starts in Big Water, Utah, just west of Lake Powell. Ends on the east side of the Henry Mountains, where Week 2 riders join the tour.
• Group size: 5 to 11 riders. Check with the venue before you go.
• Meeting point: Day 1 meets in Page, Arizona. Lizard Head Cycling meets guests in Grand Junction, Colorado, and provides a shuttle to Page on Day 0, the day before the tour officially starts.
• Getting there: fly into Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT), or meet in Page by flying into Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG), where one-way rental cars to Page are available.
• Getting home: Week 1 riders are shuttled back to Grand Junction the evening of Day 6. Check the exact logistics in your confirmation documents before you book travel.

Daily stages

• Day 1: Big Water to Heads of the Creek (30 miles/+2,800 feet)
• Day 2: Heads of the Creek to Cow Camp (35 miles/+3,835 feet)
• Day 3: Cow Camp to Deer Creek Campground (47 miles/+3,030 feet)
• Day 4: Deer Creek Campground to Cedar Mesa Campground (41 miles/+3,660 feet), plus a bonus ride on the Wolverine Loop (23 miles/+2,060 feet)
• Day 5: Cedar Mesa to McMillan Camp (27 miles/+3,855 feet)
• Day 6: McMillan Campground to Cottonwood Campground (21 miles/+2,145 feet), plus a bonus ride on Poison Springs Out & Back (48 miles/+2,990 feet)
• The operator calls these a general outline: itineraries and distances can change.

The route

• The tour is a "gravel grinder": rugged, remote backcountry jeep roads, not overly technical.
• It starts on Smoky Mountain Road, named for smoke from 100-year-old coal fires deep beneath the mountain.
• It then drops into Left Hand Colette canyon, where you may not meet another person.
• Highway 12 crosses the Hogsback past the 125-foot Calf Creek Waterfall to Boulder, Utah, with a natural shower at Calf Creek Falls.
• The Burr Trail covers Long Canyon, the Wolverine Loop, the Waterpocket Fold switchbacks in Capitol Reef National Park and Bull Frog road.
• Over days 5 and 6 you climb 6,000 feet up the Henry Mountains.

Camp and meals

• Guides in camp prepare all meals, and every lunch has gluten free options. Note any dietary preferences or allergies on the registration form.
• The support truck carries water, personal gear, an outdoor kitchen, coolers of food, tents, spare parts and spare bikes, and meets the group in camp.
• Camp is mostly at undeveloped campsites. Solar showers let you clean up on tour.

Week 1, 6-day guided tour

6-day tour$1,990

Includes guide service, a support truck, all meals, energy food, liquid refreshments, water bottles, shuttles and mechanical support. Alcoholic beverages and massage therapy cost extra.

Reptile Rewards, tour and group discounts exist; only the highest one applies, and the tour minimum must be met for a discount to apply.

Optional rentals for the 6-day tour

Pedal bike rental$250

E-MTB (electric mountain bike) rental$395

Camping gear rental (tent, ground cot or pad, sleeping bag)$85

Tent only, 1 week$55

The rental tent sleeps 2 comfortably, and the sleeping bags are rated for 20 degrees.

Rental bike makes, models and specifications can differ; contact the operator with specific needs.

Phone: (970) 728-5891

Email: [email protected]

• Ability level: Upper Intermediate (3) to Advanced (3/4).
• The operator aims the tour's fitness level at upper-intermediate to advanced riders. It is challenging but "not a death march."
• Their bottom line: an experienced mountain or road biker with decent technical skills can do this tour.
• Terrain runs from rugged jeep roads to rocky streams, sand and mountain dirt. The riding is fun and challenging but not overly technical.
• Daily mileage averages about 35 miles, varying with the riding surface and the amount of climbing.
• Expect a 6,000-foot climb up the Henry Mountains over days 5 and 6.

• Remote country: the operator describes this as one of the most inaccessible areas in the lower 48 states. Parts of the route are so remote that you may not meet another person.
• Camping: you mostly sleep at undeveloped campsites.
• Water and food: you pack your own lunch and water in your pack. The support truck meets the group in camp and, when possible, at lunch to resupply.
• Weather: May, September and early October are the operator's "sweet spots." With no clouds in those months, expect highs in the low to mid 80s in the lower desert (below 6,000 feet) and the upper 70s in the mountains (above 8,000 feet). The Henry Mountains climb tops 10,000 feet.
• Route changes: itineraries can change for the group, available accommodations, road construction, road closures, weather, wildfires, flooding, landslides and other acts of nature.
• Bikes: if you ship your bike across the continental US, ship it 8 days before your tour.
• Charging: the tour has a battery device for charging smaller devices. The operator pitches the trip as a chance to detach from emails and ringtones.

Wait for your official email confirmation before booking non-refundable travel, even if the website says the tour is a go.

Read the operator's tour and cancellation policies before you book.

The operator suggests considering travel insurance and recommends Generali/Trip Mate.

Phone: (970) 728-5891

Email: [email protected]

Day 1 meets in Page, Arizona. Lizard Head Cycling meets guests in Grand Junction, Colorado, and shuttles them to Page the day before the tour starts. If you drive to the tour, you can leave your vehicle at the meeting hotel for the duration of the tour. Your confirmation documents give the exact logistics.

Contact: (970) 728-5891 · [email protected]

Website: lizardheadcyclingguides.com

Trailhead day-use parking, per vehicle

3-day pass$10

7-day pass$20

Season pass$60

See Trip details

See Before you go

Hours aren't listed.

Bring a day-use pass to display in your vehicle.

Interagency "America the Beautiful" passes and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest passes are honored in place of a day-use pass.

• Distance: the summit is about 10 miles from the Henrys Fork Trailhead, which sits at 9,420 feet.
• Climbing: the vertical gain from the trailhead to the summit is 4,110 feet.
• Days: most climbers backpack for this summit; the ultra fit have done it in a day.
• Camping: climbers place their high camp from Dollar Lake (10,785 feet) on up into the basin near 11,000 feet. Backpacking also lets you climb other peaks that surround Kings.
• Trails at the trailhead: Henrys Fork Trail #117 and Henrys Fork Basin Trail #116.

Route

• Follow the trail to Gunsight Pass at 11,888 feet.
• From the pass, a sometimes vague use trail climbs through rocky ledges to a large talus field (loose rock). You can also stay on the trail, descend a little and go around the rocks.
• Hike west along a trail through the talus to Anderson Pass at 12,700 feet, which puts you on the north-northwest ridge of Kings Peak.
• Turn south and follow the ridge to the summit. The Class 2 hike up this rocky ridge has several false summits along the way.
• On top, you have expansive views of the Uinta Mountains in every direction.

Options

• South Kings Peak (13,512 feet) is another 0.8 mile south-southwest of the summit.
• You can also reach South Kings, and so Kings, from the Swift Creek Trailhead to the south at 8,100 feet, but that route takes more miles and more elevation gain.

Trailhead day-use parking, per vehicle

3-day pass$10

7-day pass$20

Season pass$60

Bring a day-use pass to display in your vehicle.

• The Highpointers Foundation says most peak baggers do a backpack for this summit, and the ultra fit have done the peak in a day.
• Its advice for the extra 0.8 mile to South Kings Peak: "If you are fit, and a bit fanatical", you can trek it.
• The Class 2 ridge fools some people, because there are several false summits along the way.
• Part of the route follows a sometimes vague use trail through rocky ledges, with a talus field to cross.

• Remote: Kings Peak is a remote peak in the heart of the Uintas.
• Summer thunderstorms are common; start early.
• On a summer holiday weekend the area can be quite crowded.
• The Henrys Fork Trailhead has no restrooms and no drinking water.
• The Forest Service says wilderness is wild and you are responsible for your personal safety. It asks visitors to leave no trace.
• No permit is needed for the High Uintas Wilderness.
• The Forest Service's wilderness page lists a campfire closure and an occupancy and use alert; check both before you go.

Trailhead day-use parking, per vehicle

3-day pass$10

7-day pass$20

Season pass$60

Bring a day-use pass to display in your vehicle.

Interagency "America the Beautiful" passes and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest passes are honored in place of a day-use pass.

Phone: (307) 782-6555

Email: [email protected]

No restrooms or drinking water at the Henrys Fork Trailhead. Display your pass in your vehicle while parked.

Contact: (307) 782-6555 · [email protected]

Website: fs.usda.gov

Per person, 5-day guided trip

Starting price$1,525

See Trip details

Rentals

Bike rental, per day$80

Camp rental, per person$95

See Trip details

Spring

Fall

Winter

Check the booking calendar on the tour page for current hours.

How to bookOpen the booking calendar on the tour page to see current dates and availability.

If no dates work, request a custom trip on the tour page.

• A 5-day guided mountain bike camping trip, ridden point to point from the official Kokopelli Trailhead in Loma, Colorado, just west of Grand Junction, to Moab, Utah
• Departs from Fruita, Colorado
• Distance: 130 miles, 18-40 miles per day
• Terrain: singletrack and doubletrack with 2 short paved sections
• Altitude: 4,000 ft - 8,500 ft (1,220m - 2,590m)
• Ridden in 2 parts connected by a shuttle
• Runs in spring, fall and winter, with multiple departures each season; the booking calendar on the tour page shows current dates and availability
• Arrival: Moab 1-3 PM, return to Grand Junction 3-6 PM

Day by day

• Day 1: 26 miles (42km), +3,200 ft / -3,055 ft. Singletrack up Mack Ridge, then Mack Valley and Rabbit Valley to the rim above Ruby and Horsethief Canyons. Camp: Knowles Canyon Overlook
• Day 2: 37 miles (60km), +2,650 ft / -3,150 ft. The 4x4 road, then Mary's Loop, Westwater and Western Rim trails. Camp: Fish Ford
• Day 3: +2,800 ft / -2,500 ft. Over Dewey Bridge, up the sandy, rocky Entrada Bluffs Road and through Cottonwood Canyon. Camp: Oil Pad Camp
• Day 4: 18 miles (29km), +3,800 ft / -800 ft. Rose Garden Hill and Onion Creek, then a climb toward the La Sal Mountains. Camp: Porcupine Overlook, Mason Draw or Warner Lake
• Day 5: 20 miles (32km), mostly descending to Moab by the Whole Enchilada or the Raptor Route, depending on conditions and group ability

What's included

• A 4x4 support truck that carries every bag, tent and cooler
• A mobile camp kitchen run by guides who cook: trail lunches, hot dinners in camp, and water and ice
• Meals per the itinerary: Day 1 lunch and dinner, Day 2 breakfast, lunch and dinner, Day 5 breakfast and lunch
• Guides who carry Wilderness First Responder training and are certified food handlers

Bike and camp rentals are offered as extras.

Per person, 5-day guided trip

Starting price$1,525

Rentals

Bike rental, per day$80

Camp rental, per person$95

Phone: (435) 259-5223

• Difficulty: Advanced, which the operator describes as Intermediate Plus to Advanced
• Physical demand: Intermediate Plus to Strenuous
• Technical: challenging sections with long climbs, steep rocky descents
• Mileage: 18-40 miles per day, with 2,650 to 3,800 ft of climbing on each of Days 1 to 4

• Permit: the tour is operated under permit with the Manti-La Sal National Forest and the Moab Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management
• Day 1 is one of the hardest days of the tour: be prepared and stay hydrated
• Remote: the operator calls the trail a true wilderness experience and the trip a backcountry one, with riding between 4,000 and 8,500 ft
• Conditions: the posted route is approximate and the actual route may vary with conditions; the Day 5 descent depends on conditions and group ability
• Weather: the tour page links to a National Weather Service forecast near Kokopelli Trail (Dewey Bridge)
• Support: a 4x4 truck carries your bags, and every guide carries Wilderness First Responder training
• Camp may still be coming together when you arrive; guides handle setup

Phone: (435) 259-5223

Contact: (435) 259-5223

Website: rimtours.com

Optional camping gear rental

Tent$46

Sleeping bag$28

Sleeping pad$28

Full kit$79

Couples kit$121

Advance reservations are essential for camping gear.

Full suspension mountain bike rentals are also an optional add-on.

See Trip details

Call (435) 259-4464 for current prices.

Hours aren't listed.

Call (435) 259-4464 before you go.

Make advance reservations for rental camping gear.

Bring your mountain bike, your own or a rental, to the pre-trip meeting for the guides to inspect.

Bring your own camping equipment, or rent from Magpie Cycling.

Route

• Five days, point to point, from Grand Junction, Colorado to Moab, Utah
• Day 1: meet at 7am in Moab (breakfast on your own) and load your personal gear on the Gear Vehicle. A van shuttle of about 2 hours takes the group to the trailhead in Colorado. Ride singletrack and double track to your first camp: 30 miles
• Day 2: ride through the Cisco Desert to camp on the Colorado River: 35 miles
• Day 3: cross the Colorado River at the historic Dewey Bridge and climb into the La Sal Mountains: 25 miles
• Day 4: ride down Rose Garden Hill into Fisher Valley, stop to explore a prehistoric Indian ruin, then climb to the highest campsite, 8000 feet above sea level: 25 miles
• Day 5: finish on the Porcupine Rim Trail, with views of Castle Valley. The group typically returns to Moab by 4pm. Day 5 mileage isn't listed.

The operator may change the itinerary because of local conditions or at the group leaders' discretion. Daily mileage and shuttle times can differ from this outline; check with the venue before you go.

Included

• Food, from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day
• Guides, a support vehicle and shuttles
• Public land use fees
• 2 dry bags for packing your personal gear, given out at the pre-trip orientation
• Snack bars and electrolyte replacement mix

Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and other dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.

Not included

• Mountain bike rentals and camping equipment are optional add-ons
• Lodging: the operator recommends staying in Moab before the trip and the night it ends, and booking it as soon as you book the trip
• Tips: not expected, but appreciated; 20% is customary

Pre-trip orientation

The group meets at 5pm in Moab on the evening before the tour, at Magpie Cycling Headquarters, 711 N. 500 West, Moab, UT. It typically lasts an hour and covers introductions, trip details, rental equipment, questions and last-minute trip purchases. If you'll arrive late, can't attend or need help picking up a rental mountain bike from a local bike shop, tell the operator as soon as possible.

Private groups

Any trip can be chartered by a private party, with negotiable dates, amenities and activities. Call the charter number below to schedule.

Optional camping gear rental

Tent$46

Sleeping bag$28

Sleeping pad$28

Full kit$79

Couples kit$121

Advance reservations are essential for camping gear.

Full suspension mountain bike rentals are also an optional add-on.

Make advance reservations for rental camping gear.

Bring your mountain bike, your own or a rental, to the pre-trip meeting for the guides to inspect.

Bring your own camping equipment, or rent from Magpie Cycling.

Phone: (800) 546-4245

• The operator says the trip is suitable for fit intermediate to advanced riders in good physical condition and able to ride for 4-6 hours a day.
• In the operator's words: "If you can ride at a comfortable pace for 3-6 hours at home you will do fine on the trip." It comes down to being in good general health, being accustomed to regular exercise and controlling your pace.
• Previous mountain bike experience "would be helpful, though not completely necessary." Guides give a complete orientation before the ride and discuss and demonstrate technique and safe riding skills each day.
• Riding ability in a group can range from novice to expert, and everyone rides at their own pace.
• Rule of thumb from the operator: mountain bike miles feel about twice as long as road miles (10 miles on dirt feels like 20 on pavement).
• Check with the venue before you go if you're unsure whether the trip fits your level.

Altitude and dry air

• Moab lies 4,000 feet above sea level, most of the tour is between 4000 and 6000 feet, and the highest campsite is at 8000 feet. If you live near sea level you may feel a difference; everyone adjusts at different rates.
• The operator's advice: make an extra effort to drink plenty of water and eat salty foods when you arrive and throughout each day, and snack frequently. The air is dry.

Camping and support

• Nights on the trail are spent in camp. Guides, a support vehicle and meals come with the trip.
• The itinerary can change because of local conditions.

Your bike

• If you bring your own bike, it must be in good repair and recently serviced by a qualified bike shop. Check the brakes, shifters, drive train, cables, tires and wheels.
• You can ship a bike to Poison Spider Bicycles, 497 N. Main St, Moab UT 84532, via FedEx; it will be ready when you arrive.

Drinks you bring

• Bring aluminum cans or plastic containers only. The cooler usually has room for four beverages per person, per day.
• Pour wines and spirits from glass bottles into a plastic or metal bottle with a tight-fitting screw cap lid.

Getting there

• The operator suggests booking lodging or camping in Moab as soon as you book the trip.
• At the pre-trip meeting you get a map and directions to the next morning's meeting spot, where you leave your car parked during the trip.

Bring your mountain bike, your own or a rental, to the pre-trip meeting for the guides to inspect.

Bring your own camping equipment, or rent from Magpie Cycling.

Meet at 5pm on the evening before the tour at Magpie Cycling Headquarters, 711 N. 500 West, Moab. At that meeting you get a map and directions to the next morning's 7am meeting spot, where you leave your car for the trip. Moab is 20 minutes from Canyonlands Field Airport, just under 100 miles (2 hours) from Grand Junction, Colorado, and about 4.5 hours by car from Salt Lake City.

Website: magpiecycling.com

Phone: (435) 259-4464

Charter trips: (800) 546-4245

Email: [email protected]

Website: magpiecycling.com

5-day guided trip

Per person, starting price$1,895

See Trip details

April–May

September–October

Call (435) 259-8732 before you go.

Bring everything on the packing list.

Bring a riding pack that carries 2-3 liters of water, rain gear, other warm clothing, and food for the day.

Bring your own bike, or rent from Western Spirit.

Bring a helmet (free with a rental bike).

Bring or rent a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

Bring cash for tipping guides (10-20% of the trip price is suggested).

• Five days, point to point: nearly 140 miles of the Kokopelli Trail, mostly singletrack with sections of packed sediment, plus jeep roads
• Climbing: just shy of 14,000 ft over the five days, including a climb of over 2,400 ft to Sevenmile Mesa on Day 3
• Altitude: 4,000–8,000 ft
• Season: April–May and September–October
• Private departures are available; call (435) 259-8732

Route

• Day 1: Loma to Rabbit Valley, 33 miles; camp atop a mesa overlooking canyons that flow to the Colorado River
• Day 2: down to Westwater Canyon, then 4x4 roads along the river, 41 miles; camp among the Entrada Sandstone bluffs
• Day 3: Sevenmile Mesa and Fisher Valley, 17 miles; backcountry camp
• Day 4: climb into the La Sal Mountains toward North Beaver Mesa, 16 miles; camp up high among ponderosa pines
• Day 5: Sand Flats Road down to Moab, Utah (mileage not listed), then a shuttle back to Grand Junction

Start and finish

• Meet at 7:30 AM MST at the Clarion Inn, 755 Horizon Dr., Grand Junction, Colorado, and spend the night before in Grand Junction
• The group shuttles to Loma, Colorado, the official start
• Typical day: riding by 9:30 AM and in camp around 4 PM
• Back in Grand Junction between 5:00 and 6:00 PM on the last day

Provided on the trip

• Meals, snacks, water, electrolyte drinks and non-alcoholic drinks
• Camp mugs, all kitchen and dining ware, and camp chairs
• 1 cycling water bottle
• Solar showers, sunscreen and bug spray
• Bike stand and lube (guides bring their own tools)
• A first aid kit with basic medications

5-day guided trip

Per person, starting price$1,895

Bring your own bike, or rent from Western Spirit.

Bring a helmet (free with a rental bike).

Bring or rent a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

• Rated Advanced: participants must have a high level of skill and fitness because of difficult riding, steep climbs and long days
• Technical difficulty: Advanced (technical sections)
• Physical difficulty: Difficult (significant mileage, elevation gains)
• The operator describes the trip as tailored for Advanced riders with a high level of technical skill
• Terrain includes whoop-dee-doos, technical sections and demanding jeep roads

• Itineraries can change because of weather, road conditions, rider safety and other factors
• Mountain weather can be unpredictable. The operator recommends layers: a wicking or long underwear layer, an insulating layer and a weather barrier for wind and rain
• The operator says that if you are prepared for extreme weather it is an adventure, and if you are not it can be a serious problem
• The trip is fully supported at camps, but vehicle support on the trail is available only in the mornings and evenings on some days. You may be away from camp and the support vehicle all day, so you need to be self-sufficient on daily rides
• Most of your gear rides in the support vehicle and isn't reachable during the day; an optional day bag may not be reachable either, depending on the day
• The operator encourages turning devices off; if you bring them, pack a way to charge them (a portable USB charger with 1-2 charges is recommended) and use airplane mode to save power

Bring everything on the packing list.

Bring a riding pack that carries 2-3 liters of water, rain gear, other warm clothing, and food for the day.

Grand Junction is 250 miles west of Denver and 50 miles east of the Utah/Colorado state line on I-70. You can fly into Grand Junction (airport code GJT). The operator suggests booking a room ahead; its recommended hotels (Clarion Inn, Ramada Inn, Best Western Sandman and Quality Inn of Grand Junction) all offer airport shuttles.

Contact: (435) 259-8732

Website: westernspirit.com

Self-guided trip, 4 riding days and 3 nights, per person

Per person$550

See Trip details

Catered option, per day, by group size

Groups of 1-4$245

Groups of 5-12$425

Catered option: the crew shops, cooks and does the dishes for appetizers, dinner and dessert only.

The grocery bill is passed to you for reimbursement.

See Trip details

Hours aren't listed.

Bring your own bike, or rent from Over the Edge in Fruita.

Without the catered option, plan and shop for your own menu.

• Route: the 142-mile Kokopelli Trail from Fruita, CO to Moab, UT, over 4 riding days and 3 nights of camping
• Climbing: over 10,000 total feet
• Group size: 4-12 people
• Terrain: mountain service roads and jeep roads, with some sections of mountain and desert singletrack
• Start and finish: the trip starts and ends in Fruita, CO. A shuttle takes you to Loma to start and brings you back to Fruita from Moab at the end.
• Arrival day: meet the crew the night before in Fruita to pick up coolers from Ready Camp (the camp-gear company that sets up your camp), then do your grocery and beverage shopping for the 4 days.
• Parking: on the side streets near the Over the Edge bike shop in Fruita.
• Finish time: typically no later than 5:30 PM back in Fruita on the final day.
• Getting to Fruita: Grand Junction Airport is about 10 miles away; the drive from Denver or Salt Lake City is about 4 hours.

The four days

• Day 1: singletrack above the Colorado River, with views into the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness
• Day 2: a less dramatic first half than Day 1's cliffs and canyons, reaching Fish Ford at midday
• Day 3: the hardest day, climbing away from the Colorado River toward Fisher Valley
• Day 4: finish the climb to the top of paved Castle Valley Road, then join the Whole Enchilada ride and descend with views of Castle Valley

What's included

• Shuttle to Loma to start and back to Fruita from Moab at the end
• General camp gear from Ready Camp: popup tent, full kitchen, cooking and eating utensils, dry firewood, camp chairs, camp toilet and fresh water
• Camp and gear moved each day, including trash removal

Not included

• Overnight support
• Alcoholic beverages (the crew can haul and keep them cold)
• Food shopping: you plan and shop for your own menu
• Lodging and transportation before and after the trip
• Bikes (see Fitness needed for what the operator recommends)

Catered option

Instead of cooking, you can add a catered option for appetizers, dinner and dessert only. The crew does the grocery shopping, prepares the meals and does the dishes, and the grocery bill is passed on to you for reimbursement.

2027 departures

Each trip runs four days. Listed starts are April 15, 22 and 29; May 6, 13, 20 and 27; September 9, 16, 23 and 30; and October 7, 14 and 21.

Self-guided trip, 4 riding days and 3 nights, per person

Per person$550

Catered option, per day, by group size

Groups of 1-4$245

Groups of 5-12$425

Catered option: the crew shops, cooks and does the dishes for appetizers, dinner and dessert only.

The grocery bill is passed to you for reimbursement.

More information: https://rentbikesfruita.otesports.com/rentals

Phone: (877) 765-5682

Email: [email protected]

• The operator calls this self-guided tour challenging and says it is appropriate for intermediate and advanced riders.
• The trip climbs over 10,000 total feet across the 142 miles.
• Day 3 is described as the hardest day of the trip.
• Bike: the operator recommends a 4-6 inch travel full-suspension bike. You can rent one; the operator recommends renting from Over the Edge in Fruita.

More information: https://rentbikesfruita.otesports.com/rentals

• Self-supported: there is no overnight support, so you're on your own at camp.
• Weather: expect many weather changes along the route. Weather control isn't included.
• Food and drink: fresh water and a camp toilet come with the camp gear; see the catered option in Trip details if you'd rather not cook.
• Plan your own lodging and transportation before and after the trip.
• Day 3 is the hardest day of the trip.

Bring your own bike, or rent from Over the Edge in Fruita.

Without the catered option, plan and shop for your own menu.

More information: https://rentbikesfruita.otesports.com/rentals

Phone: (877) 765-5682

Email: [email protected]

Meet the crew the night before in Fruita, CO. Park on the side streets near the Over the Edge bike shop.

Contact: (877) 765-5682 · [email protected]

Website: hermosatours.net

Supported group ride

Registration$875

Covers the gear shuttle, aid stations, meals, camps, SAG van, mechanic and medical support, and the return shuttle.

See Trip details

Trip One (Apr 29–May 2)

Trip Two (May 6–May 9)

Booking required

How to bookRegister on the Bikerpelli website.

Registration for the 2027 trips opens January 13, 2027 at 10 AM MT.

Trips sell out quickly, often the day registration opens. Join the email list for a reminder before it opens.

Book on the website: bikerpelli.com

Ages 18+

Riders 18+. Exceptions are made case by case after talking with a parent or coach.

Bring your bike, riding gear and a basic camping set up.

Route

• The Kokopelli Trail runs 142 miles from Fruita, CO to Moab, UT, a mix of single track and jeep track.
• The trip crosses the Colorado Plateau, passes through the La Sal Mountains and descends into Moab over three days of riding, camping along the way.
• Daily mileage and elevation aren't published, because they change with the shuttles and side routes you choose. Rider update emails give the daily options closer to the ride.
• 2027 trips: April 29 - May 2 and May 6 - May 9.

How the ride works

• It is neither a race nor a guided ride: you ride at your own pace and choose optional side routes or short cuts. Daily route briefings with large, detailed maps and GPX routes (route files for a GPS) cover them all.
• On Days 2 and 3, optional shuttles run from the aid stations and skip some big climbs.
• Optional add-ons include classic Moab single track on Day 3, such as Raptor Route or Porcupine Rim.
• Return shuttle: on Sunday morning a bus takes you, your gear and your bike back to your cars at the trailhead.

What's included

• Gear shuttle: the crew hauls your camping gear and supplies.
• Aid stations: a healthy lunch, water refills and mechanic support.
• Meals: hot, home-cooked breakfast and dinner with fresh fruit or salad at every meal, and a snack table in camp. Most food allergies and preferences can be accommodated.
• Camps: backcountry camps chosen for views and quiet nights, and a last night at a campground in Moab with hot showers and a pool.
• SAG van: a support vehicle in camps and at aid stations for riders who need a break from a section.
• Mechanic: a station in camp and at aid stations. Many parts are stocked and can be bought during the ride.
• Comprehensive Rider Info Kit, sent when you register, covering packing suggestions, trail info and travel logistics to and from your home airport.

Supported group ride

Registration$875

Covers the gear shuttle, aid stations, meals, camps, SAG van, mechanic and medical support, and the return shuttle.

Bring your bike, riding gear and a basic camping set up.

• Bikerpelli is designed as the best way for an experienced rider to enjoy the entire trail in a realistic timeframe.
• The operator calls it a challenging trail, best enjoyed by a motivated rider willing to bring some grit and stamina.
• It is considered strong-intermediate terrain and is not a beginner ride.
• You choose each day's shuttles, side routes and short cuts to match your skill and energy that day.
• The operator's rider update emails and daily route briefings explain the options.

Riders 18+. Exceptions are made case by case after talking with a parent or coach.

• The Kokopelli's terrain, remoteness and conditions are immensely diverse.
• Water sources are scarce, which makes the trail challenging to support yourself; the trip includes water refills at aid stations.
• You ride at your own pace, not with a guide, and use the daily route briefings and maps.
• Medical support: most of the staff are Wilderness First Responders (trained in wilderness medical care), with dedicated first aid stations.
• Replacement parts are sold during the ride if something serious happens to your bike.

Bring your bike, riding gear and a basic camping set up.

The Rider Info Kit you receive on registering covers travel logistics to and from your home airport. After the ride, a bus returns you and your bike to your cars at the trailhead.

Contact: [email protected]

Website: bikerpelli.com

Riding the trail

Trail useFree

Some campgrounds along the route charge fees, including Dewey Bridge and Rock Castle in the Colorado River corridor.

See Trip details

Hours aren't listed.

Route

• The whole trail runs approximately 140–142 miles between Loma, Colorado, and Moab, Utah; this tile covers the Utah portion.
• Elevations range from about 4,400 feet in the Colorado River corridor to about 8,400 feet in the La Sal foothills.
• A through-ride typically takes multiple days.
• Terrain: improved and unimproved dirt roads, four-wheel-drive roads, paved sections and short stretches of singletrack (narrow, one-rider-wide trail). Many road sections allow motorized travel.

Start and finish

• Eastern end: Loma, Colorado. The BLM points to the Kokopelli Loop Trails Mountain Bike Area for access, maps and parking.
• Western end: the trail descends into Moab, Utah, via Sand Flats Road. Some riders finish via the Porcupine Rim Trail instead.

Camping on the Utah portion

• Eight small camping areas, each with 2–3 primitive campsites and a toilet; some also have picnic tables.
• None has drinking water, and most have no shade.

Riding the trail

Trail useFree

Some campgrounds along the route charge fees, including Dewey Bridge and Rock Castle in the Colorado River corridor.

The BLM, which manages the route, describes it as a difficult multi-day adventure and asks riders to be safe and prepared.

• A through-ride calls for careful planning, especially for water and vehicle support.
• Road sections can be technical and rocky.

• Season: the through-ride is typically restricted to June through September because of snowpack in the La Sals.
• Remote country: water availability is a serious concern, and the campsites along the Utah portion have no drinking water. Plan your water and vehicle support ahead.
• Little shade: most camping areas provide none.
• Vehicles: road sections can be technical and rocky, so the BLM asks you to consider vehicle type carefully.
• Stay on designated routes to protect fragile desert soils, and leave cultural sites, artifacts and natural features undisturbed.
• Accessibility: the route has narrow, rocky singletrack with some steep and technical sections, and much of it would generally not be considered wheelchair accessible.
• For questions about the route, contact the BLM Moab Field Office.

Phone: (435) 259-2100

Email: [email protected]

The Utah end is in Moab: the trail descends into town via Sand Flats Road. For access, maps and parking at the Loma, Colorado end, see the BLM's Kokopelli Loop Trails Mountain Bike Area page.

Contact: (435) 259-2100 · [email protected]

Website: blm.gov

Fees and permits

Hiking the routeFree

See Trip details

See Before you go

Early summer through fall

• Overnight backpack, 12 miles point to point: you start and finish at different trailheads.
• Start: Schoolhouse Springs Trailhead in Alpine. Dry Creek Trailhead is also listed as a start.
• Finish: the bottom of Bells Canyon (Boulders Trailhead), off Wasatch Boulevard on the Little Cottonwood Canyon side.
• Car shuttle: leave a car at the finish before you start. A car shuttle is necessary for the over-the-ridge route.
• Or skip the shuttle: climb from Alpine, spend a night or two exploring, and return the same way.
• Surface: forest trail. Land: wilderness area, national forest, city and private land. Nearest town: Alpine.
• Season: early summer through fall.
• Group size: limit 15; 8 or fewer recommended.
• Maps: USGS Lehi, Draper, Dromedary Peak and Timpanogos Cave quads; National Geographic Trails Illustrated Uinta National Forest Map.

Route

• Mile 0.0: start at the Schoolhouse Springs Trailhead.
• Mile 4.5: reach Lake Hardy, the destination for the first night.
• Mile 6.0: optional side trip to Thunder Mountain at 11,154 feet.
• Mile 7.5: arrive at the Upper Bells Canyon Reservoir dam and continue northwest.
• Mile 11.0: arrive at Lower Bells Canyon Reservoir.
• Mile 12.0: arrive at your vehicle at the dead end at the bottom of Bells Canyon.
• Day trips up Bells Canyon are popular, so after crossing the ridge from Lake Hardy you may prefer to spend a night on the Little Cottonwood side.

Climbing

• The more popular route switches back up 1,300 vertical feet over the first 1.5 miles to the First Hamongog at the wilderness boundary. (Hamongog is a biblical term for “meadow.”)
• One stretch of Bells Canyon descends about 2,000 feet.
• Other options from the ridge: traverse the high ridge to the summit of 11,253-foot Lone Peak, or climb a mile due east from Lake Hardy to the saddle north of Chipman Peak.

Fees and permits

Hiking the routeFree

• Rated “Extremely difficult.” The ascent from Alpine is “demanding but spectacular.”
• For scale, day trips up Bells Canyon from the bottom mean hiking nearly 7 miles and 5,000 feet in elevation to the top.
• The lower sections of the Bells Canyon trail are tricky: straight down the fall line and quite eroded, “not pleasant hiking after a strenuous climb over the ridge.”
• Route-finding is part of the effort: a cairned route winds through draws and granite boulders near Lake Hardy, and avalanche debris obscures the trail in Bells Canyon.

Wilderness rules

• Make camp at least 200 feet from the nearest water source. Forest Service personnel enforce this.
• No mechanized or motorized equipment, including mountain bikes.
• No shortcutting trail switchbacks.
• Campfires and wood gathering for fires are discouraged. Check with the Forest Service for current fire regulations.
• Group size limit is 15; 8 or fewer is recommended.
• Carry out all trash. A backpacker stove is recommended at Lake Hardy.

Water

• Lake Hardy offers the only reliable water near the crest; springs are at lower elevations.
• Treat all water before drinking.

On the trail

• Pick your route carefully down to Upper Bells Canyon Reservoir. Use ridges and avoid the boulder accumulation in drainages when possible.
• Avalanche debris obscures the trail in Bells Canyon: stay out of the gullies and thread your way through the deadfall and sumac.
• Older editions of the Dromedary Peak topographic map incorrectly show the trail on the other side of the creek below Upper Bells Canyon Reservoir, so don't rely on them there.
• You need a car shuttle for the one-way route over the ridge.

Getting to the start

• If the gate on the right at the end of Aspen Drive is locked, you must park on the street. There is no designated parking there, so make sure your vehicle doesn't restrict local traffic.
• The jeep road beyond the Lehi City gate crosses about 1.5 miles of city property; respect it.

Fees and permits

Hiking the routeFree

Phone: (801) 999-2103

The start is the Schoolhouse Springs Trailhead in Alpine, at the end of Aspen Drive. If the right-hand gate there is locked, park on the street (no designated parking; don't block local traffic). If it is open, continue north to a second gate marked LEHI CITY, where there are several parking spots. A jeep road then climbs about 1.5 miles across city property to the Uinta National Forest boundary and the meadow called First Hamongog. The Forest Service also suggests parking near the fenced water tank, or 0.7 miles up the dirt road, which winds through private property; the Hamongog Trail officially begins about 1–2 miles up that road at the wilderness boundary. Check with the Forest Service before you go. To leave a car at the finish, turn south off Little Cottonwood Canyon Road onto Wasatch Boulevard and follow it less than a mile to the Bells Canyon (Boulders) trailhead on the left (east) side.

Contact: (801) 999-2103

Website: visitutah.com

Hours aren't listed.

Backcountry permits are required for all overnight trips.

A topographic map is recommended.

Bring adequate water.

• Entire loop: 21.9 miles (35.5 km) from the Burr Trail Road trailhead to the Halls Creek drainage and back along the Burr Trail Road, or 22.8 miles (36.9 km) returning via the Post Cutoff Trail
• Best done as a two- to three-day trip
• Start and finish: the trailhead at the top of the Burr Trail Road switchbacks, 35 miles (56.3 km) south of Hwy 24
• Stages: trailhead to the Post Cutoff Trail 3.8 miles (6.2 km); Post Cutoff Trail to The Post trailhead 2.1 miles (3.3 km) one-way; trailhead to the Halls Creek drainage 12.4 miles (20.0 km); junction of Lower Muley Twist and Halls Creek drainage to The Post trailhead 4.7 miles (7.6 km)
• Returning from the Halls Creek drainage to the Burr Trail Road trailhead: 4.8 miles (7.7 km) along the Burr Trail Road, or 5.9 miles (9.5 km) via the Post Cutoff Trail and the upper canyon
• Shorter options: the lower loop from The Post trailhead and back is 15.4 miles (24.8 km), and the upper loop from the Burr Trail Road trailhead is 10.7 miles (17.4 km). From The Post parking area it can be a long day hike or an overnight trip
• Side trip to Hamburger Rocks: 2.3 miles (3.6 km) round trip from the loop route. The spur route is unmarked
• One-way down-canyon to The Post trailhead needs a vehicle left at each end; with one vehicle, turn around at the sign for The Post cutoff trail
• Maps: USGS 7.5-minute series, Wagon Box Mesa and The Post
• The sources give no climbing total, group size or list of what is included

• The National Park Service says routefinding, navigation and map-reading skills are critical
• The Post cutoff trail climbs up and over the Waterpocket Fold; sections cross steep slickrock with loose footing and exposure
• The loop is long: plan two to three days for the entire canyon from the Burr Trail Road trailhead and back
• The sources give no fitness standard or training advice

• This route is not an official, maintained trail. Route conditions, including obstacles in canyons, change frequently due to weather, flash floods, rockfall and other hazards
• Don't rely only on rock cairns or other unofficial markers; the National Park Service doesn't maintain them, and they may be missing
• Heat: it is extremely hot in summer. The best season is spring and fall
• Water: water sources are unreliable. Tanks (potholes) fill from rain and snowmelt and can go dry in drought years, so confirm your planned water source has water. Water at the Muley Tanks usually can be found but would need to be purified
• Flash floods: use caution in narrow canyons, particularly during flash flood season (typically July-September)
• Exposure: sections of The Post cutoff trail traverse steep slickrock with loose footing and exposure in several places, including a particularly exposed 100-foot (30 m) section. Use special caution if conditions are wet or icy
• Roads: the Notom-Bullfrog Road is hard-packed dirt and is usually passable to passenger cars. At times, the Burr Trail Road may require a high clearance vehicle
• Permits: backcountry permits are required for all overnight trips, and they are free. Get one at the Capitol Reef Visitor Center, the Bullfrog Visitor Center (open seasonally) or the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center. Anasazi State Park in Boulder is temporarily closed for renovations
• The sources don't say whether there is cell service on the route

A topographic map is recommended.

Bring adequate water.

Phone: (435) 425-4111

Two starting points. The Burr Trail Road trailhead is at the top of the Burr Trail Road switchbacks, 35 miles (56.3 km) south of Hwy 24 and 2.1 miles (3.4 km) west of the Notom-Bullfrog Road/Burr Trail Road junction. The Post Corral parking area is 2.2 miles (3.6 km) south of that junction on the Burr Trail Road, then 0.5 mile (0.9 km) to an old corral at the end of a short spur road.

Website: home.nps.gov

Phone: (435) 425-3791

Capitol Reef Visitor Center: (435) 425-4111

Email: [email protected]

Website: home.nps.gov

Mon, Wed, FriNoon–1 PM

During the winter months, the lap pool and hot tub close when the "feels like" temperature is below 10 degrees Fahrenheit; check current conditions before you go.

No booking needed

Pre-registration not required.

• Coach-led group swim workouts at PC MARC, Park City's outdoor aquatic facility
• Each session offers structured workouts, stroke refinement and technique tips
• Designed for adult swimmers; you progress at your own pace

• Designed for adult swimmers of all levels
• Suited to swimmers training for an event or looking for a full-body workout
• You progress at your own pace

• PC MARC is an outdoor facility, and its posted hours can change unexpectedly in response to weather conditions
• Check the "feels like" temperature at Weather Underground's Park Meadows sensor before you arrive

During the winter months, the lap pool and hot tub close when the "feels like" temperature is below 10 degrees Fahrenheit; check current conditions before you go.

Website: parkcity.gov

Phone: (435) 615-5400

Aquatics Office: (435) 615-5409

Aquatics Office: [email protected]

Aquatics Director: [email protected]

Website: parkcity.gov

Optional camping equipment rental, add-on

Tent$46

Sleeping bag$28

Sleeping pad$28

Full kit$79

Couples kit$121

These are optional add-on rentals, separate from the trip price.

See Trip details

Hours aren't listed.

Call (435) 259-4464 before you go.

Book your mountain bike rental in advance; Magpie Cycling can help reserve one from a local Moab bike shop.

Make lodging or camping arrangements in Moab as soon as you book.

Bring a bike helmet; rental bikes come with helmets.

Bring your own mountain bike, or rent from a local bike shop.

Bring a hydration pack with at least a 100 oz reservoir. Check with the venue before you go.

Bring a sunhat, baseball cap or visor.

Bring sunscreen and lip screen.

Bring eye protection; if it's prescription, bring a spare pair.

Bring cycling gloves.

Wear closed-toed shoes.

Bring your own tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad, or rent from Magpie Cycling.

A five-day guided trip in the Maze district of Canyonlands National Park, with four days of mountain biking and one day of hiking.

Route

• Day 1: meet at 7 AM in Moab, load gear and take the van to Canyonlands (3+ hours). After a safety orientation, ride 29 miles to camp at the Maze Overlook.
• Day 2: a hike of 8–20 miles on a historic foot trail into the Maze's canyons and towers, with ancient rock art panels. Extra riding and hiking from camp is available.
• Day 3: challenging technical climbs and miles of cruising, 22 miles, to a camp where you stay 2 nights.
• Day 4: ride through Upper Teapot Canyon toward the Land of the Standing Rocks, 12–40 miles.
• Day 5: a rolling 42-mile ride along the base of the Orange Cliffs, then the van back to Moab. The group typically returns by 6 PM.
• Itineraries can change for local conditions or at the group leaders' discretion.

Included

• Food from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day; dietary needs (gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian and others) can be met with advance notice
• Guides, a support vehicle and shuttles
• National Park fees, including campsites
• Two dry bags for your gear, handed out at the pre-trip meeting

Not included

• Breakfast on day 1
• Your mountain bike (bring one or rent one) and camping gear, which you can rent
• Lodging in Moab
• Tips: not expected but appreciated

Meeting point

A pre-trip orientation of about an hour is held at 5 PM on the evening before the tour at Magpie Cycling Headquarters, 711 N. 500 West, Moab, UT. Bring your mountain bike for the guides to inspect. At the meeting you get directions to the parking lot where the group meets the next morning and where you leave your car during the trip.

Private groups

Any trip can be chartered for a private party, with dates, amenities and activities negotiable. Call (435) 259-4464 to schedule one.

Optional camping equipment rental, add-on

Tent$46

Sleeping bag$28

Sleeping pad$28

Full kit$79

Couples kit$121

These are optional add-on rentals, separate from the trip price.

Bring your own tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad, or rent from Magpie Cycling.

• Mountain bike experience is needed: the operator says the terrain in the Maze is rough in spots and the area is very remote, and the trip is suitable for fit intermediate to advanced riders.
• Being in good general health, being accustomed to regular exercise outdoors and controlling your pace are what it comes down to. If you ride at a comfortable pace for 4–6 hours per ride, you should do fine.
• Everyone rides at their own pace; groups can range from novice to expert mountain bikers.
• Guides discuss and demonstrate cycling techniques and safe riding skills each day.

• Remote: the Maze is described as one of the most isolated and remote regions in the country, and the terrain is rough in spots.
• Altitude and dry air: Moab sits at 4,000 feet and most of the tour is between 4,800 and 6,000 feet. Drink plenty of water, eat salty foods and snack often, especially when you arrive and through each day.
• Weather: March, early April and late October bring colder nights (30–45°F) and days of 60–80°F. April, May, September and early October bring cool nights (35–55°F) and warm days of 65–95°F. Wind and thunderstorms are possible; dress in layers with good Gore-Tex rain gear as the top layer.
• Support: a 4WD gear vehicle follows the group with camp food, first aid, cold beverages and the group and personal gear to each evening's campsite.
• Packing: space on the gear vehicle is limited, so follow the equipment list carefully. The large dry bag is carried on top of the vehicle and isn't reachable during the day.
• On the bike, carry a multi-tool, flat repair kit, food and a rain jacket, plus the hydration pack listed under Waivers and what to bring.
• If you bring your own bike, full suspension is highly recommended, and it must be in excellent repair; the guides can refuse a bike they consider unsafe, and the company takes no responsibility for its condition. Tools on the trip are for minor adjustments and repairs.
• Permits: Magpie Cycling is an authorized concessioner of Canyonlands National Park, and park fees, including campsites, are included.

Bring a hydration pack with at least a 100 oz reservoir. Check with the venue before you go.

Bring sunscreen and lip screen.

Pre-trip orientation is at Magpie Cycling Headquarters, 711 N. 500 West, Moab. Staff give directions there to the parking lot where you leave your car during the trip.

Contact: (435) 259-4464 · [email protected]

Website: magpiecycling.com

Mon, Wed, Fri6–7:30 AM

Bring a swim suit and goggles.

Bring a kickboard, pull buoy, fins and hand paddles if you have them; extras of most gear are available to use.

• Group adult swim workouts with a USMS-certified coach (USMS level 3)
• Practices are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6–7:30 AM
• Each workout comes in two versions, short and long
• Workouts cover technique, speed, strength, endurance, cardio and aerobic fitness, competition skills and triathlon skills
• Team competition is optional: the club can compete as OMAC against other masters teams
• Come whenever you can make it, even if you can't attend every day or the whole session
• "USMS" is US Masters Swimming; "masters" just means adults swimming together

Bring a swim suit and goggles.

Bring a kickboard, pull buoy, fins and hand paddles if you have them; extras of most gear are available to use.

• All ability levels are welcome: young or old, fast or slow, new or experienced
• Triathletes, fitness swimmers and competition swimmers all train together
• You don't need to be advanced; the club says all "masters" means is adults swimming together
• Each workout has a short and a long version, so you can pick the one that fits your level
• The coach tailors coaching and instruction to your level

• Practices start at 6 AM and end at 7:30 AM
• Choose the short or long version of each workout

Bring a swim suit and goggles.

Bring a kickboard, pull buoy, fins and hand paddles if you have them; extras of most gear are available to use.

Contact: (801) 229-7154

Website: rec.orem.gov

BLM permits

Overnight permit$5–$8

Day-use permit, per person per trip$2

The overnight permit price depends on the season.

See Before you go

Spring and fall

Overnight permits are first-come, first-served at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station between 8 AM and noon.

You can also get a pass in advance at recreation.gov.

• A multiday 17-mile loop backpack through Owl Canyon and Fish Canyon on Cedar Mesa; the nearest town is Blanding
• Start and finish: the trailhead off San Juan County Road 253, at a reclaimed drill hole
• Surface: wash bottom with no maintained trail; follow the BLM cairns (BLM is the Bureau of Land Management, which manages the land)
• Season: spring and fall

Route and stages

• The loop can be hiked in either direction. The trailhead is closer to Owl Creek, so most hikers enter Owl Creek and exit through Fish Creek to the north
• Mile 0.0: start at the trailhead. BLM cairns lead a quarter mile south into Owl Canyon
• Two pour-offs (ledges in the canyon floor) to navigate, with cairns marking a path on the left side, then fresh water at the first canyon split, about 1.5 miles from the rim. A good first-night campsite is at the bottom of the second pour-off, with a spring
• About mile 5: Nevill’s Arch, on the north side of the main canyon
• Mile 7.0: the Owl and Fish Creek junction. Turn left (north) and wind up Fish Creek, a canyon with 500-foot walls dotted with Ancestral Puebloan sites
• About 7 miles up Fish Creek: a major junction. Take the left (west) fork and go 0.5 mile to a spring and a good campsite, a base for a day or two of exploring upper Fish Creek
• Mile 15.5: climb out of Fish Creek’s canyon at the spring, then follow the trail at the canyon edge 1.5 miles south to your car
• Mile 17.0: back at the trailhead

What you'll see

• Nevill’s Arch, two unnamed arches, and a few Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and rock-art sites
• Slickrock streambed in the upper canyons, pools with hanging gardens, and ponderosa pine and manzanita groves in upper Fish Creek

Maps

• USGS Snowflat Spring Cave, South Long Point, and Bluff NW quads
• National Geographic Trails Illustrated Grand Gulch Plateau Map
• Southeastern Utah Multipurpose Map

• Difficulty: strenuous
• The first 7 miles descend more than 1,300 feet, and then you begin regaining that elevation on the 10 miles back
• Getting into Owl Canyon means shinnying down sandstone and navigating two pour-offs (ledges in the canyon floor)
• The climb out of Fish Creek is steep and 600 feet; it requires a slow, steady pace. There are no dangerous exposures, and several places just under the rim allow you to climb out
• There is no maintained trail; BLM cairns lead into Owl Canyon and mark the path at both pour-offs

Water

• Fresh water first appears at the first canyon split, about 1.5 miles from the rim, and there are springs at the campsites described under Trip details
• Except for the pools, Owl Creek is usually dry between the first-night spring and the middle of Fish Creek, about 9 miles away. Plan accordingly for the waterless stretch. It can be wetter during the spring snowmelt

Weather

• Check with the BLM field office or the Kane Gulch Ranger Station for an extended forecast
• Avoid hiking in narrow canyons if the weather looks bad, and don’t camp in a wash bottom

Camping and the land

• Camping is permitted in well used campsites only, and no fires are allowed in the canyons
• Keep a clean camp and use your backpacker stove
• Do not climb on any Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites; frequent hiker impacts can do as much harm to them as vandalism
• Visitation is increasing because of overcrowding in nearby Grand Gulch, so respect the privacy of other hikers

Permits and who to contact

• The land is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Permit prices, where to get a permit and the BLM phone number are listed below

BLM permits

Overnight permit$5–$8

Day-use permit, per person per trip$2

The overnight permit price depends on the season.

Overnight permits are first-come, first-served at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station between 8 AM and noon.

You can also get a pass in advance at recreation.gov.

More information: https://www.blm.gov/office/monticello-field-office

Phone: (435) 587–1510

From Highway 95 east of Natural Bridges National Monument and west of Blanding, drive south on Highway 261. In about 4 miles you pass the Kane Gulch Ranger Station. Drive another mile and turn left onto CR 253. After about 5 miles on this road, you arrive at the parking area and trailhead at a reclaimed drill hole. Trailhead GPS coordinates: 37.474142, -109.818134.

Contact: (435) 587–1510

Website: visitutah.com

Tuition, per student, 7-day course

Tuition$2,670

Financial aid available.

See Trip details

Equipment deposit

Equipment deposit$150

Course session (Apr 11–Apr 17)

How to bookAdd the course to your cart on the NOLS page; you review everything before you're charged.

No payment is taken when you add the course to your cart.

Adding the course to your cart holds the student's spot and checks course eligibility.

Ages 23+

Minimum age 23.

A 7-day guided lightweight backpacking course in canyon country. The listed session runs Apr 11–Apr 17, 2027. You travel with a small team of fellow students and two experienced NOLS instructors, and carry a pack of 20–30 pounds.

Start and finish

• Start and end: Salt Lake City, UT
• Fly in and out of Salt Lake City, UT (SLC)
• The session is listed under Vernal, UT

Day by day

• Day 1: meet your instructors and teammates, review essential gear, and begin learning about canyon systems and expected conditions
• Days 2–4: travel through canyon bottoms and mesa tops while learning lightweight fundamentals, navigation and desert decision-making; cover roughly 10–15 miles per day
• Days 5–6: more technical terrain, including slot canyons, pack lowers (lowering packs off rock slabs) and water crossings, plus lightweight cooking and camp systems
• Day 7: final miles, reflection and team-based leadership activities, then a group debrief

What you learn

• Lightweight backpacking techniques: efficient systems, lightweight stoves and shelter setups
• Navigation and route-finding with topographic maps and compasses
• Leave No Trace practices for delicate desert ecosystems
• Leadership and teamwork: rotating leadership roles and group route decisions
• Risk management for canyon travel

A course equipment list is linked from the NOLS course page.

Tuition, per student, 7-day course

Tuition$2,670

Financial aid available.

NOLS calls this course "ideal for anyone ready to challenge themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally."

• No prior backpacking experience is required, but participants should be prepared for rugged terrain and full, active days.
• Expect to navigate rocky or steep terrain, lower packs off rock slabs, wade through cool desert waters and squeeze through tight canyon slots.
• NOLS lists "Essential Eligibility Criteria" among the course's downloadable resources; check it before you apply.
• Questions about whether this is the right course: NOLS offers a call with an admissions advisor.

Minimum age 23.

Phone: (800) 710-6657

Weather and heat

• Desert conditions change quickly: hot, dry days, sudden storms, cold winds and subfreezing night temperatures are all possible.
• You'll adjust your pace for heat, exposure and technical sections.

Water

• Water scarcity is a defining challenge of the course; you'll plan for water availability and carry the right amount each day.

Terrain and hazards

• Slickrock, steep cliffs, loose rock, cactus stands and narrow slot canyons call for careful footwork and clear communication.
• NOLS teaches you to evaluate canyon hazards: loose rock, rapidly changing weather, water scarcity, flash-flood terrain and wildlife.

Your pack

• Expect a pack weight of 20–30 pounds.
• Review the equipment list on the NOLS course page before you pack.

Contact: (800) 710-6657

Website: nols.edu

Per person, 7 days / 6 nights, double occupancy

May 3–9, 2027 departure$5,445

Listed starting price for the trip$5,285

All rates are based on double occupancy.

Covers 6 nights of lodging, all meals, guides, support and airport and hotel pickups.

See Trip details

Single room, per person, extra

Single occupancy (subject to availability)$1,375

Requesting a single room does not guarantee one; room availability is confirmed from your preferences.

See Trip details

Bike rental, per trip

Cervelo Aspero road/gravel bike$400

Specialized Vado SL 4.0 e-bike$500

See Rentals and equipment

Due at booking

Deposit, paid by credit card (no surcharge)$750

See Booking

Price list: https://thecyclinghouse.com/trip/utah/

Hours aren't listed.

Call (406) 312-5770 before you go.

Office phone line: Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM MST.

Booking required

How to bookReserve a departure date on the trip page; a deposit is due when you book.

May 3–9, 2027: fully booked; you can join the waitlist.

Sep 27–Oct 3, 2027: almost full.

Oct 5–11, 2027: limited spots available.

The balance is due 120 days before the trip starts.

If you sign up within 120 days of the trip, the full amount is due when you book.

Pay the balance by ACH bank transfer or mailed check; paying by credit card adds a 2.5% surcharge, which does not apply to the deposit.

To cancel or transfer, submit your request in writing.

Cancel 120 or more days before departure: only the $750 deposit is non-refundable.

Cancel 90–119 days before departure: 50% of the trip invoice is non-refundable.

Cancel 30–89 days before departure: no cash refund.

Cancel 0–29 days before departure: no future trip credits.

Trip credits: 120 or more days out, everything paid can be transferred; 90–119 days out, the greater of $750 or 25% of the trip invoice cannot be transferred; 30–89 days out, 50% of the trip invoice cannot be transferred.

Credits must be used for a trip that departs before December 31 of the year after the original trip's start date.

Eligible cash refunds are issued by check and may take up to 30 days to process.

You can add a bike rental to your reservation while booking.

Booking link: https://thecyclinghouse.com/trip/utah/

Booking link: https://thecyclinghouse.com/faqs/

Phone: (406) 312-5770

Due at booking

Deposit, paid by credit card (no surcharge)$750

Rules: https://thecyclinghouse.com/terms-and-conditions/

Ages 18+

Riders are 18 or older; a minor needs an approved Addendum for Minor Participant.

Every participant agrees to the Accident Waiver & Release of Liability.

Waiver link: https://thecyclinghouse.com/accident-waiver-release-of-liability/

Wear a helmet at all times while cycling.

Bring your own bike, or rent from The Cycling House.

Bring your cycling shoes, helmet, pedals, and a bike computer (Garmin/Wahoo or similar) with mount if you rent a bike.

Rules: https://thecyclinghouse.com/terms-and-conditions/

A guided, point-to-point road cycling trip through southern Utah: 7 days and 6 nights, starting and ending in St. George. Professional ride guides lead the rides, and one or two support vehicles are out on the route with you every day.

Daily rides

• Day 1, arrival: lunch and bike setup at Capitol Reef Resort, then the Arrival Spin, 23–31 miles and 1,300–2,600 ft
• Day 2, Capitol Reef to Boulder: 36–46 miles and 3,500–5,000 ft, from red-rock desert up Boulder Mountain through pine, spruce and Pando aspen groves
• Day 3, Burr Trail: 45–74 miles and 3,000–6,700 ft, with an optional out-and-back gravel section
• Day 4, Boulder to Escalante: 28–38 miles and 2,000–3,000 ft, climbing onto the narrow spine of Hell's Backbone
• Day 5, Bryce Canyon: 35–53 miles and 2,000–3,400 ft, with overlooks of hoodoos and amphitheaters
• Day 6, Zion: 18 miles and 1,300 ft on the canyon floor beside the Virgin River, with quiet car-free sections
• Day 7, departure: morning shuttles to St George Airport (SGU) and local hotels

Most routes have longer and shorter variations. The trip leader reviews safety, route details and ride options with the group the evening before and again the morning of each ride.

Meeting point

• Day 1: 10 AM pickup at St George Airport (SGU), then a shuttle of about 3.5 hours to Capitol Reef Resort
• After you book, a trip PDF with detailed arrival and departure information is sent to you

Where you stay

• One night at Capitol Reef Resort
• Two nights at Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch, surrounded by high desert and alpine terrain
• One night at Bryce Canyon Lodge, on the edge of Bryce Canyon National Park
• Two nights in a private vacation rental near Zion National Park
• Rooms are double occupancy; if you book a double while traveling alone, you are matched with a roommate
• On 2 of the 6 nights, a few single rooms at Boulder Mountain may share a bathroom with one other room; the other 4 nights have private bathrooms

What's included

• 6 nights of lodging (double occupancy) and all meals for seven days
• Professional trip guides, daily sag support and mechanical support, including bike build and breakdown
• Ride nutrition products and high-quality ride photos
• Airport and hotel pickups in St George on arrival day and drop-offs on departure day

Not included

• Airfare, gratuity for guides, alcoholic drinks with meals, mid-ride café stops and personal shopping
• Massage and other incidentals
• Bike rental and a single room, which cost extra

Group size and support

• Most Cycling House trips have between 7 and 16 guests
• A typical guest-to-guide ratio is 4:1 or smaller, with 2–4 ride guides and at least one support vehicle out each day

Per person, 7 days / 6 nights, double occupancy

May 3–9, 2027 departure$5,445

Listed starting price for the trip$5,285

All rates are based on double occupancy.

Covers 6 nights of lodging, all meals, guides, support and airport and hotel pickups.

Single room, per person, extra

Single occupancy (subject to availability)$1,375

Requesting a single room does not guarantee one; room availability is confirmed from your preferences.

May 3–9, 2027: fully booked; you can join the waitlist.

Sep 27–Oct 3, 2027: almost full.

Oct 5–11, 2027: limited spots available.

Price list: https://thecyclinghouse.com/trip/utah/

Cycling House rents full-carbon bikes on this trip: a Cervelo Aspero road/gravel bike or a Specialized Vado SL 4.0 e-bike. A Specialized Creo 2 Comp is also listed as available on this trip.

If you rent

• Guides get your rental ready to ride and fit it to you, with a variety of stems to dial in the fit
• If you have had a professional bike fit, printing your most recent fit form helps
• Bringing your own saddle is an easy way to feel at home on a new bike

If you bring your own bike

• Get a tune-up at your local bike shop before the trip
• Cycling House mechanics build your bike when you arrive and help with any tweaks, and break it down at the end
• You can fly with it or ship it ahead (the company suggests the Bike Flights service); a shipped bike is away from you for about a week before and after the trip

Bike rental, per trip

Cervelo Aspero road/gravel bike$400

Specialized Vado SL 4.0 e-bike$500

You can add a bike rental to your reservation while booking.

Wear a helmet at all times while cycling.

Bring your own bike, or rent from The Cycling House.

Bring your cycling shoes, helmet, pedals, and a bike computer (Garmin/Wahoo or similar) with mount if you rent a bike.

Price list: https://thecyclinghouse.com/trip/utah/

Getting ready

• Choose a trip that matches your ability, fitness level and health
• Riders who don't log 3,000-plus miles a year do best with about 2–3 rides per week for roughly eight weeks beforehand
• Tell Cycling House about dietary restrictions, food allergies, medical needs or room preferences at least 2 weeks before the trip; the chefs also talk with you on day one
• Not sure which trip or rider level fits you? Call and ask
• Travel insurance is recommended; Cycling House uses Travel Guard. Check with Cycling House before you go.
• Book your plane tickets within 90 days of the trip and no later than 4 weeks before it

On the trip

• If you feel sick, tell the trip leader
• Cycling House may use photos and videos made during the trip in its future materials
• Weather is outside Cycling House's control, and it may cancel, postpone or reroute the trip for events such as severe weather, wildfires or poor air quality
• Tipping the guides is appreciated but not expected; guests generally consider 5–10% of the trip, and the trip leader divides it equally among the team

Traveling with a non-rider

Non-riding guests can be accommodated on most trips, but some trips suit them better than others. Contact Cycling House before booking a non-rider. Non-riders plan their own activities while the group is cycling, since the guides are busy leading rides.

Booking link: https://thecyclinghouse.com/faqs/

Phone: (406) 219-1318

Ask Cycling House to plan a private or custom cycling trip for you and your riding crew. Payment and cancellation policies for private and custom trips can vary, and yours are set out in your trip contract or trip summary document.

To start, use the Go Private button on the Utah trip page or call.

Price list: https://thecyclinghouse.com/trip/utah/

Phone: (406) 312-5770

Meals

• All meals, snacks and ride nutrition are covered: breakfast, lunch and dinner for seven days
• Meals combine Cycling House chef-prepared food with favorite local restaurants, and local food is sourced as much as possible
• Most food is prepared in-house; your dietary restrictions, allergies and food preferences are collected when you reserve

On the road

• Support vans carry sports nutrition items, real food (PB&J sandwiches, fruit), water, sunscreen, tools and first-aid
• Out on rides you get fruit and PB&J sandwiches, plus gels, bars, gluten-free options, drink mixes and electrolytes

Arrival day: pickup is at 10 AM at St George Airport (SGU), followed by a shuttle of about 3.5 hours to Capitol Reef Resort. Departure day: morning shuttles run to St George Airport (SGU) and local hotels.

Website: thecyclinghouse.com

Booking: (406) 312-5770

Help choosing a trip: (406) 219-1318

Website: thecyclinghouse.com

Spring 2027 trips (Apr 20–May 7)

Fall 2027 trips (Oct 3–Oct 9)

Where and when

• Groups meet in the town of Escalante.
• 2027 trip dates: April 20–May 7 and October 3–9.
• The operating area is Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: 300,000 acres, about 40 percent of the size of Rhode Island.

Trip types in this area

• Fundamentals (beginners): a 10-week pre-trip planning curriculum, then a 5-day field component.
• Adventure (intermediate): a 5-day or 7-day trip. The 5-day is the operator's most popular trip; the 7-day goes deeper into the wilderness and adds two full days in the field.
• Canyoneering: 5- or 7-day backpacking trips with technical canyoneering. Expect about three days of canyoneering on the 5-day trip and four to five on the 7-day trip. The first day is spent in a low-risk area learning the basics, including how to scramble, manage steep terrain, use handlines and rappel.
• Expedition: an off-trail route through the Stevens/Fold Loop, the deepest, oldest rock layers of the Escalante watershed near Lake Powell.
• Expedition Canyoneering 201: a more advanced canyoneering trip led by Jeff Wohl, going deep into the Escalante to canyons that see very little traffic.

On the route

• Most of the travel is off-trail: the area has only one established hiking trail and a few use trails.
• You won't cross a road or meet a wheeled vehicle during the trip.
• Most backpacking routes are non-technical (no climbing ropes, harnesses or hardware), with short Class 3 or Class 4 scrambling sections where a hand-line, pack-haul or sturdy shoulder helps.
• Guides modify the route to suit the group's interests and abilities.
• Canyoneering routes are planned more precisely ahead of time because the canyons are committing, with few if any ways to exit midway.

Applying

• Trips are by application. The operator says this location has fewer logistical or regulatory limits, so it can make room for nearly every qualified applicant.

By trip type

• Fundamentals: suitable for most applicants in average (or better) shape relative to their peers.
• Adventure: fitness requirements are higher than Fundamentals because of the increased rigor and pack weight.
• Expedition: the operator expects you to arrive in requisite fitness and with dialed-in gear and skills. Graduates of its Adventure trips get priority.
• Canyoneering: the operator assumes clients have little to no prior canyoneering experience.
• Expedition Canyoneering 201: for experienced canyoneers only. The prerequisites are the standard 5- or 7-day canyoneering courses, or equivalent personal experience.

Not sure which trip fits?

The operator says backpacking experience, physical fitness and technical ability are not necessarily correlated, and invites questions through the Contact link on its trip pages if you are unsure which trip type suits you.

Remoteness

• Groups are far from roads, and you probably won't see many (or any) other groups in the middle of the trip.
• Much of the travel is off-trail, with extensive route-finding on the Expedition route.

Terrain, heat and weather

• The operator describes late April and early May as prime time, with mild temperatures and reliable water sources.
• Canyon bottoms are slow, especially if brushy or water-filled. The benches above are covered in deep sand and are mostly shade-less.
• The operator lists these challenges: fine-grained blow sand that reduces walking speed, dry, shade-less, sand-covered benches between the canyons, and occasionally strong springtime winds.
• Steeply angled slickrock slabs or vertical ledge systems may require scrambling, handlines, pack hauls or body assists on more physically aggressive trips.
• Guides teach how to manage water and hydration and how to navigate in deep canyons and across featureless benches.

Canyoneering demands

• Canyons are up to the 3BIII range: intermediate-level rappels, technical climbing and/or downclimbing; water that may require swimming but isn't moving; and most of an entire day to complete.
• The operator warns of significant exposure, including Class 3-4 scrambles (not always assist-able) and overhanging rappels.
• Expect extended time in cold conditions, including immersion in cold pools and slow movement through dark and deep canyons.
• Narrow slot canyons sometimes require removing your backpack or walking sideways.
• Anchor building is taught, but not to the level of mastery or self-sufficiency.

Expedition route

• Class 3-4 scrambling is required and significant exposure is likely.
• The route involves extensive route-finding, many handlines and pack hauls, and multiple technical sections (Class 3, 4 and 5), made easier with a short rope, coaching, spotting or a helpful hand.
• Expect frequent stream crossings, occasional wading of deep pools and limited sections of unavoidable poison ivy.

Website: andrewskurka.com

Guided trip

4-day trip$1,480

5-day trip$1,690

See Trip details

Bike rental, per person

Holiday mountain bike rental$270

Bring your own bike or rent one; a rental costs extra. Check with the venue before you go.

See Trip details

Trip months: May, September and October

Meet in Green River, Utah, at 7 PM the night before the trip.

A $400 deposit is listed for this trip.

To book, call Holiday's office; staff can answer questions and help you choose a trip.

Read Holiday's cancellation policy, on its main FAQs page, before you book.

Ages 12+

Minimum age 12.

Bring your own mountain bike, or rent from Holiday River Expeditions.

Bring your gear packed in a day bag and a camp bag.

A personal bike that fails the pre-trip inspection must be replaced with a Holiday rental bike ($270).

A guided, fully supported mountain bike trip into the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park, on the west side of the Green River. Choose a 4-day or 5-day trip.

Route

• About 80 miles of rugged desert dirt road, starting from the Hans Flat Ranger Station and working gradually south toward where the Colorado River feeds into Lake Powell, near the old Hite Marina
• Plan on riding 15–30 miles each day, with spur roads and side rides if you want extra miles
• Terrain includes rolling double-track and steep uphills and downhills, through a landscape of sheer vertical uplifts and plunging gorges

Sample itinerary (4 days)

• Night before: a brief pre-trip meeting at the base of operations in Green River, Utah
• Day 1: a 3-hour van ride south to the Hans Flat Ranger Station, a remote National Park Service outpost and the Maze District headquarters. Ride along the edge of the Maze and down the Flint Trail (about 15 miles), and camp at the Golden Stairs
• Day 2: ride downhill and around Elaterite Basin (only 12 miles) to camp at the Maze Overlook by lunchtime, then hike into the Maze in the afternoon to the Harvest Scene, a pictograph panel that may have been painted over 3,000 years ago
• Day 3: ride back up the Golden Stairs and south to the base of Teapot Rock (about 20 miles, with an optional 9-mile side ride to Sunset Pass) and camp in a slick rock alcove
• Day 4: ride about 25 miles past overlooks above lower Cataract Canyon, descending to Highway 95 and the Hite Bridge on the upper end of Lake Powell, then take a 2-hour scenic drive back to Green River at about 4:30 in the afternoon
• The route can change; another possibility is riding deeper into the Orange Cliffs Unit of the Glen Canyon Recreation Area and camping at the Bowdie Canyon Overlook

Start, finish and meeting point

• Meet in Green River, Utah, at 7 PM the night before the trip. Bring your bike for inspection or collect your rental bike; the next morning, meet back at the warehouse early with your gear packed and load the vans
• The trip ends back in Green River in the afternoon of the last day

What's included

• Professional guides and a gear van that carries the heavy gear
• All meals, from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day, with hot breakfasts and gourmet dinners in between, prepared fresh by your guide team
• Primitive campsites assigned by Canyonlands, with magnificent views and plenty of tent spots
• Any rental sleep kits are provided at the pre-trip meeting

Bikes and group size

• Mountain bikes with front or full suspension are recommended; gravel and road bikes are not advised because they lack suspension
• Rental bikes are Specialized Stumpjumpers, at an additional cost
• Group sizes are intentionally small. A private charter is available for a group of seven, the maximum Canyonlands allows

Guided trip

4-day trip$1,480

5-day trip$1,690

Bike rental, per person

Holiday mountain bike rental$270

Bring your own bike or rent one; a rental costs extra. Check with the venue before you go.

Bring your own mountain bike, or rent from Holiday River Expeditions.

Bring your gear packed in a day bag and a camp bag.

• Holiday's trip overview rates the difficulty Advanced, and its FAQ describes the Maze as an intermediate-advanced ride, best suited for experienced riders who are comfortable riding 20 or more miles per day on unmaintained dirt roads
• It calls this the most technically challenging route it offers: an undeveloped dirt road with rolling, technical double-track, steep uphills and downhills, loose rocks, sand and ruts
• Riders with no off-road bicycling experience, or who are not athletic, will most likely find the trip difficult
• Training advice: all riders should prepare by riding their bike on a regular basis before the trip. Holiday's bike-trip FAQ says its trips entail riding at least 4–5 hours each day, recommends riding regularly beforehand, and says even 1–2 hours a week will go a long way

• Remote: this is the least-visited district of Canyonlands, protected by strict regulations, and the trip is billed as a truly remote wilderness experience. The Hans Flat Ranger Station is described as a remote National Park Service outpost
• Holiday is an authorized concessioner of Canyonlands National Park
• Camping is primitive, at sites Canyonlands assigns to the trip
• Season: Holiday runs this trip in spring and fall to avoid the heat of the summer
• Terrain: steep uphills and downhills, loose rocks, sand and ruts on unmaintained dirt roads
• Changes: any bike trip into the wilderness is changeable by nature. Trips may change based on assigned camp sites, weather, group size and interests, and other unforeseeable elements, so arrive with an open mind and a flexible attitude
• Support: guides and a gear van travel with the group
• Your bike must pass the pre-trip inspection; Holiday recommends having it serviced by a professional shop beforehand

A personal bike that fails the pre-trip inspection must be replaced with a Holiday rental bike ($270).

Meet at Holiday's base of operations in Green River, Utah, at 7 PM the night before the trip for a brief pre-trip meeting. Return to the warehouse early the next morning with your gear packed for the van ride to the start.

Website: bikeraft.com

Phone: (800) 624-6323

Phone: (801) 266-2087

Email: [email protected]

Website: bikeraft.com

Per person, six-day guided trip

Starting price$1,995

Optional tip for your guides: 10–20% of the trip price, given in cash to either guide at the end; the guides share all tips.

See Trip details

Spring (March–May) (Mar 1–May 31)

Fall (September–October) (Sep 1–Oct 31)

Call (435) 259-8732 before you go.

Trips meet at 7 AM on the first day.

Trips return to Moab between 4:30 and 5:30 PM on the last day.

2027 dates are subject to permit approval.

How to bookChoose a departure date on the trip page, or call a trip specialist.

Private departures are available; call to ask.

2027 dates are subject to permit approval.

Phone: (435) 259-8732

Bring your own bike, or rent from Western Spirit.

Bring your own helmet, or rent from Western Spirit (free with a rental bike).

Bring or rent a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

Bring a riding pack that carries 2–3 liters of water, rain gear, other warm clothing and food for the day.

Bring all the warm clothing and rain gear on the packing list.

Bring hiking boots or trail runners.

Bring daily and emergency medication.

Bring a flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries.

A guided six-day mountain bike and hiking trip in the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park. It starts and ends in Moab, Utah. Private departures are available.

Route

• Day 1: shuttle to Horseshoe Canyon, then a 7-mile hike (1,600 feet of elevation loss and gain) down to the Great Gallery, a Barrier Canyon Style pictograph panel that archaeologists believe the Archaic people made thousands of years ago. Camp at North Point.
• Day 2: 27 miles. Ride the mesa top, then descend the Flint Trail (nearly 1,000 feet in two miles), cross Elaterite Basin and Big Water Canyon, and camp at the Maze Overlook for two nights.
• Day 3: a 5–6 mile hike into the Maze canyons to the Harvest Scene pictograph panel. It involves scrambling.
• Day 4: 28 miles. Climb back up Elaterite Basin, ride the base of the Orange Cliffs past Sunset Pass, and camp below Teapot Rock.
• Day 5: 28 miles out and back through Teapot Canyon, Red Cove and the Fins toward the Land of Standing Rocks. This is the unsupported day.
• Day 6: 35 miles on a hard-packed dirt road along the Cataract Canyon rim, ending above Lake Powell.

Distance and terrain

• Biking: 27–35 miles per day.
• Hiking: one 5–6 mile hike and one 7-mile hike; two days are hiking only.
• Altitude: 4,000–6,000 feet.
• Road surface: jeep roads, packed sediment, ledges, sand and slickrock.
• Rental bikes come with flat pedals.

What's included

• Meals, snacks, water, electrolyte drinks and non-alcoholic drinks
• Camp mugs, all kitchen and dining ware, camp chairs and one cycling water bottle
• A dry bag to pack your gear; it rides in the support vehicle and isn't reachable during the day, and very large duffels won't fit
• Solar showers, sunscreen and bug spray, a bike stand and lube, and a first aid kit with basic medications
• Guides who cook, clean up and maintain bikes; they bring their own tools

Not included

• The operator suggests booking Moab lodging in advance.

Meeting point and return

• The trip meets at 7:00 AM MST at The Aarchway Inn, 1551 N Riverview Dr, Moab, UT 84532. Meet the group at the northern dirt lot.
• Hotel pickup: call Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM, to schedule it.
• The group returns to Moab between 4:30 and 5:30 PM on the last day.
• Itineraries can change for weather, road conditions, rider safety and other factors.

Per person, six-day guided trip

Starting price$1,995

Optional tip for your guides: 10–20% of the trip price, given in cash to either guide at the end; the guides share all tips.

Trips meet at 7 AM on the first day.

Bring your own bike, or rent from Western Spirit.

Bring your own helmet, or rent from Western Spirit (free with a rental bike).

Bring or rent a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

Phone: (435) 259-8732

• The trip is designed for Intermediate to Advanced riders. The operator rates technical difficulty Moderate and physical difficulty "Moderate, some long rides, one unsupported day."
• Riding is on rugged four-wheel-drive jeep roads with sand, slickrock, ledges, rolling technical doubletrack and steep technical descents. Day 4 includes a challenging technical climb, and Day 5 starts with difficult technical miles in Teapot Canyon; caution is advised on challenging sections.
• Distance: riding days run 27–35 miles, and the 28-mile unsupported day is there to test your endurance.
• Hiking: the Day 1 hike is 7 miles with 1,600 feet of elevation loss and gain. The Day 3 hike is 5–6 miles, technical because of exposure, with some scrambling as you follow rock cairns to the canyon floor.
• Footwear for the Day 1 hike: hiking boots or trail runners, whichever is most comfortable. Trekking poles are optional.
• Skills help: Western Spirit guides are trained to teach mountain bike skills, faster riders may lead ahead at their own pace, and a tail guide stays at the end of the group.

Bring hiking boots or trail runners.

• Remote: the Maze is the most remote district of Canyonlands National Park.
• Permits: 2027 dates are subject to permit approval.
• Weather: mountain weather can be unpredictable, and the operator says being unprepared for extreme weather "can be a serious problem." Pack the layers and rain gear on the list.
• Changes: itineraries are subject to change for weather, road conditions and rider safety.
• Altitude: 4,000–6,000 feet.
• Self-sufficiency: Day 5 is a 28-mile unsupported ride. On riding days you may be away from camp and the support vehicle all day and need to be self-sufficient. On the unsupported day, carry water, snacks, lunch, sunscreen, layers, a tube and tools in your pack.
• Exposure: the Day 3 hike is technical because of exposure and involves scrambling.
• Your dry bag isn't reachable during the day, so keep what you need in your riding pack.
• Devices: the operator encourages turning devices off. If you bring them, bring a way to charge them; a portable USB charger with 1–2 charges is recommended, and airplane mode saves power.
• A first aid kit with basic medications is provided.

Bring a riding pack that carries 2–3 liters of water, rain gear, other warm clothing and food for the day.

Bring all the warm clothing and rain gear on the packing list.

Bring daily and emergency medication.

Meet the group in the northern dirt lot at The Aarchway Inn in Moab. If you would rather be picked up at your hotel, call Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM, to schedule it.

Contact: (435) 259-8732

Website: westernspirit.com

Mon–Fri6–7 AM, Noon–1 PM

Every swimmer signs a waiver.

Pay the fee to join or visit.

• 10 workouts each week, Monday through Friday: 6–7 AM and noon–1 PM
• The coach provides a daily workout
• Practices are in a 25-meter indoor pool at the Human Performance Center, Utah Tech University, St. George
• Swimmers focus on technique, fitness and camaraderie
• Visitors can attend a practice as well as join the club

• Practices are held in an indoor pool
• The coach provides a daily workout

Every swimmer signs a waiver.

Pay the fee to join or visit.

Practices are at the Human Performance Center on the Utah Tech University campus, 291 South 700 East Street, St. George, UT 84770.

Website: usms.org

Hours aren't listed.

Bring a detailed map and compass.

• Length: 23 miles in all, joining the 8.3-mile Skyline National Recreation Trail (#225) with additional sections. The trail is closed to motorized vehicles.
• Climbing: about 3,400 feet of cumulative elevation gain (the total of all the uphill).
• Ways to do it: day-hike the whole trail as a strong party, or backpack it in two days with an alpine campsite near the halfway mark. Most hikers choose shorter day hikes.
• Direction: hike south to north. Most of the southern segment is easier than the northern one, which has more elevation gain.
• Highlights: meadows, wooded ridges, three 12,000-foot peaks including 12,169-foot Delano Peak, and a herd of mountain goats. The southern section's last stretch is the best place to spot them; bring a spotting scope or binoculars.
• Camping: designated camping areas near the trailheads let you set up a base camp.
• Getting back: hike point-to-point if you have an extra vehicle for a shuttle (you finish at a different trailhead from where you started), or hike each segment out-and-back (you return the way you came).

The three sections

• Southern: starts at 10,200-foot Big Flat Trailhead (GPS: 38.283734, -112.352465), a Forest Service trailhead 0.3 miles east of Utah 153 on FR 514. The trail heads north onto the crest of the Tushar Range and passes Lake Stream Trailhead near Puffer Lake, a good turn-around point. It ends at Big John Trailhead (GPS: 38.359050, -112.393037).
• Middle: 7 miles north from Big John Flat Trailhead to a trailhead by Mud Lake (GPS: 38.379826, -112.401506), over high, rolling terrain with a couple of creek crossings.
• Northern: 8 miles from Mud Lake to Bullion Pasture Trailhead (GPS: 38.403200, -112.398584) at a high saddle. It starts at 11,000 feet, passes Blue Lake, and finishes with a steep climb up an old road to FR 123.

• Day-hiking all 23 miles is for a strong party; most hikers prefer shorter day hikes, or a two-day backpacking trek.
• The southern segment is mostly easier than the northern one, which has more elevation gain.
• Parts of the trail may be overgrown and hard to follow.

Bring a detailed map and compass.

• Season: the trail is best hiked from late June until late October. Heavy snow covers much of it through the winter, and the deepest drifts do not melt out until June at the earliest.
• Access: the road to the northern trailheads is inaccessible until summer. The dirt road is often rough and rocky, and a high-clearance vehicle is recommended, especially beyond Big John Flat Trailhead.
• Remote: not many hikers venture into the Tushar Range, so expect plenty of solitude, and parts of the trail may be overgrown and hard to follow.
• Trailheads: they are signed, but you will want GPS coordinates to find them.
• Camping: the campsites at Big John Flat are dispersed or primitive sites with pit toilets and no hookups.

Bring a detailed map and compass.

Reach the trailheads from Beaver and I-15 by driving east up Utah 153, the Beaver Canyon Scenic Byway. Big Flat and Lake Stream Trailheads are south of Eagle Point Resort after the highway turns to gravel. Big John Flat, Mud Lake and Bullion Pasture Trailheads are north of the resort on FR 123. Big John Flat Trailhead has a parking lot on the east side of the gravel road.

Website: visitutah.com

Guided backpacking, per person per day

Guided backpacking, from (4-day minimum)$350

Private trips only; choose 4, 7 or 10 days.

Final pricing depends on drop camps, your itinerary and group size.

Drop camp support with Rhodes Valley Outfitters: inquire for pricing.

See Trip details

See Before you go

Call (435) 640-4421 for a quote.

Trip season (Jul 1–Sep 30)

• The Uinta Highline Trail covers 104 miles of wilderness. Hike the whole trail end to end (a thru-hike) or sample the best of it.
• Itineraries run 4, 7 or 10 days, including loops, summit add-ons and point-to-point drop-offs and pickups.
• Trips are private only, and every itinerary is custom-built, including a one-on-one consultation with the operator's Director of Operations.
• Your guide carries the heavy load and handles the logistics of the trip.
• Routes come in three shapes:
• Advanced: 10–15 mile days with optional iconic summits and limited drop-camp options.
• Intermediate: 6–10 mile days with drop camps.
• Beginner: 4–8 mile days with drop camp and basecamp options.
• Drop camps come through a partnership with Rhodes Valley Outfitters: tents and food packed in by horse. Use them to restock along the way, or set up a basecamp and explore from it.
• Meet at the trailhead; point-to-point transfers are arranged. The nearest airport is Salt Lake City (SLC).

Guided backpacking, per person per day

Guided backpacking, from (4-day minimum)$350

Private trips only; choose 4, 7 or 10 days.

Final pricing depends on drop camps, your itinerary and group size.

Drop camp support with Rhodes Valley Outfitters: inquire for pricing.

Phone: (435) 640-4421

Email: [email protected]

The operator describes this trip as best for hikers of any level dreaming of a big backpacking trip.

• Pick the route shape that matches your group: Beginner routes use 4–8 mile days, Intermediate 6–10 mile days and Advanced 10–15 mile days.

• Trips run July through September.
• This is 104 miles of wilderness. Supplies can be restocked at drop camps, where tents and food are packed in by horse. Advanced routes have limited drop-camp options.
• The operator runs trips on a Special Use Permit issued by the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache and Ashley National Forests.

Guided backpacking, per person per day

Guided backpacking, from (4-day minimum)$350

Private trips only; choose 4, 7 or 10 days.

Final pricing depends on drop camps, your itinerary and group size.

Drop camp support with Rhodes Valley Outfitters: inquire for pricing.

Contact: (435) 640-4421 · [email protected]

Website: inspiredsummit.com

Hours aren't listed.

• Distance: 104 miles (167 km) along the east–west crest of the Uinta Mountains. It can be hiked in either direction, but hikers of the whole trail more often go east to west.
• Climbing: 16,700 feet of gain and 14,600 feet of loss on an east-to-west trip. The average elevation is 10,700 feet.
• High point: Anderson Pass at 12,700 feet. Kings Peak (13,528 feet), the highest point in Utah, is 0.7 miles south of the pass.
• Passes: the trail crosses eight named passes above 11,200 feet.
• Terrain: forests, subalpine meadows, alpine tundra, and rock and snow fields. Treeless terrain makes up over half the distance.
• Land: over half the route is in the High Uintas Wilderness, where travel is limited to people on foot and on horseback.
• East start (or finish): the Highline Trailhead in McKee Draw, 0.5 miles west of U.S. Highway 191 on Forest Road 062, between Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Vernal. A vault toilet and parking area are at the trailhead.
• West finish (or start): the Highline Trailhead at Hayden Pass on Utah Route 150 (the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway), near Mirror Lake. A vault toilet and parking area are at the trailhead.
• Shorter trips: start at the Leidy Peak trailhead (mile 24) for 80 miles to Hayden Pass, or at the Chepeta Lake trailhead (mile 38) for 66 miles.

• Difficulty is listed as moderate to strenuous.
• The trail has a remote, primitive character. In places it lacks tread and is only a route marked with occasional cairns (stacked-rock markers), posts or signs, which suits hikers with the necessary navigation skills.
• Altitude is a listed hazard: the trail averages 10,700 feet and reaches 12,700 feet.

• Season: the trail is listed for July to September. Early in the season, expect snowmelt and icy slopes.
• Hazards listed: snowmelt and icy slopes early in the season, severe weather and altitude.
• Water: in the first 25 miles, through forest and subalpine meadows, water sources can be limited, particularly late in the season. After Little Brush Creek at mile 4.3, the next source may be over 20 miles away near Leidy Peak, where Hacking Lake is a short hike off the trail. West of Leidy Peak, numerous lakes and streams serve as water sources.
• Remote and primitive: the route can be only cairns, posts or signs. The Leidy Peak and Chepeta Lake trailheads are many miles from paved highways and are reached by gravel roads.
• Permits: none is required to hike the trail, and the Forest Service says permits are not required for the High Uintas Wilderness.
• Hayden Pass trailhead: it is busy, particularly on summer weekends, and is in a federal fee area that requires a day pass (sold at a couple of locations along the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway) or an annual America the Beautiful Pass.
• Alerts: the Forest Service lists a campfire closure and an occupancy and use alert for the High Uintas Wilderness. Check the current alerts before you go.
• Wilderness rules: the Forest Service says you are responsible for your personal safety there. Respect restrictions and Leave No Trace.

The east trailhead is at McKee Draw, 0.5 miles west of U.S. Highway 191 on Forest Road 062, with a vault toilet and parking. The west trailhead is at Hayden Pass on Utah Route 150, also with a vault toilet and parking; it is busy on summer weekends. The Leidy Peak and Chepeta Lake trailheads are reached by gravel roads many miles from paved highways.

Contact: (435) 789-1181

Hours aren't listed.

Overnight backcountry stays need a permit.

• Route: Rainbow Point (south) to Bryce Point (north); the trail is typically hiked south to north
• Distance: 22.9 miles (36.9 km)
• Elevation gain: 5,500 feet (1,676 meters)
• Time: about 2–3 days, typically with two overnights
• Camping: six campsites and one group site along the trail; some hikers add a night on the Riggs Spring Loop
• Connecting trails: three meet this trail at the Agua Canyon, Whiteman Bench and Swamp Canyon trailheads
• Surface: firm native sediment
• Parking: at the trailheads; oversized vehicles are permitted at Rainbow Point but not at Bryce Point when the shuttle is in operation
• Shuttle: yes, to Bryce Point; none to Rainbow Point, though private options may be available
• Services: none along the trail; accessible restrooms are at Rainbow Point

• The National Park Service rates this trail Strenuous
• It covers 22.9 miles with 5,500 feet of elevation gain, usually over 2–3 days

• Camp only in designated backcountry campsites
• Day hiking this trail does not need a permit
• No services along the trail, so carry what you need; the only restrooms listed are at Rainbow Point
• The trail may be inaccessible in mid-winter, with snow depths of 2–15 feet (.7–5 m); check current conditions before you go
• This is a backcountry trail with natural terrain and is not considered accessible
• Pets are not allowed on this trail; service animals are allowed in national parks
• Park entrance fees may apply

Overnight backcountry stays need a permit.

Start at Rainbow Point or Bryce Point. A shuttle serves Bryce Point but not Rainbow Point.

Website: nps.gov

Tuition, per student

22-day course, ages 16–18$7,230

Starting tuition (course length not stated)$5,745

Group gear, food, instruction and permits are included.

Need-based scholarships and financial assistance are available.

See Trip details

22-day course, ages 16–18 (course CUT4-2751)

15-day course, ages 14–16 (course CUY4-2741)

How to bookApply on the course page.

Ages 14–18

15-day course: ages 14–16.

22-day course: ages 16–18.

Courses

• Two lengths: a 15-day course and a 22-day course. Each runs with a crew (your group of 8–12 students) led by 2–3 instructors.
• Rafting is in a paddle raft on rapids and flatwater; backpacking is in the La Sal Mountains.
• The page lists Grand Junction, CO under "Getting there."

Sample 15-day itinerary

• Day 1: meet your crew and instructors, gather gear and learn camping and cooking outdoors
• Days 2–8: rafting, with possible day hikes on the region's cultural and natural history
• Days 8–14: backpacking, setting up camp in a new place each night
• Days 10–11: solo, time alone at your campsite to reflect
• Day 14: final challenge, a personalized test of teamwork, leadership and outdoor skills
• Days 14–15: course-end celebration with a pin ceremony

Sample 22-day itinerary

• Days 2–13: backpacking in the mountains
• Days 14–21: rafting whitewater and flatwater sections of river, with possible day hikes
• Day 21: final challenge
• Days 21–22: course-end celebration

The actual plan depends on permits, weather, group skills and instructor evaluation. The final challenge might be attempting to summit a mountain peak.

Tuition, per student

22-day course, ages 16–18$7,230

Starting tuition (course length not stated)$5,745

Group gear, food, instruction and permits are included.

Need-based scholarships and financial assistance are available.

15-day course: ages 14–16.

• You do not need to be an experienced swimmer.
• You should be comfortable swimming short distances while wearing a personal flotation device (PFD), a life jacket.
• The operator says many participants find their comfort and confidence in the water grow during the course, and instructors encourage you along the way.

• Phone-free: this course is a totally phone-free adventure.
• Mail: you can receive letters from friends and family during transfers, resupplies and at the end of the course.
• Moving camp: you backpack and set up camp in new locations each night, and you learn to cook, camp and navigate as a crew.
• Changing plans: the actual itinerary depends on permits, weather, group skills and instructor evaluation.
• Setting: desert, mountains and river.
• Travel, packing and logistics details: the operator offers a "Get More Information" request for these before you go.

Phone: (866) 467-7651

The course page lists Grand Junction, CO under "Getting there." Travel, packing and logistics details come from the operator's "Get More Information" request.

Contact: (866) 467-7651

Website: outwardbound.org

Per person, 4 days and 3 nights, starting at

Groups of 3–4 people$3,690

Groups of 5–6 people$3,490

Included: two certified guides, all snowmobiles, all food and non-alcoholic beverages, your gear moved for you on the big ski-across day, both yurts all to yourselves, and an itinerary and meal plan built around you.

Groups of 3–4 people are listed at $735 per person per day plus a $750 transfer fee.

Groups of 5–6 people are listed at $685 per person per day plus a $750 transfer fee. Additional days can be added.

See Trip details

Trip season (Dec 1–Apr 30)

Booking required

How to bookContact Inspired Summit Adventures to book.

Website: inspiredsummit.com

• 4 days, 3 nights
• Meet at Park City HQ (Pinebrook); the nearest airport is Salt Lake City (SLC), about 1 hour away
• Groups of up to 6
• Start at the Castle Peak or Little Elk Yurt, get a lay of the land, go on upper-elevation ski tours and enjoy the wood-burning stove
• Halfway through, you leave your overnight gear behind and the team transfers it for you while you head deeper into the Uintas
• The ski-across day: a full day of touring and skiing a minimum of 5,000 vertical feet, with roughly 10 miles of descending
• Runs are 1,000–2,500 vertical feet in length: open alpine faces, chutes, couloirs, old burnt forests and glades
• You finish at the Smith and Morehouse yurt, where your gear and snowmobiles are waiting, with another day (or more) of skiing from that yurt
• Additional days can be added for the larger group trip
• The Uinta Hut System is a network of backcountry yurts in Utah's Uinta Mountains

Per person, 4 days and 3 nights, starting at

Groups of 3–4 people$3,690

Groups of 5–6 people$3,490

Included: two certified guides, all snowmobiles, all food and non-alcoholic beverages, your gear moved for you on the big ski-across day, both yurts all to yourselves, and an itinerary and meal plan built around you.

Groups of 3–4 people are listed at $735 per person per day plus a $750 transfer fee.

Groups of 5–6 people are listed at $685 per person per day plus a $750 transfer fee. Additional days can be added.

• The ski-across day is a full day of touring and skiing a minimum of 5,000 vertical feet with roughly 10 miles of descending.
• The 5–6 person trip is for "a larger group that has skied the backcountry together."

• Your guides manage the route based on the day's avalanche and weather forecast.
• The slopes are backcountry terrain that rarely sees human activity and scarcely sees other skiers.
• The trip season is December through April.
• Snowmobiles are part of the trip.
• You leave your overnight gear behind halfway through the trip; the team transfers it to the next yurt.
• Inspired Summit Adventures operates on a Special Use Permit issued by the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache and Ashley National Forests.

Meet at Park City HQ (Pinebrook). The nearest airport is Salt Lake City (SLC), about 1 hour away.

Contact: (435) 640-4421 · [email protected]

Website: inspiredsummit.com

Hours aren't listed.

Check current conditions before you go.

During high water on the Green River, west-side sections can flood, making a complete loop impossible; check current conditions before you go.

Booking required

How to bookEvery trip needs a permit: an overnight permit for a designated campsite on overnight trips, or a day-use permit for single-day trips.

Overnight permits: in spring and fall, demand frequently exceeds the number available, so make reservations well in advance.

Day-use permits: if your trip doesn't pass a visitor center or needs an early start (before normal business hours), get the day-use permit online the day before.

Book on the website: nps.gov

Every trip needs a permit.

Overnight trips need an overnight permit.

Single-day trips need a day-use permit.

Bring at least 1 gallon (4 L) of water per person, per day, or more if you'll be active.

• A 100-mile loop around and below the Island in the Sky mesa top in Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky is one of the park's districts)
• Mountain bike trips usually take three to four days; four-wheel-drive trips usually take two to three
• Plan for a minimum of 10–12 hours of cycling
• Bicycles, including e-bikes, are allowed on the road
• The steep, exposed sections of the Shafer Trail, Lathrop Canyon Road, Murphy Hogback, Hardscrabble Hill and the Mineral Bottom switchbacks make the loop a challenging mountain bike ride
• On the east side, enter or exit at the Shafer Trail/Potash Road/White Rim Road junction
• Overnight trips camp at designated campsites: 20 individual campsites in 10 camping areas. Each campsite holds up to 15 people and 3 vehicles; motorbikes and trailers count as vehicles

Camping areas, clockwise (miles from the visitor center; number of sites; toilets)

• Shafer: 7 mi; 1 site; 1 toilet
• Airport (A-D): 19 mi; 4 sites; 2 toilets
• Gooseberry (A,B): 30 mi; 2 sites; 1 toilet
• White Crack: 39 mi; 1 site; 1 toilet
• Murphy Hogback (A-C): 45 mi; 3 sites; 2 toilets
• Candlestick: 55 mi; 1 site; 1 toilet
• Potato Bottom (A-C): 66 mi; 3 sites; 2 toilets
• Hardscrabble (A,B): 70 mi; 2 sites; 2 toilets
• Labyrinth (A,B): 72 mi; 2 sites; 1 toilet
• Taylor: 77 mi; 1 site; 1 toilet

• The National Park Service asks that all riders have "adequate levels of physical fitness prior to all trips" and be "experienced enough to mitigate potential challenges and safety issues should they arise"
• Plan for a minimum of 10–12 hours of cycling
• The park calls the loop a challenging mountain bike ride

Permits

• All trips along the White Rim need a permit
• Overnight trips need an overnight permit, which covers a designated campsite; overnight trips don't need a separate day-use permit
• Single-day trips need a day-use permit. If your plan doesn't pass a visitor center or needs an early start (before normal business hours), get the day-use permit online the day before
• In spring and fall, demand for overnight permits frequently exceeds the number available; make reservations well in advance

Water and terrain

• There is no potable water along the White Rim Road
• The road has long rocky stretches, deep sand and little shade
• For mountain bike trips, the park highly recommends a four-wheel-drive support vehicle to carry water and equipment
• Any vehicle on the road must be a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle (low range); ATVs, UTVs and OHVs are not permitted, even if street legal
• Towing charges are very expensive: people caught in the backcountry with a disabled vehicle can expect towing fees in excess of $1,000

Weather and road conditions

• The steep, exposed sections need extreme caution for both vehicles and bikes in inclement weather
• During high water on the Green River, sections of road on the west side can flood, making a complete loop impossible

Park rules

• Pets are not permitted, even in vehicles
• Fires and campfires are not permitted; generators are not allowed
• Drones and other unmanned aircraft are prohibited
• Stay on designated roads
• Close and latch the gate behind you when entering or exiting on the east side
• The park offers a 9-minute backcountry orientation film with trip-planning tips and Leave No Trace advice

On the east side, the entry and exit gate is by the vault toilet at the Shafer Trail/Potash Road/White Rim Road junction. Close and latch it behind you.

Contact: (435) 719-2313

Website: nps.gov

Summer and fall

Check the Zion National Park current conditions page, or stop by a visitor center, for active closures.

The Narrows closes during a Flash Flood Warning; check current conditions before you go.

Booking required

How to bookApply online for a Wilderness Permit.

A Wilderness Permit is required for the 16-mile through-hike.

Apply for permits online or from a Wilderness Ranger at a visitor center.

All Wilderness permits must be picked up from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.

Permits are not available at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center.

Book on the website: nps.gov

Closed-toed shoes are recommended.

A sturdy hiking stick is recommended.

Bring seasonally appropriate layers.

Bring food, water, first aid supplies, and other gear.

Route

• 16 miles from the Chamberlain's Ranch trailhead to the Temple of Sinawava shuttle stop (Shuttle Stop #9), with an elevation change of 1,300 feet (400 m).
• There is no maintained trail; the route is the river. At least 80% of the hike is spent wading, walking and sometimes swimming in the Virgin River.
• Water source listed: Big Spring.

Overnight trips

• 12 backpacking sites, in designated sites only, all roughly halfway between Chamberlain's Ranch and the Temple of Sinawava.
• All overnight campers must begin at Chamberlain's Ranch and end at the Temple of Sinawava.

Getting to the start

• You arrange your own transportation to the Chamberlain's Ranch trailhead. The hike finishes at the Temple of Sinawava.

Season

• The park lists the season as summer and fall.

A shorter option

• Hiking upstream from the Temple of Sinawava as far as Big Spring (a bottom-up hike) is a separate trip and does not need a permit.

A Wilderness Permit is required for the 16-mile through-hike.

• The park calls The Narrows "a strenuous trail that requires proper planning and equipment."
• Even on short trips, the park says this hike can be challenging and risky.
• Good planning, proper equipment and sound judgment are essential, in the park's words.
• The park compares the footing to walking on wet bowling balls: slick, uneven rocks under moving water.

How river level changes the effort

River flow is measured in cubic feet per second (CFS).

• Under 70 CFS: walking is moderately difficult, with knee-deep crossings and frequent pools up to waist-deep.
• 70 to 150 CFS: walking against the current becomes challenging, with frequent thigh-deep crossings and pools that can be chest-deep.

Flash floods and closures

• Flash floods can happen at any time, and the park says your safety is your responsibility.
• Afternoon thundershowers are possible throughout the year. The river can quickly turn into a torrent, doubling and tripling in volume.
• Flash floods are more frequent during the desert monsoon (July–September).
• The Narrows is closed to all travel when the river flows over 150 CFS, which snowmelt often causes in spring and can continue into summer.
• It also closes when a Flash Flood Warning is issued, and stays closed for at least two hours after the warning is lifted.
• Check the park's current conditions page or stop by a visitor center for active closures.
• Wilderness areas can close from wildfires, rockfalls and flash floods. Have a backup plan in case a trail or site closes.

In the river

• The current is swift, the water is cold and the rocks are slippery. The park names flash floods, cyanobacteria exposure, slips, falls and hypothermia as hazards.
• Sandals, crocs and bare feet aren't appropriate and often result in twisted ankles or crushed toes.
• The canyon can stay considerably cooler than the day's weather, even when it is over 100 degrees. Non-cotton clothing such as polypropylene or wool insulates even when wet.

Water and waste

• The only water source the park lists for this route is Big Spring.
• Use the restroom before you start, and pack out all your trash, even the tiniest crumbs.

Permits and questions

• Rangers answer phone calls from 10 am to 5 pm Mountain Time, and a ranger may not answer if already speaking with someone else. You can also listen to pre-recorded information by phone at any time.

A Wilderness Permit is required for the 16-mile through-hike.

Apply for permits online or from a Wilderness Ranger at a visitor center.

All Wilderness permits must be picked up from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center.

Permits are not available at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center.

Closed-toed shoes are recommended.

A sturdy hiking stick is recommended.

Bring seasonally appropriate layers.

Bring food, water, first aid supplies, and other gear.

Phone: (435) 772-3256

Email: [email protected]

Arrange your own transportation to the Chamberlain's Ranch trailhead. The hike ends at the Temple of Sinawava (Shuttle Stop #9).

Contact: (435) 772-3256 · [email protected]

Website: nps.gov

Five-day tour, double occupancy

Participant fee$1,995

Deposit: $500.

All bookings are based on double occupancy; ask the company about single occupancy.

You cover additional credit card fees at booking, or you can pay by direct payment from your bank account (e-check) to avoid them.

Frequent Travelers, anyone who has done at least one tour with the company before, can use code FREQUENTTRAVELER for a discount on the tour fee.

See Trip details

Tour dates

How to bookThe tour is sold out; join the waitlist.

Sold out for the Nov 9–13, 2026 departure.

Bring any running foods you prefer.

Bring your own specialty supplements or nutrition systems.

Bring your own personal gear.

Complete the registration form to list any dietary preferences or restrictions.

Route and schedule

• Five days and 70 miles of trail running between Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, Nov 9–13, 2026
• Daily distances run between 12.5 and 15 miles
• The trip is listed in St. George, UT
• Group size: 6 to 11 runners

Where you stay

• 4 nights in a vacation home centrally located in Hatch, UT
• Expect to share a room with another runner; a single supplement may be possible depending on the size of the group

Food

• Each morning the guides set out a spread to make a trail lunch: bread, tortillas, nut butters, jelly, hummus, sandwich meats, cheese, gels, chews, bars and more
• The company prepares breakfast and dinner each day from fresh, seasonal, locally sourced foods
• Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets can be accommodated, but the company must know your needs in advance
• Coolers hold a selection of beverages; included beverages are non-alcoholic, and the group stops on the way to the first run to pick up any micro-brews or alcoholic beverages of your choice

Included

• Guides, and all meals from lunch on the first day through lunch on the last day
• Support vehicle, transportation on tour, shuttle to and from trailheads and gear transport
• Snacks, group gear, non-alcoholic beverages and first aid
• Permits, fees, reservations and licenses

Not included

• Airfare or other transportation to and from the departure site
• Lodging before or after the tour
• Personal gear

Getting to St. George

• St. George is about 300 miles south of Salt Lake City on Interstate 15 and about 120 miles north of Las Vegas, NV
• St. George Regional Airport has direct service; Las Vegas is the nearest major international airport, about 126 miles away
• St. George Shuttle runs daily scheduled service to and from Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and St. George

Five-day tour, double occupancy

Participant fee$1,995

Deposit: $500.

All bookings are based on double occupancy; ask the company about single occupancy.

You cover additional credit card fees at booking, or you can pay by direct payment from your bank account (e-check) to avoid them.

Frequent Travelers, anyone who has done at least one tour with the company before, can use code FREQUENTTRAVELER for a discount on the tour fee.

Bring any running foods you prefer.

Bring your own specialty supplements or nutrition systems.

Bring your own personal gear.

Complete the registration form to list any dietary preferences or restrictions.

More information: https://www.stgshuttle.com

• The operator rates this tour Intermediate
• Moderate altitude, with no extremely long days
• Terrain runs from rough, rocky singletrack to smooth, flowing singletrack
• Most days offer a chance to shorten the day or take alternate routes

• Route finding can be a challenge, and the operator describes the trail marking as relatively poor
• Conditions are dry; the operator warns of potential cold or wet weather
• You run at moderate altitude on rough, rocky trail
• The support vehicle is reachable on some days only, not every day

Bring your own specialty supplements or nutrition systems.

Website: wetravel.com