Utah National Parks tour: exploring geology & culture

Highlights

• Discover the history, culture and geological wonders of Utah and Colorado.
• Explore the awe-inspiring landscapes of Colorado National Monument, Arches National Park, Deadhorse Point, Goosenecks, and Monument Valley.
• Visit cliff dwellings, petroglyphs and pictographs of the ancient Fremont and Puebloan peoples, and enjoy an exclusive tour the Edge of the Cedars museum.
• Follow the footsteps of early Mormon settlers and visit the unique desert towns of Bluff and Moab on your Utah national parks tour.
• Travel with Russell Davies, a geologist passionate about Native American lore, and stay in hotels with unforgettable views of the area’s characteristic red rock.

Overview

Join geologist Russell Davies and learn to “read” the landscapes and hear about the influence of the rocks on local history on this journey through SE Utah.

Starting in Grand Junction, we drive west through Colorado National Monument’s Grand Valley and then south to the dramatic Colorado River overviews at Deadhorse Point State Park on our way to explore the bustling town of Moab. From our location in Moab, we will spend a day exploring the rugged but accessible landscapes of Arches National Park.

We then head south to Bluff, Utah, a quiet town with a fascinating history. From here we will visit narrow canyons with cliff dwellings and see petroglyphs and petrographs left by long-vanished communities, amble through a reconstructed Mormon town, walk to the edge of a deep canyon overlooking the sinuous river meanders of the San Juan River and enjoy a Navajo led tour of Monument Valley.

We then return to Grand Junction through Moab taking a picturesque loop through the La Sal Mountains into Castle Valley and along the Colorado River.

Start/finish

Your tour starts and finishes in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Activity Level

Leisurely. Walks are generally easy and less than 0.5 mile (0.8km), with the option of longer and slightly more challenging walks of up to 2 miles (3km) on several days (view our activity level definitions).

Transport

Weather

Accommodation

Testimonials

"This trip was like none other. Exploring the region of southeastern Utah is magical. In places the landscape fools you into thinking you are on another planet, and yet at the same time the history of the earth and the ancient people comes alive as the tour guide weaves together the stories of geology, archaeology, and the mysteries of the petroglyphs.

The days are filled with so many gems of discovery. It’s hard to decide what the best part is – stunning rock art, magnificent landscapes, or learning how all the parts come together. I choose all of them."

Landscapes and Cultures of Utah, USA | JCD, April 2023

"Some trips are memorable for the destinations, others for the experiences. This tour was both. I’ve travelled extensively, and I can now say Utah is the most beautiful, visually exciting place I’ve seen. There was so much to look at, I didn’t want to blink, but the team’s attention to the little details also made the trip a joy. The small group experience meant we could always both see and hear, something you can’t [always] count on when you sign up to a tour."

Landscapes and Cultures of Utah, USA | Kate B, September 2023

"The tour was just magic. The visits and particularly the extra people you got to interact with us were first class, not to mention the wonderful places we stayed in – routing around in Bluff was so good. Great itinerary from Russell on the route back to Denver – St Elmo Ghost town was wonderful!"

Landscapes and Cultures of Utah, USA | Sally M, September 2023

"[The best bits were] driving through those huge formations, especially the Swell and the Ridge and recognising them for what they were. Putting a picture together of the land and the people. The visit to the Edge of the Cedars Museum and having so much time with the curator; fantastic collection too."

Landscapes and Cultures of Utah, USA | Sandy C-S, September 2023