Utah National Parks vacation: 7-day guided geology tour
- Durata: 7 Zile (aprox.)
- Locatie: Grand Junction
- Cod produs: NS019
Highlights
- Learn how to “read the rocks” of iconic western landscapes, including Colorado National Monument, Capitol Reef, Arches National Parks, Goosenecks and Dead Horse Point.
- Visit ancient cliff dwellings and see petroglyphs and pictographs from Fremont and Ancestral Puebloan people and Native Americans.
- See artifacts from prehistoric Native Americans in the Edge of the Cedars museum on your Utah national parks vacation.
- Cross the San Juan River to Monument Valley – you’ll recognise its cinematic western scenery – for a tour led by a Navajo guide.
- 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
SE Utah holds a wealth of fascinating geological and cultural stories. Join our geo-tour to learn about the rocks and their influence on the history of the area.
Starting in Grand Junction we travel west across the flat desert landscape to Torrey, the gateway to Capitol Reef National Park. We will hike a slot canyon of Capitol Reef’s dramatic Waterpocket Fold, walk to Hickman Bridge (examining a granary and pictographs along the way) and visit early Mormon settlements along shady tree-lined streams.
We will then head southeast to Bluff, a quiet but historical town that has escaped being over-run by overzealous tourists. We will enjoy spectacular views across the Colorado River and learn about towns and canyons buried when Lake Powell formed behind the Glen Canyon Dam. There will be an opportunity to walk narrow canyons with paintings and etchings of long-vanished communities and to view cliff dwellings in the canyon walls. A side trip to Arizona allows for a Navajo-guide led tour of Monument Valley.
Our route continues north to bustling Moab and the accessible landscapes of nearby Arches and Canyonlands national parks. We will walk among arches, spires and dinosaur tracks and have the opportunity for a hike across settings featured in countless Westerns.
Start/finish
Your tour starts and finishes in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Activity Level
Leisurely. Walks are generally less than ¼ mile (½km), with the option of walks of up to 2 miles (3km) on several days (view our activity level definitions).
Transport
We will use a comfortable coach suited to the number of attendees.Weather
Spring and Fall days in southern Utah are generally mild to warm, with cool nights. Rain, and even snow, is always possible.Accommodation
We will be lodging in hotels with iconic views of red rocks, landscapes and rivers. See our list of hotels in the Need to Know tab.Testimonials
"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
"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 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
"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
