Compare Hiking Utah's National Parks by Intrepid Travel vs Canyons, Rockies, and Rails with Rocky Mountaineer by Cosmos

Day 1 Las Vegas

Welcome to Las Vegas, Nevada! This glitzy city may be a gambler’s paradise, but if the tables aren't your thing, there's still plenty to discover in this neon metropolis. Maybe wander along the famous strip, past impersonators, billboards and hotels to the choreographed Bellagio Fountain show. Hit the chain stores or lose all sense of time exploring the gaudy interiors of hotels like The Venetian, Caesars Palace and New York-New York. Your trip starts at 6 pm tonight with a welcome meeting. After, why not join your fellow travellers for an optional dinner and indulge in some nightlife? 

Day 2 Zion National Park

You’ll be up bright and early this morning for the drive to Zion National Park. Arrive in Springdale, your base for the next two nights, and check into your accommodation before heading to the park for your first hike, the famous Virgin River Narrows. Your hike begins with a stroll down the paved River Trail, buttressed by water on our left and a 3,000-foot cliff face on the right. After walking along hanging gardens and under the dappled shade of cottonwoods, the sidewalk ends and you will enter the river. Hiking in moving water can be a new and exciting experience so you will have time to get your “stream legs” before walking another 1.5 miles upriver to the turnaround point at Orderville Canyon. Before heading back downstream, get a few more photos of the Narrows’ beauty. Tonight we'll head out on an included group dinner at a local restaurant in Springdale.

Day 3 Zion National Park

Today after breakfast, head out nice and early for another, longer hike in Zion National Park. This is one of Zion’s most iconic walks – the famous half-day Angel's Landing hike up to Scout Lookout. The stunning views of Zion Canyon's 270-million-year-old rock layers will take you back in time to the Triassic period when this section of the Colorado Plateau was just a flat basin at sea level. Just a heads up, this is a steep hike, but don’t worry, we'll take plenty of breaks. Anyone in good physical condition can make this trek.

Day 4 Bryce Canyon National Park

After breakfast this morning, drive to Bryce Canyon National Park, where wind and water erosion have formed the park's crimson hoodoos – uniquely shaped rock spires rising out of the desert. The park’s main road leads past the expansive Bryce Amphitheatre – a hoodoo-filled depression below the Rim Trail hiking path. It overlooks Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. After checking into your accommodation, you’ll hike the iconic Navajo Loop Trail, which begins and ends at Sunset Point. Travelling by switchbacks between narrow walls of colourful limestone with views of towering Douglas-fir trees, this trail takes you to the park's most famous hoodoo – Thor's Hammer. This trail has two sides, Two Bridges and Wall Street, so the trip out and back is different, with unique scenery on each side of the loop.

Day 5 Moab

After breakfast today, you’ll hit the road for Moab. On the way, stop in Capitol Reef National Park to hike to the impressive Hickman Bridge – a natural sandstone bridge spanning 41 m (133 feet). You'll get high desert views along the way and ascend through a sandstone side canyon before emerging under the bridge. Along with incredible views of the vast rock formations, look out for rare desert plants and wildlife along the trail. Tonight, you have a free evening in Moab to rest and recharge.

Day 6 Moab

Today you’ll head to Canyonlands National Park and head out on the Island in the Sky hike – resting on sheer sandstone cliffs, the Island in the Sky lookout point, Grandview Point Overlook, has spectacular sweeping views of the park. Take in the landscape below of the canyons and winding streams and then head to Arches National Park – home to more than 2,000 natural stone arches, rock formations and giant, balancing rocks. Head out on a sunset hike to visit the Delicate Arch – a stone icon of the park that has become the unofficial symbol of the State of Utah! Along this trail, you’ll see the Wolfe Ranch cabin and Ute Indian petroglyphs, too. Watch the landscape change colours as you enjoy a picnic dinner, then head back to your hotel in Moab.

Day 7 Bluff

Travel south to Bluff, stopping for a very special experience along the way – a guided walk with an expert Navajo guide. Explore the beautiful country of Butler Wash, filled with abundant native plants, animals, incredible geologic features and archaeology and learn some of the fascinating Indigenous stories and history of the area.

Day 8 Page

This morning after breakfast, head to Monument Valley, where a Navajo leader – one of the Keepers of Monument Valley – will take you around their lands on a hike off the beaten track. Learn about the history of the Anasazis (the Ancient Ones), as you take in the beauty of Monument Valley’s famous arches and learn about the history and culture of the Navajo peoples. For lunch, you’ll enjoy a picnic with your group. Tonight is the last night of your trip, so you might like to head out and celebrate your incredible Utah adventure with a night out with your group.

Day 9 Las Vegas

Today after breakfast, you’ll head back to Las Vegas. On the way, you have an option to book a visit to Antelope Canyon, before stopping for one last hike to Horseshoe Bend in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. This horseshoe-shaped incised meander of the Colorado River is the perfect place to wrap up your trip. There will be unlimited options for incredible photos, so make sure you squeeze the most out of every last moment. Arrive in Las Vegas at around 5 pm, where your trip will come to an end. If you’d like to stay in Las Vegas for longer, just speak to your booking agent.

Day 1: ARRIVE IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Welcome to exciting Las Vegas, also known as “Sin City!” Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.

Day 2: LAS VEGAS–BOULDER CITY–WILLIAMS

Depart the glittering lights of Las Vegas and stop at the Hoover Dam Museum, located in Boulder City. Gain insight to the men and women who braved the desolation of the southern Nevada desert to build this engineering marvel – it’s a story of American ambition, vision, and grit. Depart Boulder City into Arizona, journeying across old Mojave gold-strike country. Visit the historic Route 66 town of Seligman and then continue to Williams, gateway to the Grand Canyon, listed in the National Register for Historic Places, and home for the next two nights. The Historic Downtown District covers six square blocks and boasts a rich heritage that features the Old West and Route 66.

Day 3: WILLIAMS. EXCURSION TO GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

Marvel at one of the Natural Wonders of the World at awe-inspiring Grand Canyon National Park. There’s plenty of free time to wander along the canyon rim experiencing the breathtaking views. Return to Williams where the evening is free to explore the historic Americana-style shops and restaurants dating back to the early 1900s. Be sure to take note of the neon signs of “Motel Row” circa 1940’s. (Breakfast)

Day 4: WILLIAMS–MONUMENT VALLEY–KAYENTA

Continue across Arizona and into Navajo Nation and America’s West that has been immortalized on the silver screen. Situated on the Arizona/Utah border, Monument Valley’s scenic desert vistas and iconic buttes have appeared in countless classic Western films. See the massive formations on a memorable 4-wheel-drive tour. Your knowledgeable Navajo guide will show you some of the valley’s most incredible scenery and share inspiring stories, legends, and lore. This evening, join the optional Navajo cookout for dinner surrounded by the red-rock canyons of Monument Valley. (Breakfast)

Day 5: KAYENTA–ARCHES NATIONAL PARK–MOAB, UTAH

Today, we head north for Moab. Visit the magnificent Arches National Park, where you’ll discover a landscape of contrasting colors, landforms, and textures unlike anything else in the world. With over 2,000 preserved natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch, this red-rock wonderland will amaze you. Overnight in Moab, with time to stroll through the downtown shops for a great selection of Southwestern art and jewelry.

Day 6: MOAB. EXCURSION TO CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK & DEADHORSE STATE PARK

Visit magnificent Canyonlands National Park to see deep canyons stretching across the Colorado Plateau, an intricate canyon labyrinth of crimson hues. Then, on to Dead Horse Point State Park to see a vast mesa with an incredible view of the Colorado River as it twists through a gooseneck canyon 2,000 feet below. Return to Moab for a free evening. Perhaps visit the quaint shops and restaurants on Main Street or stretch your legs on the Mill Creek Parkway Trail.

Day 7: MOAB–ROCKY MOUNTAINEER–GLENWOOD SPRINGS, COLORADO

Enjoy a morning at leisure in Moab before embarking on the Rocky Mountaineer for a scenic train ride in SilverLeaf Class. Travel east, cross the Utah-Colorado border and ride through the Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area. Your train hosts share stories of the area as you pass Parachute Creek and Mount Logan while following the scenic Colorado River. Take in the beautiful red rock formations, desert cliffs of Ruby Canyon, and mountain vistas that can’t be seen from the road! Enjoy dinner on board the train before arriving in historic Glenwood Springs, Colorado for the night. (Dinner)

YOUR TRAIN: The Rocky Mountaineer takes you on an extraordinary two-day rail journey between Moab, Utah and Denver, Colorado. SilverLeaf Service features a single-level glass-dome coach offering reclining seats, meals and drinks served at your seat, and panoramic views from oversized windows. You can also spend time on the outdoor viewing area. Enjoy an onboard culinary experience with regional cuisine and ingredients local to the Southwest U.S. If you choose, enhance your experience with SilverLeaf Plus, which elevates the already exceptional SilverLeaf Service to the next level with exclusive access to a lounge car, premium beverages and more!

NOTE:
Glenwood Springs’ properties are considered moderate 3-star hotels or better. Your chosen hotel is determined by Rocky Mountaineer; however, you can rest assured that it satisfies our high standards of cleanliness and comfort.

Day 8: GLENWOOD SPRINGS–ROCKY MOUNTAINEER–DENVER

This morning, board the train for a full day aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. Enjoy a delicious breakfast while following the Colorado River and admiring the morning light reflected off the mountain. Travel through dense wooded forests, pass the white-capped mountains of White River National Forest and through picturesque Byers and Gore Canyons to the tranquil mountain lakes of Arapahoe National Forest. After lunch, cross the Continental Divide with a toast while cutting through the six-mile-long Moffatt Tunnel. This journey of a lifetime is one you won’t soon forget! Arrive in Denver this evening and continue to your hotel for your final night. (Breakfast,Lunch)

Day 9: DENVER

Your vacation ends this morning.