Compare Zion Bryce Escalante Basecamp by Wildland Trekking vs USA Road Trip- The Best of Cali by G Adventures
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| Trip |
0 | Poor
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 6 days | 9 days |
| Price From | $ 1,630 | $ 2,252 |
| Price Per Day | $ 272 | $ 250 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Camping |
| Physical Level |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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N/A |
| Meals Included | N/A | 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners |
| Description |
See the best of Zion, Bryce and Escalante, Utah's most celebrated parklands, on our 6-day basecamp hiking tour! Our daily hikes will take you to the must-see highlights of these breathtaking parks. Experience Utah's spring-fed creeks, deep canyons, diversity of colors, and its array of sandstone sculptures - spires, arches, and towers. In the evenings you can relax, enjoy our fantastic outdoor cuisine, and have access to showers in beautiful, comfortable basecamps. Our first stop is at Zion National Park, where you'll experience two days of desert rivers, box canyons, ominous towers, and 8 layers of sandstone carved away by millions of years of intense weather. Then it's on to Bryce Canyon National Park, where we'll spend a day exploring its famous "hoodoos" (rock spires) and incredible diversity. And finally we end up in Escalante, where for 2 days we'll explore hidden canyons, oases, arches, and waterfalls in one of Utah's - and even America's - best kept secrets. |
California is the land of dreamers and schemers and we schemed up quite the adventure for you. Start in LA and travel north to San Francisco along Highway 1 on this short nine-day trip. Then, head inland to see mighty Yosemite National Park and all of the beautiful hikes and views that landscape has to offer before driving back to southern California for an included surf lesson. Sounds like a win in our book! |
Day 1:
Shuttle to trailhead: 1.5-hour drive from St. George, Utah
Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Campground: Watchman Campground in Zion
This Utah hiking tour starts in St. George, Utah where we make our way to Zion National Park. We'll drive directly to the first day's hike. Starting at the Temple of Sinawava, we'll hike up the Riverside Walk trail and then continue hiking right up the river to see some of the best "narrows" sections of the North Fork of the Virgin River. We'll come prepared to get wet, as the hike up the Narrows is entirely in the water. Your afternoon will be filled with towering walls, crystal clear spring water, brilliant red sandstone and rocks polished over tens of thousands of years.
After our hike we'll set up camp and settle down for a great dinner, a possible evening walk and a good night's sleep.
Please Note: in the event of high water, the Virgin River Narrows hike will be rerouted to a different trail in Zion. The Park is full of unforgettable hiking and scenery, so it's easy to find an excellent substitute.
Day 2:
Hiking Mileage: 8 miles
Difficulty: moderate to strenuous
Campground: Watchman Campground in Zion
Day 2 features a hike you'll never forget! We'll hike up a mountainside to one of the best viewpoints offered in Zion. This challenging, thrilling trek is complete with fantastic drop offs and awe-inspiring scenery looking down into Zion Canyon. Our route - on a maintained trail - switchbacks its way up through red Navajo sandstone before cutting into Echo Canyon, a picturesque gorge filled with sandstone pockets. Beyond Echo Canyon the walls drop sharply, allowing truly breathtaking views. Finally at the top, looking down into Zion Canyon at a spectacular scene of stone sculptures contrasted by blue skies, you'll likely feel that your hard work has never been rewarded this richly!
Day 3:
Shuttle to Bryce NP: 3-hour drive from Zion
Hiking Mileage: 5.5 miles
Difficulty: moderate to strenuous
Campground: Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
On Day 3 we'll break camp and make our way to the Escalante country, visiting Bryce Canyon National Park en route. We'll enjoy one of the lesser-hiked trails in Bryce, but one that offers some of the most impressive scenery in the Park. We'll be in the northern part of Bryce, where we'll enjoy superb vistas of Boat Mesa, the Sinking Ship formation, Tower Bridge, China Wall, Fairyland Canyon and other amazing rock structures.
After our hike we'll continue to our Escalante Camp for a tasty dinner and night of rest and recuperation.
Day 4:
Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Campground: Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
Our first hike in the Escalante country will take us to the spectacular Calf Creek Falls. This is a beautiful hike along a flat,
sandy canyon bottom. We’ll pass indian ruins and pictographs, and have a good chance of seeing some wildlife. At the end of the trail we can take a swim (if you’re hearty - this water is surprisingly cold) below the 128-foot falls. We'll eat lunch at the falls, and then have the opportunity to visit the town of Boulder, UT where we can make an optional visit to Anasazi State Park. This site was home to one of the largest Anasazi communities west of the Colorado River. Once done at Anasazi State Park, we’ll drive back to our basecamp and enjoy a delicious dinner.
Day 5:
Hiking Mileage: 7-10 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Campground: Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
This day takes through one of the most physically fun hikes in all of southern Utah. Driving down historic Hole-in-the-Rock Road, we’ll hike out to the exciting and fun Spooky and Peek-a-Boo Canyons. Spooky is aptly named as it’s a dark, narrow slot that requires lots of sideways walking with your daypack in your hand. Peek-a-Boo is also brilliant but quite different; it’s filled with interconnected potholes, arches, and grottos. Along our drive back, we'll take the opportunity to visit the incredible Devil's Garden. This is a great spot for young and old alike as it’s a fairyland of small knobs, arches, and other eroded landforms.
Day 6:
Hiking Mileage: 2.2 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Shuttle Time: 4.5 hours
On our last morning we’ll eat breakfast, breakdown camp, and head west toward the starting point of our trip, St. George, Utah. But the trip isn't over yet! We'll stop at Bryce Canyon National Park for a second time to enjoy another classic hike through its famous hoodoos and specacular vistas. Our hike, the Navajo Loop, takes us down from the rim, through the stunning corridors of Wall Street and past the Silent City, before bringing us back to the rim of the amphitheatre. We'll enjoy lunch on the rim, gazing into the maze of Wall Street and contemplating our incredible week. After lunch we’ll load up and head back to St. George, where we’ll say our goodbyes and start scheming about our next adventure!
Day 1 Los Angeles/Santa Margarita
Group will depart Los Angeles in the morning and drive to Santa Monica. Walk the iconic Santa Monica pier this morning or spend some time cruising the shoreline. Not in the mood for the beach? That's cool, maybe consider visiting the Santa Monica farmers market to stock up on all sorts of local goodies. Grab a quick bite to eat for lunch in Santa Monica and travel northwest to San Luis Obispo for a quick detour to see the chewing gum alley and to grab any last minute provisions before heading to our campsite for the night.
Day 2 Santa Margarita/Santa Cruz
Today is all about Highway 1. Devote the entire day to seeing the best of the best along this famous route. Stop to see Elephant Seals, walk through Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and make stops in Carmel and Monterey en route to the next destination. Later in the day set up camp in Santa Cruz.
Day 3 Santa Cruz/San Francisco
Head out from camp in the morning and continue up Highway 1 towards Half Moon Bay. Your CEO will take you on a brief orientation of the city. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Join your CEO for a driving tour through some of San Francisco's most iconic highlights then hit the town on your own or join a sunset sail under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Day 4 San Francisco/Yosemite National Park
Leave San Francisco behind this morning as you drive to Yosemite National Park. Along the way stop for some fresh produce at a farmer’s market in the central valley. Once in the park hike to Tuolumne Grove to see massive Giant Sequoias. Finish the day with a stop to see El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall en route to your camp for the night.
Day 5 Yosemite National Park
Enjoy free time to navigate the majestic Yosemite Valley at your own pace. Walk the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail or Swinging Bridge Loop Trail. Relax under the towering granite monoliths of Half Dome or El Capitan. Up for more of a challenge? Test your endurance on a more challenging hike like Upper Yosemite Falls or Four Mile. On the way back to camp, search for climbers on the sheer rock face of El Capitan.
Yosemite Village is a great starting point for launching into your adventure. Your CEO will help you get oriented to visit the Ansel Adams gallery, Ahwahnee Museum and the Yosemite Visitor Center. Here you can start a valley hike or catch a free shuttle around the park.
Day 6 Yosemite National Park
Today is all about getting active and exploring the landscapes of Yosemite. Head out on a hike to Vernal or Nevada Falls or opt to rent bikes and cruise around the valley. This park is a hiker’s paradise filled with different options for every skill level. From miles of trekking to short walks featuring amazing views, you won’t have a hard time finding a trail to set out on and enjoy. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife and make sure to take plenty of pictures. In the evening relax around the fire and swap stories with your group.
Day 7 Yosemite National Park/Hermosa Beach
Bid farewell to Yosemite this morning and get ready for some ocean waves and sand between your toes as the group heads south to Hermosa Beach. Travel through the rolling hills and vastness of the Central Valley and arrive at the Pacific coast just in time to walk the beach during golden hour and grab some delicious dinner by the sea.
After the forests of Yosemite the beaches of southern California will be a welcome change for some time to relax and recharge. So suit up, grab a towel, find a volleyball, and live out those California beach fantasies with your friends.
Day 8 Hermosa Beach
Live the California dream as you wake up to the distant sound of waves crashing against the sand. Then, suit up and get ready for your surf lesson where you'll learn a thing or two about what it takes to make riding those waves look so easy. Afterwards, enjoy free time on Hermosa Beach to lounge in the sun, walk out to the pier, or find a beachfront cafe with a table outside for some people watching. Or choose to rent bikes or surf boards and continue the adventure. Your only dilemma today should be deciding which burrito place you want to eat at.
Day 9 Hermosa Beach/Los Angeles
In the morning travel to Los Angeles. The adventure ends upon arrival.
