Compare Zion Bryce Grand Canyon Tour by Wildland Trekking vs USA Road Trip- The Best of Cali by G Adventures
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
0 | Poor
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 4 days | 9 days |
| Price From | $ 1,915 | $ 2,252 |
| Price Per Day | $ 479 | $ 250 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Camping |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners |
| Description |
Enjoy the best of Zion, Bryce and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on this 6-day inn-based hiking tour! Our daily hikes will take you to the must-see highlights of these remarkable national parks, where you'll experience the Colorado Plateau's spring-fed creeks, world-famous canyons, diversity of colors, and its array of sandstone sculptures - spires, arches, and towers. In the evenings you can relax in luxury at exceptional, rustic (but modern) lodges and enjoy restaurants chosen for their excellent food, charm, and local color. |
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 Zion: 1.5-hour drive from St. George
Hiking Mileage: 8 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Accommodations: Zion Mountain Ranch
On this Southwest hiking tour we begin our tour departing from St George, Utah and make our way to Zion National Park. Today's hike is a challenging, thrilling trek in Zion complete with dizzying drop offs and awe-inspiring views 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 amazingly breathtaking views.
Finally at the top of our hike, we look down into Zion Canyon at a spectacular landscape of stone sculptures, towering cliffs, riparian bottomlands, all contrasted by striking blue skies. You will very likely feel your hard work has never been this richly rewarded!
After our hike we’ll load up and head to our lodging for the evening, check in to our accommodations and enjoy dinner at our lodge's award-winning restaurant!
Day 2
Shuttle to trailhead: 1.5 hours
Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Accommodations: Zion Mountain Ranch
This morning we will wake up to a hearty breakfast, then head straight to our day hike. Starting at the Temple of Sinawava, we hike up the Riverside Walk Trail then continue hiking 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 the towering walls of Zion, crystal clear spring water, brilliant red sandstone and rocks polished by tens of thousands of years of flowing water.
After our hike we’ll return to our cabins at Zion Mountain Ranch and settle down for a delicious dinner, possible evening hike and peaceful night's rest.
Day 3
Shuttle to the trailhead: 1.5-hour drive
Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Accommodations: Bryce Canyon Lodge
Today we depart our Zion accommodations and transition to Bryce Canyon National Park. Our first hike is, intentionally, on a lesser-traveled trail in Bryce, but one that offers some of the most impressive scenery in the Park. We’ll enjoy superb vistas of Boat Mesa, the Shrinking Ship formation, Tower Bridge, China Wall, Fairyland Canyon and other remarkable rock formations.
After our hike we will enjoy a gourmet dinner at a hand-picked local restaurant, then make our way to our charming historic lodge accommodations.
Day 4
Shuttle trailhead: 1.5-hour drive
Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Accommodations: Grand Canyon Lodge
After a hearty breakfast, we will pack up our belongings and begin our drive back to Bryce National Park for another classic hike through its famous hoodoos and spectacular vistas. Our hike 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 famous amphitheater. We’ll enjoy lunch on the rim while gazing into the maze of Wall Street and the other-worldly splendor of Bryce.
After lunch we will begin our drive to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon where we will check into our accommodations (a short walk from the edge of the Canyon), clean up and head to dinner. Our dinner tonight is at Grand Canyon Lodge, which is perched literally on the edge of the North Rim, in a restaurant with towering picture windows looking out into the depths of the Grand Canyon. Some visitors travel for days just to sit in one of these rooms, gaze into the Canyon, and contemplate life.
Day 5
Hiking Mileage: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Accommodations: Grand Canyon Lodge
After meeting for a hot breakfast we will enjoy a short hike to Bright Angel Point, one of the most impressive views on the North Rim. We'll have a relaxing, light lunch, then hike down the famous North Kaibab Trail to Coconino Overlook, another one of the most impressive overlooks in the Canyon with potential to travel farther along the trail if the group is up for it. The North Rim gets less than 10% of the visitation of the South Rim and allows us to enjoy this world-famous national park with a surprising amount of solitude. The North Rim also sits at an altitude of 8,000 feet which makes for a beautifully cool climate in the pine and spruce forests of the higher elevations of Arizona and Utah.
Once our hike is complete, we’ll remain near the rim and enjoy an outdoor, sunset dinner prepared by your guide(s) at an awe-inspiring viewpoint. This sunset dinner, and indeed the entire day, is a guest favorite and an experience you’ll not likely forget anytime soon!
Day 6
Hiking Mileage: 7+ miles
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Shuttle to St. George: 3.5 hours
Today is a special day and in many ways the high point of our time at the Grand Canyon. We’ll enjoy another relaxing breakfast before heading out to a remote, lightly traveled trail. Our hike takes us along the rim through pine forests to a phenomenally breathtaking spot. Our destination is a peninsula of rock that sticks out over the edge of the Canyon allowing stunning views in all directions. What’s better is this spot is hardly known and we’ll like have the day mostly, or even completely, to ourselves. If the group is feeling ambitious we can continue on for another mile or two into the Canyon.
Following a picnic lunch in a spectacular setting we’ll load up and head back to St. George. As the Canyon Country we’ve been getting to know so well drifts by out the window, it’s time for reflection of the past week but also for dreaming of 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.
