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Utah's Canyons of the Escalante

New Tour

7 days

Join this 7-day adventure through southern Utah, exploring the Canyons of the Escalante region. Uncover landscapes like Kodachrome Basin State Park, Grosvenor Arch, and Cottonwood Narrows, followed by hikes to Lower and Upper Calf Creek Falls. Visit the Escalante Natural Bridge, Escalante Canyon's arches, and Native American ruins, then explore Hole in the Rock Road with Zebra and Tunnel Slot Canyons and the Twenty Mile Wash Dinosaur Track Site. Discover Big Horn Canyon’s swirling sandstone and visit Covered Wagon Natural Bridge and Cedar Wash Arch, along with slot canyon hikes in Dry Fork Coyote Gulch, Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon, and Spooky Gulch.

For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes

Tour Overview

Duration

7 days

Starts

St. George

Ends

St. George

Range

Handpicked

Tour Guide

Yes - escorted by a tour guide

Group Size

Min 6 / Max 14

Minimum age

6 yrs, accompanied by an adult

Departs

April - October

Hotel Rating

3-star hotels

Countries

USA

Arrival Transfer

No - can be booked on request from Las Vegas

Departure Transfer

No

Meals included

Breakfast: 6, Lunch: 6, Dinner: 2

Physical Rating

Serious
Per Person From
R 67,875.00
Deposit From
Final payment
R 19,998.00
R 115,752.00

Tour Highlights

Canyons of the Escalante - Enjoy plenty of hiking opportunities amongst the incredible dramatic scenery created by the Escalante River
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument - Marvel at Grosvenor Arch, Cottonwood Narrows slot canyon and many other geological features
Calf Creek Falls - Complete a 10 km hike to Lower and Upper Calf Creek Falls, taking in pictographs, coloured rock formations and trout along the way
Escalante Canyon - Hike up to the Escalante Natural Bridge and Cliff House Arch, home to some native American ruins
Hole in the Rock Road - Explore this historic route, made famous by Mormon pioneers and home to all manner of canyons and formations
Bryce Canyon City - Enjoy a farewell group dinner and enjoy free time to explore the area

Included

6 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 2 dinners
6 nights 3 star hotels
Escorted by a knowledgeable local tour guide
Gratuities for included meals and activities
Complimentary drinking water
Entrance fees to attractions, national parks and activities listed in the itinerary
Comfortable transportation in a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van or similar
Note: This tour is operated in conjunction with our trusted partner and you will join travellers from different operators, not solely On The Go

Not Included

International flights & visas
Any meals or drinks not specified in the inclusions
Airport transfers
Items of a personal nature
Tips for your tour guide - an entirely personal gesture!
Please note: This tour involves a lot of walking and hiking, and a decent fitness level is required. Please speak to us before booking your tour if you have concerns or questions about your level of fitness.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in St. George

You can fly into either St. George or Las Vegas and make your way to our hotel in St. George. Once you've arrived, the rest of the day is yours to explore St. George at your own pace.

Please note: Airport transfers are not included, but if you are arriving at the airport in Las Vegas then we can arrange a transfer for you on request - please contact us for this.

Please also note: This tour involves extensive hiking on uneven terrain, covering an average of 5 to 8 kilometres at a time, but sometimes more. Elevation changes range from 50 to 1,000 feet, and both touring and overnight locations are situated at altitudes between 5,000 and 8,000 feet above sea level. Due to the physical demands of this itinerary, participants should be prepared for significant activity.

Overnight: St. George

Day 2 - Bryce Canyon & Kodachrome Basin Adventure

St. George - Kodachrome Basin State Park - Escalante. We depart St. George at 7:00, travelling for approximately three hours to reach the outskirts of Bryce Canyon National Park. On arrival, we’ll enjoy a scenic drive through Kodachrome Basin State Park, with a few shorter hikes to explore hoodoos and other fascinating geological formations. National Geographic named this area after the Kodak film they were using in 1949.

Afterwards, we’ll head east to Grosvenor Arch, a striking natural formation that originally symbolised the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Next, we’ll transfer to nearby Cottonwood Narrows, our first slot canyon. This secluded canyon offers stunning sandstone formations, giving you a taste of the week ahead.

Once we’ve finished exploring, we’ll transfer to Escalante and settle into our hotel for the next few days.

Overnight: Escalante
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3 - Calf Creek Falls

Escalante - Kiva Koffeehouse - Upper Calf Creek Falls - Escalante. Today we're setting off early at 7:00, hiking to Lower Calf Creek Falls, often regarded as the crowning jewel of the monument. This iconic hike takes us through nearly 5 km of lush canyon scenery, featuring vibrant canyon walls and a flowing stream. Along the way, we’ll spot ancient pictographs, some nearly human-sized, and keep an eye out for trout in the river, which may even appear on the menu tonight.

After completing the 10 km roundtrip hike, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch at the Kiva Koffeehouse, which overlooks Escalante Canyon. With the stunning views to fuel us, we’ll prepare for our afternoon hike to Upper Calf Creek Falls. To reach the trailhead, we’ll cross the renowned Hogback of Highway 12. This shorter, less-visited trail to the waterfall is just 1.2 km one-way, but it involves a 180-metre descent along solid Navajo Sandstone. Altogether, we’ll cover about 13 km of hiking today - p[lease speak to us before booking if you are concerned about your fitness.

Overnight: Escalante
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 - Escalante Canyon Hike & Natural Wonders

Escalante - Escalante Canyon - Escalante. After travelling to the Escalante Canyons region of the national monument, we’ll hike through Escalante Canyon to discover two remarkable geological formations. Our first stop will be Escalante Natural Bridge, which sits atop the cliffs bordering the Escalante River. A little further on, we’ll visit Cliff House Arch and the small Native American ruins located beneath it. Following a picnic lunch, we’ll continue our hike down the canyon to Phillips Arch. After completing the hikes, we’ll head back to Escalante for the evening.

Please Note: Today's hike involves water crossings, so wear suitable footwear. Contact us in advance for help with footwear that will be suitable. The total hike is around 16 km but can be shortened to suit the group.

Overnight: Escalante
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 - Hole in the Rock Road Exploration

Escalante - Dry Fork Coyote Gulch - Escalante. Today, we’ll explore the renowned Hole in the Rock Road, famously trailblazed by Mormon pioneers to settle parts of southeast Utah and Arizona. Our journey begins with a visit to Devil’s Garden, where we’ll see striking sandstone hoodoos and arches, before heading to the Zebra and Tunnel Slot Canyons, known for their unique and captivating rock formations.

Next, we’ll stop at the Twenty Mile Wash Dinosaur Track Site, home to a series of prehistoric footprints left behind by two different species during the Jurassic Period. Finally, we’ll hike through a series of slot canyons, including Dry Fork Coyote Gulch, Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon, and Spooky Gulch, renowned for their narrow passages and dramatic sandstone walls. We’ll return to Escalante in the evening, ready to relax after a day of discovery.

Please Note: The total hiking distance today is 5 to 8 km.

Overnight: Escalante
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6 - Big Horn Canyon & Bryce Canyon Stargazing

Escalante - Big Horn Canyon - Cedar Wash Arch - Bryce Canyon City. On our final day in the Escalante area, we’ll venture down the Hole in the Rock Road once more. Our first stop is Big Horn Canyon, a slot canyon with striking swirly, stripy, and colourful sandstone. While some sections may be blocked, they are easy to navigate around, unlike other slot canyons. We’ll hike 5 to 6 km through this incredible landscape before retracing our steps.

After lunch, we’ll visit Covered Wagon Natural Bridge, a series of impressive natural bridges, and then head to Cedar Wash Arch, nestled in a beautifully sculpted canyon.

Once our hikes are complete, we’ll make our way to Bryce Canyon City for the evening. After enjoying a group dinner in town, you’ll have the option to join us for stargazing and astrophotography on the Rim of Bryce Canyon at 21:00.

Overnight: Bryce Canyon City
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 - Exploring Willis Creek & Bull Valley Gorges

Bryce Canyon - St. George. This morning, we’ll explore Willis Creek Slot Canyon, a “user-friendly” slot canyon where we’ll encounter several waterfalls, providing a glimpse of how these canyons are shaped by natural forces. We’ll walk along Willis Creek, which is typically only a few inches deep and a foot or two wide, for about 3 to 4 km before returning to the trailhead.

Next, we’ll continue a few more miles to Bull Valley Gorge, a more dramatic and imposing site. Here, you’ll spot a 1950s car incorporated into the road bridge over the gorge.

After spending the day exploring these two fascinating slot canyons, we’ll begin our return journey to St. George, a 3-hour drive.

We’ll arrive in St. George by 17:00. Please schedule any flights or transportation after 19:00 in the case of any delays or consider spending an additional day or two enjoying St. George.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotels

The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
Best Western Plus Abbey Inn
St. George

This relaxed accommodation is a 1.3-mile drive from St. George Utah Temple and the Dixie Convention Centre, and 1.4 miles from the Brigham Young Winter Home and Office museum. The laid-back rooms offer free Wi-Fi, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, microwaves, minifridges, and coffeemakers. On-site amenities include a heated outdoor pool, a children's pool, a hot tub, a BBQ area, meeting rooms, and coin-operated laundry facilities.

Our Rating
Simple
Local Rating
3 Star Hotel
Canyon Country Lodge
Escalante

This relaxed hotel, offering views of Boulder Mountain and set amidst plains, is located 2 miles from Escalante Municipal Airport and 3 miles from Escalante Petrified Forest State Park. The warmly decorated rooms feature flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, microwaves, minifridges, and mountain views. On-site amenities include a heated indoor pool, an outdoor hot tub, a fitness centre, and a furnished patio.

Our Rating
Simple
Local Rating
3 Star Hotel
Best Western Plus Ruby's Inn
Bryce Canyon City

Situated off UT-63 N, this rustic, lodge-style hotel is 6.4 km from both the iconic stone formations in Bryce Canyon National Park and the Bryce Wildlife Adventure museum. The relaxed rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and desks, along with microwaves, mini fridges, and coffee makers. Amenities include a cowboy-themed buffet restaurant, a baseball court, and indoor and seasonal outdoor pools. There's also a convenience store, a 24/7 coin-operated laundry, and mountain bike rentals are available.

Our Rating
Standard
Local Rating
3 Star Hotel

Prices & Dates

Departure dates are guaranteed with 6 travellers. 'Twin / Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to all solo travellers, or if your booking party cannot reach the minimum of 2 persons in a room. Single Rooms can also be booked by any other person wanting the comfort and privacy of their own room.

2025
Twin/Double
Single
20 Apr - 26 Apr
R 67,875
R 74,665
4 May - 10 May
R 67,875
R 74,665
14 Sep - 20 Sep
R 67,875
R 74,665
28 Sep - 4 Oct
R 67,875
R 74,665
12 Oct - 18 Oct
R 67,875
R 74,665
26 Oct - 1 Nov
R 67,875
R 74,665

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