$3490
/person
Hiking Tour
Hike the national parks and enjoy the wonderment and scenic views! If you're in for more than just walking and sight seeing this is the tour for you. 4-6 hours of hiking away from crowds.
Off-Roading & Hiking National Parks
Moab
- Photo Friendly
- 11 days
- 4-14 People
- Hiking
- All weather
- Campimg
- Self Drive Option
- Hotel
Off-Road, Hike and the National Parks
A staggering 46 percent the American West is public land. This area contains not only famous national parks but also vast stretches of wilderness encompassing regions of equal wonder and appeal. Most of these areas are accessible only by 4x4 vehicles, as the roads leading to them are not paved, but still easy to drive remote tracks maintained by local road crews. On this extraordinary adventure we use heavy-duty 4x4 trucks to access these areas for incredible hiking, off-roading, and exploration as your tour leader guides you down remote tracks to sights rarely seen by tourists. Follow us on this tour to see the famous national parks and experience the most amazing desert scenery far away from the crowds and noise if civilization. We will show you the Southwest from an insider’s perspective, driving and hiking to secret spots only known by those that have spent decades exploring. At night, for comfort, we stay in small desert towns sprinkled throughout the region, but truly the highlight of this trip is the 3 nights of camping in the most remarkable locations. Including: the Rim of the Grand Canyon; the twisted rocks of Vermillion Cliffs; a night with the Navajo Natives in magical Canyon de Chelly. If you are after solitude, adventure, and the thrill of off-roading through one of the world’s last remaining wild spaces, come with us. Disclaimer: Many dirt roads become impassable when wet. We travel in the normally “dry season." Be prepared for program changes should the dirt roads become wet. Please note: Due to COVID-19, Active Tours West USA offers flexible departure dates on all multi-day tours. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your specific travel wants, dates and needs.
Amazing Views
We design our tours to give you plenty of time to have photo opportunities.
Family Friendly
This tour is perfect for a family holiday and is an excellent opportunity to learn about the National Parks and make memories that your kids and you will remember forever.
Professional Guide
Active Travel West USA ‘s professional guides will ensure your safety and help you maximize your time on tour. At the same time, our guides take great pride in showcasing the amazing destinations throughout the American West.
Camping Included
This tour provides one or more nights at a campground. Campfire inclusive.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1. Arrival Las Vegas
Our hotel is centrally located in the city. Arrival and transfer on your own. We recommend a local shuttle. Golden Nugget 3-star or similar, 1 night.
Day 2. Snow Creek and Kanarra Creek
8 AM: Your guide will welcome you at the hotel. We
pick up our vehicles in Las Vegas and head out through
the Mohave Desert to the Colorado Plateau, spending
the afternoon hiking over petrified sand dunes, past
lava tubes, and over moqui marbles. Then there is a
chance to wade in the remote Narrows of Kanarra
Creek (water shoes and poles required). Ramada St.
George (3-star) or similar 3-star, 1 night.
Drive time: 200mi / 320 km or 3 hrs
Snow Creek: 2-3 hrs, ca. 3 mi / 5 km, elevation
difference: +/-200 m
Kanarra Creek: 1-2 hrs, ca. 1-3 mi /2- 5 km, elevation
difference: +/50 m – water shoes / wading shoes and
poles required
Day 3. Zion Canyon
One of the West’s most iconic hikes is Angel’s Landing
in Zion National Park, which is famous for its sheer,
dark red sandstone towers carved by the Virgin River.
Today we climb up Walter’s Wiggle to the Saddle,
where you may choose to continue on the Via Ferrata
and to the top of Angel’s Landing (this section is self
guided). Then, we will drive a remote desert track
through Zion’s wilderness to the small Mormon
settlement of Kanab. Days Inn or similar (3-star), 1
night.
Drive time: 100 mi / 160 km or 2 hrs
Angel’s Landing: 4-5 hrs, ca. 5 mi / 8 km, elevation
difference: +/-450 m
Day 4. Rainbow Rim along Grand Canyon North Rim
Desert roads lead us through changing vegetation from
the desert sagebrush up to beautiful ponderosas of the
high plateau along the Grand Canyon North Rim.
Maybe we spot the endemic Kaibab Squirrel, isolated
by the surrounding desert, or encounter deer, elk or
even bear. Suddenly the land opens up into the
immensity of Grand Canyon. A sparsely used trail is
today’s hike – the Rainbow Rim Trail. We are granted
ever changing sweeping views over the Grand Canyon
as we hike along its rim. Tonight, we camp near Timp
Point in utter solitude and silence with the most
amazing stargazing. We provide the equipment, the
food, and the water for this unforgettable night.
Wilderness camp, 1 night.
Drive time: 40-50 mi / 60-80 km or 2 hrs
Rainbow Rim Trail: 3-4 hrs, ca. 6 mi / 10 km, elevation
difference: +/-150 m
Day 5. The Buckskin Gulch and Vermillion Cliffs National Monument
We start our day with a beautiful sunrise over the
Grand Canyon. There is a chance to take a shower at a
local campground (approx. $5 pp). Back in the desert
we leave the pavement behind to find the longest slot
canyon in North America: The Buckskin Gulch. Here you
have the opportunity to hike the canyon (self-guided).
12 miles of 500 foot deep, dark Narrows beckon (the
Narrows requires proper footwear / poles due to mud).
On to our next highlight: Vermillion Cliffs National
Monument. This is a rarely visited park due to the lack
of infrastructure or roads. The park is famous for its
amazing rock formation, “The Wave”. While “The
Wave” is accessible by permit only, many areas are
open for visitation without permits. Follow your guide
along the 4×4 desert tracks for a second night of
camping in amazing wilderness. Expect amazing photography as we explore this trail-less rock splendor
in the soft evening light. Tonight is spent camping in
the wilds. 1 night.
Buckskin Canyon: up to 3-4 hours of hiking (self-guided
due to permit regulations)
White Pocket: 1-2 hours of cross-country explorations
Drive time: 100 mi / 160 km or 2-3 hrs
Day 6. The Back Road to Bryce Canyon National Park
Maybe you want to enjoy the soft morning light before
we break camp. Our adventure continues through the
immense space of the Grand Staircase-Escalante
National Monument. A remote desert road takes us
north towards Bryce Canyon. The afternoon is spent at
Bryce Canyon, one of the most beautiful national parks
of the Southwest. Enjoy an amazing hike through the
multi colored stone towers of Bryce. Bryce View Lodge
or similar (3-star), 1 night.
Drive time: 70 mi / 100 km – 2-3 hours
Queens Garden & Navajo Loop: 3 hrs, ca. 3 mi / 5 km,
elevation difference: +/-300 meters, Queens Garden & Peekaboo Loop: 5 hrs, ca. 8 mi / 12 km, elevation difference: +/-300 m Panorama Trail: 4 hrs, ca. 6 mi / 10 km, elevation
difference: +/-200 m
Slot Canyon: 1-2 hrs, ca. 1 mi / 2 km, elevation
difference: +/-100 m
Day 7. Slot Canyons of Grand Staircase
Sunrise is not to be missed and those wanting to get up
early should head out to Bryce Point. Our next
destination is Kodachrome State Park where we hike
far away from the crowds. Returning to the great
desert wilderness of Grand Staircase-Escalante
National Monument we head down the Hole in the
Rock Road, a historic track carved out by Mormon
settlers traveling by covered wagon. Here we can enjoy a great scramble through a fun, narrow, and twisted Slot Canyon. Our hotel is in the small town of Escalante in the midst of splendid desert country. Prospector Inn or similar 3-star, 1 night.Drive time: 100 mi/160 km – 2-3 hrs San Rafael Reef Slot Canyons Loop: 4-5 hrs, 7 mi /11
km, elevation difference: +/-300 m
Day 8. Slot Canyon Loop of San Rafael Reef
Today, another great adventure awaits – the remote
Burr Trail. A dirt track cuts through Capitol Reef to the
secluded Notom Bottom Road. We enjoy expansive views over the Henry Mountains and the monocline. North of here we explore and hike a rarely visited slot canyons in the San Rafael Reef. Our hotel is in the sleepy town of Green River. Super 8, (3-star) or similar,1 night.
Drive time: 200 mi / 320 km or 4-5 hrs
Day 9. Arches & Canyonlands National Park
A quick drive brings us to Arches National Park. Here
sandstone is layered above thick salt deposits. This
leads to instability in the rock, which in turn leads to
cracks and erosion. Arches National Park has the
world’s largest collection of rock arches with over 2000
currently recorded. We will explore Park Avenue, The
Windows, and then hike to the famous Delicate Arch,
truly an unforgettable sight. The afternoon finds us at
nearby Canyonlands National Park. A short scramble
leads to Mesa Arch, before we drive the amazing onelane desert track of the Shafer Trail into the canyon of
the Colorado River. We are rewarded with breathtaking
views. Our hotel is in the small farming town of Monticello. Inn of the Canyons (3-star) or similar, 1
night.
Drive time: 180 mi / 300 km or 4-5 hrs
Delicate Arch: 2 hrs, ca. 3 mi / 5 km, elevation
difference: +/-200 m
Mesa Arch: 30 minutes, ca. 1 mi / 1.5 km, elevation
difference: +/-30 m
Day 10. Natural Bridges & Monument Valley
We head south towards our next destination: Natural
Bridges National Monument. This canyon is home to 3
massive stone bridges. First, we will follow a steep slick
rock trail descending to Sipapu Bridge. Walking in the
canyon we soon reach massive Kachina Bridge covered
in rock art. A dirt track leads down the Moqui Dugway
to Monument Valley. You have a chance to take a jeep
tour (optional, starting at $75 pp) or drive the scenic
road yourself. Tonight we stay in the historic
Thunderbird Lodge at Chinle, an old trading post built
in 1896. Thunderbird Lodge
Day 11. Navajo Trek in Canyon de Chelly
We embark on a fantastic 2-day trek through Canyon
de Chelly. The canyon is holy to the Navajo, with
several families still living here today. In every alcove and on nearly every wall we find the ruins and rock art representing over 5000 years of inhabitance. To enter the canyon we descend an old stock trail into
the twisted Canyon del Muerto. Trekking along the
sandy wash we walk past Navajo farms and orchards
scattered amongst beautiful 800-year-old Anasazi ruins
and numerous rock art panels. There is no need to
carry more than you daypack, as the local Navajo crew
will bring our camping gear into the farm where we will
spend the night. There is a chance to climb the ancient
slick rock trails surrounding our camp tonight. Camp 1 night.
Drive time: 20 mi / 30 km or 30 minutes Twin Trail to Bare Trail: 5-6 hrs, ca. 6-7 mi, 12 km, elevation difference: -300m
Day 12. Trekking in Canyon de Chelly
After a hearty camp breakfast we continue our trek.
We soon reach the confluence with Canyon de Chelly
and head up canyon to the iconic White House Ruin.
Here we say goodbye to our local guides as our last
highlight awaits: the Grand Canyon.
Day 13. Into the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is one of the largest canyons in the
world, at 450km long, 1600 m deep, and 16 km wide.
The Colorado River has carved the canyon through
layers of red sandstone, some of them 2 billion years
old. The views from the south rim are spectacular. We have all day to spend at this amazing sight with a
choice of hikes, from easy to hard (hikes in Grand
Canyon National Park are self-guided due to permit
regulations).
Kaibab Ridge: 3-4 hrs, ca. 3 mi / 5 km, elevation
difference: +/-300 m
Plateau Point: 8-12 hrs, ca. 12 mi / 20 km, elevation
difference: +/-1150 m
Hike along the rim: up to 4 hrs, up to 8 mi / 13 km,
elevation difference: +/-50 m
Day 14. Las Vegas
The morning is at your leisure with the option to take a
helicopter flight and enjoy the Grand Canyon from the
air (optional starting at $225). In the afternoon we
head back to Las Vegas via Route 66 with a stop at
Seligman for some last-minute souvenir shopping. We
return our vehicles. Our hotel is near the strip, La
Quinta or similar (3-star), 1 night.
Drive time: 270mi / 430 km or 4-5 hrs
Details:
3rd/4th persons in group discount: $3085 each staying shared room
Single Supplement: $790 (single travelers wanting to share room never pay a single supplement)
Private Vehicle surcharge: $2400 / If you want to drive your private vehicle.
Zion – North Rim Grand Canyon – Bryce Canyon NP – Canyon de Chelly – Vermillion Cliffs – Arches NP – Canyonlands NP – Grand Staircase NP – Hidden Slots Canyon
Half board (breakfasts and picnic lunches)
Tour is operated in German, Spanish, French and Italian with request.
Tour Pricing
Student
Age 9-25 with valid ID
$2950/person
- Guided off-road adventure through the back roads of Utah and Arizona-self drive
- 4x4 trucks with a seating capacity of 5-6 passengers
- 4x4 truck rental such as Ford F-250 or Chevy 2500 included
- Full Insurance coverage, road-side assistance, gasoline included
- Emergency back up communications included
- National park pass included
- Guided walks/hikes as per program
- 2 day overnight expedition with Navajos in Canyon de Chelly
- Amazing photo opportunities
- Small group tours with a maximum of 15 participants
- Small group size allows tour director to address the particular desires of each group
- Expertly trained, dedicated, multi-lingual local tour directors
Adult
18+
$3549/person
- Guided off-road adventure through the back roads of Utah and Arizona-self drive
- 4x4 trucks with a seating capacity of 5-6 passengers
- 4x4 truck rental such as Ford F-250 or Chevy 2500 included
- Full Insurance coverage, road-side assistance, gasoline included
- Emergency back up communications included
- National park pass included
- Guided walks/hikes as per program
- 2 day overnight expedition with Navajos in Canyon de Chelly
- Amazing photo opportunities
- Small group tours with a maximum of 15 participants
- Small group size allows tour director to address the particular desires of each group
- Expertly trained, dedicated, multi-lingual local tour directors
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