Group Hiking Tour Through Canyonlands
Of all of the five national parks within the state of Utah, Canyonlands offers the grandest array of geologic and geographic phenomena that define Utah. Within the park’s vast expanse are two of the West’s great rivers — the Colorado and Green. These river valleys include gaping canyons, open desert and towering mesas covered with stands of pinion and juniper, natural arches, spires and towers, and miles and miles of colorful slick rock. Our tour takes you to Island in the Sky, a high mesa connected by only a small isthmus, for a top-down view of the Colorado River. We head to the Needles District for walks among the spires, slot canyons and secluded parks, including Chesler Park, and the Joint Trail.
Next Stop: Arches National Park
Our two day visit to Arches National Park visits many of the more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, along with other geological formations that fill the desert landscape and provide eye candy for our primitive walks. A float down the Colorado River in one of the most picturesque valleys of the canyon tops off our week.
It should be noted that our trails through the desert and over the sandstone include some scrambling moves, ladders, big steps over jumbled rocks, steep drop offs, narrow slots – and perhaps a boost from your hiking companions. The reward is expansive views of the jaw-dropping landscape.
