Capitol Reef & Grand Staircase-Escalante – Spring

The vast expanse of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is challenging and the inclusion of Capitol Reef National Park with its geographical proximity and geological affinity with the Grand Staircase, creates a hiking and photography experience of a lifetime.

The 1996 creation of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, has provided a partial cloak of protection over some of our nation’s most precious remaining wildlands in an area that has been a fierce battleground between developers and environmentalists.

Our hiking tour gathers in Grand Junction and heads west to the national park and monument.  We start Day 1 with a stop at the visitor center in Fruita to get oriented and stretch our legs with a short hike along the Fremont River Trail that rises above the river for an outstanding view of the Fruita orchards and several of the park’s prominent formations. If guests want more, we will hike up the Sulphur Creek river and explore.  Then we continue south to Boulder, the gateway to Grand Staircase-Escalante, where we will spend out first 2 nights.

Day 2 we’ll hike up Calf Creek for a classic hike in the desert that ends at a waterfall!

On Day 3, we are scheduled to explore two of the slots canyons for which the monument is so famous: Zebra and Tunnel.  This is a spectacular venture into the depths of desert canyons.  Please note: this hike is dependent on excellent conditions.  If weather and road conditions make this trek too dangerous, we have some wonderful alternative hikes that explore some nearby canyons.  After the hike, we will transfer to Torrey, UT, at the western entrance to Capitol Reef, for our stay at the beautiful Capitol Reef Resort.

On Day 4 we’ll hike to Cohab Canyon, climbing initially to a grand overlook of the area and then descending into the narrows of Cohab with its soaring sandstone walls. We’ll continue to Cassidy Arch and through the Grand Wash.

The Rim Overlook Trail is our focus for Day 5. We’ll hike from the Fremont River, initially to Hickman Natural Bridge and then well beyond to Navajo Knobs, some 2,000 feet above the valley floor. The views from the Knobs are incredible.

On our last Day 6, we’ll hike Chimney Rock Canyon to the Fremont River through Spring Canyon.  The canyon stretches for miles and we can hike as far as time allows.  Our tour concludes with a shuttle back to Grand Junction for your transport home.