Night 1-2
See Tripadvisor ReviewsBoulder Mountain Lodge in Boulder
This lodge has gorgeous views of red rock country and spacious rooms with touches of rustic decor. Be sure to visit Hell’s Backbone Grill on site.
Capitol Reef and Grand Staircase-Escalante Hiking
Prices
Highlights
Explore the unique red rock canyons of Utah on this guided hiking tour
Visit the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Capitol Reef National Park on this 6-day guided hiking tour of Utah’s red rock canyon area. You’ll love the interesting trails and unique geological formations that make Utah such a must-see hiking destination!
This tour begins in Escalante, where you’ll visit deep slot canyons, astounding natural bridges, and incredible overlooks. After a few days in dynamic Boulder, you’ll move to Capitol Reef for more hiking explorations of the area including Chimney Rock and Cohab Canyons. Each natural feature will shock you more than the last, Utah’s unique geological history creating a hiking terrain that is simply unforgettable!
Capitol Reef and Grand Staircase-Escalante Hiking Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Travel to Boulder and Hike the Freemont River Trail
Your tour begins with a shuttle ride to Boulder. Today you’ll hike two short trails, beginning with a trip to Lower Calf Creek Falls. Enjoy getting your legs warmed up in the beautiful Colorado countryside.
In the afternoon you’ll visit the Capitol Reef Visitors Center and hike the Fremont River Trail. After your fantastic first day, enjoy dinner and some time to relax before bed.
- Overnight Location
- Hotel in Boulder
- Distance
- 6.5 miles
- Meals
- Dinner
Day 2 Visit the Zebra and Tunnel Canyons
Today you’ll be exploring some of the geological formations that have made this area so famous, the incredible slot canyons. These narrow passages have sheer stone walls formed by water erosion that soar above you as you hike along the bottom.
The trails today will be through Zebra and Tunnel Canyons. Enjoy the smooth, undulating walls as you trace the canyon floor.
- Overnight Location
- Hotel in Boulder
- Distance
- 7.5 miles
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 Follow the Rim Overlook Trail
This morning you’ll continue your exploration of Escalante as you join the Rim Overlook Trail at Fremont River. You’ll walk to the gravity-defying natural stone archway dubbed Hickman’s Bridge. Enjoy exploring this red-tinted arching feature, which looks nearly identical to a manmade bridge.
After the natural bridge, you’ll continue your hike to Navajo Knobs. The views from the top of these rocky formations will take your breath away as you survey the valley from 2000 feet up. Tonight you’ll be driven from Boulder to your new home base in Torrey.
- Overnight Location
- Hotel in Torrey
- Distance
- 9 miles
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 Spring Canyon Exploration
Your hike in Chimney Rock Canyon will see you surrounded by impressive sandstone towers and sienna cliffs. You’ll be walking all the way to the Fremont River through Spring Canyon on today's journey. The towering stone walls on either side of you offer endless nooks and crannies to check out!
- Overnight Location
- Hotel in Torrey
- Distance
- 10 miles
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 Visit the Cohab Canyon Overlook
Follow today's trail as it climbs up the Cohab Canyon to the impressive overlook area. You’ll be able to see the bush-lined canyon cutting through sunbaked red rock, with jagged cliffs punctuating the terrain. Take in the expansive views of the canyons and valleys before you hike down through the narrows.
After you’ve passed through the Cohab Narrows you’ll hike to Cassidy Arch, a natural peephole to a stunning desert vista. Then, it’s onto the Grand Wash, a steep-walled red canyon, to finish the day’s explorations.
- Overnight Location
- Hotel in Torrey
- Distance
- 7 miles
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6 Final Hike in Capitol Reef
After breakfast and check out, you’ll head to the Capitol Reef Visitors Center. From here you’ll take your final hike along the Fremont River Trail.
The route climbs high above the river and offers gorgeous views of the park’s famous formations and the Fruita Orchards below, evidence of the Fruita pioneer colony, settled in the 1880s. After your hike, you’ll make the return drive to Grand Junction.
- Overnight Location
- None
- Distance
- 6 miles
- Meals
- Breakfast
Capitol Reef and Grand Staircase-Escalante Hiking Tour Price and Dates
This guided tour of Capitol Reed and Grand Staircase-Escalante is run as a fixed-departure tour where you’d be joining a group, however, custom private tours can be organized for those willing to travel with their group only (please contact us with your preferred date and the number of people in your group and we will create the itinerary just for you).
The prices below are per person:
| Start | Finish | Duration | Places Left | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023-10-16 Grand Junction, Colorado 6 days / 5+ Spaces Left | 2023-10-21 Grand Junction, Colorado | 6 | 5+ | $2,595USDBook Now | Book Now |
Accommodation on the Capitol Reef and Grand Staircase-Escalante Hiking Tour
This tour is based in 4-star hotels. The hotels offer comfortable rooms with great locations that are right outside the parks you’ll be exploring.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy, but you can pay a supplement of $570USD to have a private room in the hotels.
Night 3-5
See Tripadvisor ReviewsCapitol Reef Resort in Torrey
Enjoy these unique rooms with rustic charm and the outdoor pool and jacuzzi at this resort at the foot of the red rock cliffs of Capitol Reef.
Hotels on Standard Tour
What’s Included in the Capitol Reef and Grand Staircase-Escalante Hiking Tour?
Meals
5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 5 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 5 nights are included. Accommodations before and after the tour in Grand Junction are not included.
Transportation during the Tour
Transport for you and your luggage is included as outlined in the itinerary. Transport to and from Grand Junction at the beginning and end of the tour is included.
Also Included
- English-speaking guide
- Shuttle van
- Park entrance fees
- Trail maps and narratives
Not included
- Travel insurance
- Flights to and from Grand Junction
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Tourist taxes if applicable
- Visas if required
- Personal equipment
- Fees not mentioned as included
- Gratuities for guides, drivers, servers, or hotel staff if desired
Optional Extras
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Any additional nights before or after the tour
Frequenty Asked Questions about Capitol Reef and Grand Staircase-Escalante Hiking
How hard is the Capitol Reef and Grand Staircase-Escalante Hiking tour?
We rate this tour as a 4/5. The footing on some of the canyon trails can be uneven and may require some scrambling over rocks but is not overly difficult. Some trails feature more challenging gains in elevation. You will need to be comfortable hiking up to 10 miles per day for several days in a row to get the most out of this tour.
Do I need to tip my tour guides?
Tipping in the United States of America is customary, but much appreciated. It is recommended to tip 10-20% for exceptional service.
Do I need a visa to travel to the United States of America?
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
Are meals included on the Capitol Reef and Grand Staircase-Escalante Hiking tour?
5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 5 dinners are included.
Do I need insurance?
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover hiking. Get your Travel Insurance.
How do I get to Grand Junction to start this tour?
You can fly to the Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) in Colorado, where your shuttle will pick you up.
Is the Capitol Reef and Grand Staircase-Escalante Hiking tour guided?
Yes, you will have an English-speaking guide for the duration of the tour.
Where does the Capitol Reef and Grand Staircase-Escalante Hiking tour end?
This tour ends with a drop-off at the Grand Junction Regional Airport in Colorado.
Do I need special vaccines to travel to the United States of America?
Check with your family doctor.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
When is the best time to travel to the United States for this tour?
The group tour is available in October, which is a great time to hike in Utah. By the fall, the scorching summer daytime temperatures have tapered off and very little rainfall tends to be in the forecast.
Reviews
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Stephen L.
I’ve been using 10A route guides for a while, but had never booked a tour. My wife and I booked a self-guided hike in Greece and were so impressed with how we were able navigate the route without a guide with the detailed and easy to follow itinerary. We enjoy travelling independently, and 10A made that happen.
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Robert D.
I'm not a big fan of traveling because of my fear of flying, but my girlfriend convinced me to go on the Aurora Borealis Tour in the Yukon. I will never forget the mesmerizing northern lights. Such a romantic (and cold) getaway. I would highly recommend it.
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Tour Difficulty
We rate this tour as a 4/5. The footing on some of the canyon trails can be uneven and may require some scrambling over rocks but is not overly difficult. Some trails feature more challenging gains in elevation. You will need to be comfortable hiking up to 10 miles per day for several days in a row to get the most out of this tour.
Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.
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