ITINERARY

Explore spectacular hidden slot canyons, discover archaic Native American petroglyphs, view endangered and sensitive wildlife and experience a Jeep joyride past the Coral Pink Sand Dunes and across Utah’s Colorado Plateau.

Day 1

Arrival at your leisure with solo visits into the park. Sol’s Zion National Park backpacking trip kicks off with an evening gathering of fellow hikers and your Zion canyoneering guides. Our guides will review the itinerary, inspect gear, give safety instructions, and answer questions. Tonight, stay in a on of our favorite hotels next to the Virgin River in the bohemian town of Springdale, the gateway to Zion.

Day 2

Your Zion canyoneering adventure begins. We leave park boundaries far behind on a Jeep tour the longest continuous tunnel in the U.S., a 1930′s CCC project with giant galleries for viewing the park. After reaching the remote Parunuweap Wilderness Study Area, we’ll explore narrow slot canyons carved by wind and water that undulate like red waves of an ancient sea. Lodging is a private sandbar next to the Virgin River, Milky Way Galaxy included.

Day 3

Sol’s Zion hiking tour continues through steep canyon walls streaked with desert varnish and lush hanging gardens loom hundreds of feet overhead. The terrain is more challenging, as the trail lies submerged in the rivers’ growing, spring-fed waters. Explore the tiny waterfalls of pristine side canyon Poverty Wash. After 5 miles of wading through the river’s rocky path, we’ll make camp and fall asleep to the sound of rushing water, hooting Spotted Owls, and chorusing Canyon Tree Frogs.

Day 4

Zion canyoneering adventurers hike deeper into timeless sandstone walls and peer into the narrows of “Fat Man’s Misery.” Depending on recent weather conditions, travelers may navigate logjams, skirt a small waterfall, and dodge patches of quicksand. Hike the last 4 miles of river before making the steep, rocky ascent out of the canyon to our perch high on the canyon wall above. Tonight, sleep under one of the most spectacular views of the Milky Way galaxy in the western hemisphere.

Day 5

Sol’s Zion National Park backpacking trip grand finale is a strenuous 3-mile trek out of the canyon to desert buttes above. Those with fear of heights be warned – sections of this route are steep! Jeep escorts meet us with a fresh lunch and a tour of Coral Pink Sand Dunes and wildflowers. Keep your eyes peeled as you gaze miles out into open desert -you just might catch a glimpse of an elusive mountain lion or Bighorn sheep.

* Itineraries may change at any time depending on weather predictions and existing conditions. This Zion canyoneering trip explores a narrow slot canyon that was and continues to be shaped by the eroding forces of the Virgin River. We target times of year when rainfall is typically low; however the elements are out of our control. We will re-route and alter the itinerary as necessary to ensure your safety. Review the Registration and Cancellation Policy carefully before signing up for this trip.