Bryce & Escalante Hiking Adventure

Trip Description

A hiking tour of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream featuring endless sandstone canyons, waterfalls, natural arches, hanging gardens and ancient Native American ruins. And it might just be the best kept secret in the American Southwest. The big parks like Grand Canyon and Zion usually get all the attention but this incredible landscape easily rivals them all…but without the crowds. And we throw in a full day in Bryce Canyon to round out this incredible hiking vacation. Our experienced Utah hiking guides will lead you on a variety of unforgettable day hikes to many off-the-beaten-path locations. Slip through exciting slot canyons, cool off in crystal-clear creeks and waterfalls and stand beneath towering sandstone arches. Each night will be spent at your lakeside campsite where you will be treated to delicious meals prepared by your guide while relaxing by the fire and gazing upon the unbelievable night sky. The Bryce & Escalante Basecamp Tour is a favorite of our guides and will undoubtedly leave you with memories to last a lifetime.

Call or email us with any questions.
877-272-5032
or
[email protected]

Overview

Trip Details

Type: Hiking & Basecamp

Days: 5 Days

Distance: 25 to 35 mi/ 40 to 56 km

Difficulty: Intermediate

Origin: St. George, UT

Cost: $1875/person (plus Utah sales tax, 6.5%)

Itinerary

Trip Itinerary

Day 1:

Meet your guide at the Best Western Abbey Inn for a brief orientation at 6am. Depart St. George for the 2 hour drive to Bryce Canyon National Park. Today we explore along and beneath the rim of Bryce Canyon. We embark on a great hike that offers all that Bryce is famous for: unique rock towers (hoodoos), natural arches and windows and spectacular views. And it’s also less crowded than some of the other trails in the park. You’ll enjoy the fascinating features like the Chinese Wall, Boat Mesa and Tower Bridge. There are many ups and downs along the way making this a moderately strenuous hike but the rewards are plentiful! After our hike, we will head to our beautiful campsite near the town of Escalante.
Drive Time: 2 hours to Bryce, 1 hour to Escalante
Distance & Elevation: 8 miles, 2300 feet of elevation change
Lunch, Dinner

Day 2:

Today we are off for a full day of exploring the secrets of the Escalante River Canyon. This beautiful redrock canyon holds endless hidden treasures. This lush oasis provides a stark contrast to the surrounding desert wilderness. Highlights include Maverick Natural Bridge, Escalante Natural Bridge and ancient rock art. Be sure to bring your water sandals for the numerous stream crossings. After a full day of exploring, we’ll head back to our comfy campsite to settle in and clean up before dinner.
Drive Time: 45 minutes
Distance & Elevation: ~8 miles, minimal elevation change
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3:

Today is all about waterfalls! Calf Creek is a gorgeous canyon with lush vegetation, cool, clear water and the idyllic Lower Calf Creek Falls. Enjoy a dip in the creek while your guide prepares a hearty lunch beneath the shady cottonwoods. If time allows in the afternoon, there is an opportunity to visit Upper Calf Creek Falls, an equally breathtaking oasis.
Drive Time: less than 1 hour
Distance & Elevation: 6-8 miles, minimal elevation change
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4:

Slot Canyons!!! Perhaps you’ve seen them in pictures but to walk through these spectacular, narrow canyons is an experience you won’t soon forget. Beautifully carved by endless centuries of rushing water, these sandstone canyons are a photographers dream. You’ve got to see it to believe it! A visit to Devil’s Garden with its unique rock formations will round out another fabulous day in Canyon Country.
Drive Time: 1.5 hours
Distance & Elevation: 6 to 8 miles, minimal elevation
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5:

On our final day, we will pack up camp and head back towards St. George. We will travel into a hidden garden of slickrock and hoodoos, outstanding natural features creating a maze of sandstone formations awaiting your contemplation. Stunning views and quiet trails are the flavor of the day in this seldom-visited jewel of Canyon Country. Your guide will choose one of many great hikes to suit the desires of the group. After lunch, we will finish up the drive back to St. George for farewells.
Drive Time: 4 hours
Distance & Elevation: 3 to 5 miles, 500 foot ascent/descent
Breakfast, Lunch

4-Day Option:

For those looking for a shorter trip, our 4-day itinerary skips the hike in Bryce Canyon on Day 1 and instead heads straight to Escalante.

*Final itineraries are occasionally subject to change due to permit/campsite availability, park restrictions/closures, weather conditions and/or road closures.

Details

What's Included

  • A professional, licensed and medically trained guide
  • All necessary gear: backpack, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, trekking poles
  • All cooking/eating gear: bowls, cups, utensils (your guide will prepare all meals)
  • All meals from a light breakfast on Day 1 through lunch on the last day + trail snacks
  • Rountrip Transportation from your hotel in St. George, UT
  • Entrance fees, camping fees and backcountry permits

What's Not Included:

  • Transportation to/from St. George, UT
  • Lodging the night before/after the trip
  • Clothing, raingear, and footwear
  • Personal toiletries, sunscreen
  • Water bottles/hydration bladder
  • Headlamp or flashlight
  • Guide gratuity (suggested 10-20% of trip cost)

*Upon booking you will receive a detailed trip information packet

How many people are in the group?

Most trips in Utah will accommodate 6 people plus one guide. On occasion, a group may be as large as 9 people plus 2 guides.

Are there age restrictions?

Children under the age of 12 are generally not permitted on regularly scheduled trips. This restriction may be negotiable on private tours. Please contact us with any questions regarding this policy.

How do I sign up?

In order to confirm a reservation, we require an initial non-refundable deposit of $250 per person, with the final balance due 90 days prior to the trip’s departure. If you book a trip within 90 days of the trip’s scheduled departure, then full payment is due at the time of booking.

Your deposit is payable over the phone by Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, or Discover. You can also pay by personal check or PayPal (PayPal incurs a 1.5% surcharge). Call our office Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm Arizona time. 1-877-272-5032

Travel Logistics

Where does the trip begin/end?

This trip will begin/end in St. George, UT and you will need to spend the night prior to your trip’s scheduled departure in St. George. You will want to fly into either Las Vegas (2 hour drive) or St. George.

Where do meet our guides?

We will meet for at 6:00am the morning of your trip’s departure at the Best Western Abbey Inn in St. George. It is best to plan on staying at this hotel the evening prior to your trip’s departure.

What do we do with our car and extra stuff?

We will provide all transportation to/from trailheads for the duration of the trip. We will pick you up at your hotel in St. George and return you there at the trip’s conclusion. Guests staying at the Best Western Abbey Inn (recommended) can leave their cars at the hotel. The hotel will often store your luggage for you, as well, but please confirm this option in advance. If you are staying at a different hotel, you will need to check with them as to whether you can leave your car/luggage there.

What time will we get back on the last day?

Expect to be back in St. George by 5pm at the latest on the last day of the trip. Many trips will return earlier but we cannot make any guarantees. In general, it is recommended that you do not plan to fly home on the same day your trip finishes. Since each trip has slightly different logistics, feel free to contact us with specific questions related to the expected return time for your trip.

Trip Dates

2024 Dates

May: 1-5, 13-17, 27-31

September: 11-15, 18-22

October: 2-6, 9-13

Don’t see your dates? Custom dates may be available!

Call 1-877-272-5032 or email us for details.

Guest Testimonials

Guest Testimonials

“This was our second time using Four Season Guides and would use them again and again. We hiked Bryce and Escalante with camping. From start to finish our guide Karne was amazing. Hikes were perfectly planned and all camp meals were amazing. Can’t say enough good things about this company.” – Jessica C.

“Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Escalante Staircase areas are beautiful, especially in October. Great hikes, comfortable campground, and friends = great trip.” – Janellen H.

“We joined Four Season Guides for a wonderful 5-day Utah basecamp hike in Bryce Canyon and Escalante in June 2022. This adventure was safely and expertly led by the dream team of Matt and Owen – from their in-depth knowledge of the area (geology, vegetation, Native American history and presence, and so much more) to the preparation of excellent meals each day, including coffee first thing in the morning.Leading up to the trip, FSG office staff answered our questions in a thorough and timely manner, which was very much appreciated.

“Escalante is incredible! Matt and Owen took us to very special places that they know from their experience and time in this region. If you’re looking to say yes to a guided adventure that is both challenging and rewarding – look no further – go with Four Season Guides. We look forward to the next time – hopefully next year! – that we can go into the wild with Four Season Guides. Many thanks for such an incredible experience. ” – Emily P.

“We had an amazing and awesome time during the trip this week – all we can say is WOW!!!! The landscapes on the different daytrips were breathtaking and it was so much fun to squeeze ourselves through slot canyons, wade through the river with our water sandals, hike Bryce canyon, see the Escalante waterfall, and explore a bunch of other places. Matt was a great guide and took excellent care of us. And we loved the food, too!” – Silke W.