Escalante Lodge-Based Tour

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, Zion and Bryce usually get all the attention but this incredible landscape easily rivals them all…but without the crowds. Join us for the Escalante Lodge-Based Tour and discover hiking and exploring in this world-class outdoor destination. 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 a comfortable lodge, offering you the opportunity for hot showers and a good night’s rest in your own bed. The Escalante Lodge-Based 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: Lodge-Based Hiking Tour

Days: 4 or 5 Days

Distance: 25 to 35 miles

Difficulty: Intermediate

Origin: St. George, UT

Cost: 4-Days: $2150/person, 5-Days: $2450/person (plus Utah sales tax)

Single Supplement: $450/$600

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 lodge in the town of Escalante for some hot showers before heading out for dinner at one of the nearby restaurants.
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 lodge to rest 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 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

  • All lodging (double occupancy) for the duration of the trip.
  • A professional, licensed and medically trained guide
  • Use of day pack & trekking poles
  • All meals from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on the last day + trail snacks
  • Rountrip Transportation from your hotel in St. George, UT
  • Park entrance fees

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
  • 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

April: 8-12

May: 6-9, 15-19

September: 16-20, 23-27

October: 7-11, 21-25

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

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

Guest Testimonials

Guest Testimonials

“Our Bryce and Escalante lodge-based hiking was a great trip! Matt’s knowledge and experience allowed him to show us things we never would have found on our own. He tailored the itineraries to the groups interests and abilities so that everyone had an enjoyable trip. I recently went on a tour with a larger guide company, but I really missed the small group size and personal touch provided by Four Season Guides. I highly recommend this company and look forward to hiking with them again next year!” – Sharon J.


“This year was our second trip with FSG and it was absolutely perfect. Our guide Drew is a wealth of information and well studied on the geological and cultural aspects of the Americas, and in particular for our trip in the US Southwest. We did a lodge based tour this year and the entire operation was first class. The Inn was fantastic and a must for anyone in the area. The equipment and transportation/vans are all new or in perfect condition. The food on the trail was plentiful and varied. Drew put on some 5 Stars trail lunch spreads at spots with views only those with adventure in their blood can experience. The evening restaurants were far above our expectations, nearly resort gourmet! This annual trip with friends of 40 years is something that we all look forward to and Four Season’s has earned our respect and appreciation! From first contact to final departure, this is a job well done by Four Seasons!” – Andrew P.


“Our trip absolutely exceeded our expectations. I truly believe there was not a thing that I could suggest to improve the trip. Hiking activities: wonderful – the sights were amazing and appropriate. Owen did a great job of juggling some weather so that all were safe and able to experience sights that we may not have been able to if he wasn’t creative and flexible about the situation. Accommodations: stunning! We were amazed by how cute and comfortable the lodge was. This is truly a hidden gem of Escalante. It was definitely better than being in a hotel! Group: we had a group of diverse ages. There were a few struggles due to age/ability and also bodies adjusting to the elevation. There will always be some form of this in a group of strangers and so to me, it was expected. I am fully aware of this as a potential when signing up for a group experience. Hiking on different terrain, and in a different environment is not an easy task and I feel that the advice on training is very appropriate and should be taken seriously. Guide: I may have some bias because I have been with Owen before in the Grand Canyon, but he is an amazing guide. His experience, leadership, and knowledge of everything around us, is outstanding.

Overall, I came back for a reason. I appreciate everything that is put together for a wonderful experience. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the trip was worth every moment being able to spend time with my husband who would have difficulty with backpacking trips. Thank you so much again and I can’t wait to see y’all in the future!” – McKenzie T.

“We booked the Escalante lodge-based tour with Four Seasons with 2 other couples. It was a wonderful trip – perfect weather and a great itinerary covering Bryce and Escalante. The treks were mind-blowing in terms of scenery, and we were thrilled to avoid the crowds at Zion. Matt, our guide, was a wealth of knowledge and bent over backwards to accommodate the group throughout the trip. Lodgings were clean and quite comfortable — we all slept like babies. We will definitely be back for another excursion!” Patrick R.