PAINTED CANYONS OF THE WEST

May 30 – June 7, 2021

Group #1023107

Day 1: Sunday, May 30, 2021: Trek across the Southwest as you take in the sienna-colored canyons, towering spires, and desert landscapes found in Utah’s five national parks.  Your journey begins in the mile-high city of Denver – an urban gateway to America’s natural beauty.

Day 2: Monday, May 31, 2021: The Rocky Mountains are your traveling companions on the drive to Grand Junction.  Lout out at the natural scenery as you pass by Glenwood Canyon, a product of the Colorado River, carved more than 3 million years ago.  Dine together at a family-owned vineyard and enjoy a wine tasting in the midst of Colorado wine country. (B, D) 

Day 3: Tuesday, June 1, 2021: Set out to explore the Colorado National Monument this morning along Rim Rock Drive. Make your way to Utah on the Upper Colorado Byway, known by the locals as “River Road.”  As the iconic Fisher Towers loom over breathtaking mesas, make your way to Red Cliffs Lodge, nestled along the banks of th4e Colorado River.  Relax tonight at a cowboy barbecue, where grilled steak is at the top of the menu.  (B, D) 

Day 4: Wednesday, June 2, 2021: Journey through the otherworldly oases of two national parks.  Hike* along sunset-colored arches as you make your way through Arches National Park.  Continue to Canyonlands National Park, resting in the heart of the Colorado Plateau, and discover a world of mesas, canyons, and arches.  Close by, at the Island of the Sky, look out over a landscape of ethereal valleys and dreamy horizons. Today’s park pilgrimage ends atop the sheer sandstone cliffs of Dead Horse Point State Park.  (B, L) 

Day 5: Thursday, June 3, 2021: Travel through the dramatic Utah desert on Scenic Byway 24.  Visit Capitol Reef National Park, named for the curved white walls that resemble the U.S. Capitol building.  On the Million Dollar Highway, take in views of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, where layers of warm reds and oranges melt into smooth sided peaks.  Spend the night in Bryce, your jumping-off point to Bryce Canyon National Park.  (B)

Day 6: Friday, June 4, 2021: Spend the day in Bryce Canyon National Park and see the famous hoodoos – vibrant rock formations likened to fairy chimneys.  Perhaps you’ll start your morning with a hike*, getting up-close and personal with the graceful geology.  Consider wandering along the Navajo Loop or Queens Garden trails for incomparable views of your surroundings.  As the day draws to a close, settle into Springdale, a small town perched just outside Zion National Park. (B)

Day 7: Saturday, June 5, 2021: There are few places on earth that match the beauty of the red and white sandstone cliffs of Zion.  Make the most of an entire day exploring this rock-ridden paradise.  On Zion’s open-air tram, wind along the Virgin River through the 2,400-foot deep, half-mile wide Zion Canyon.  Choose how you spend the afternoon because it’s your choice!  Hike* independently -OR- visit Zion’s Human History Museum.  Tonight, toast with our travel companions at a farewell dinner. (B, D)

Day 8: Sunday, June 6, 2021: Age-old nature is replaced with captivating energy, vibrant lights, and endless excitement in Las Vegas.  The day is yours – spend your time along the neon-lit strip however you please. (B)

Day 9: Monday, June 7, 2021: Say goodbye to Las Vegas and the painted canyons of America as you depart for home.