The Grand Staircase or the Escalante Canyons National Monument is Utah's largest tract of unspoiled wilderness. Over the eons, the Escalante Canyons have been sculpted by wind and water into a exquisite maze of truly gigantic proportions. This is a landscape of slickrock punctured by deep, narrow canyons and bizarre rock formations.
When summer's heat in the slickrock country becomes oppressive, the lure of glacial lakes and lush meadows beckons both horse and rider. June through August rides explore the plateau tops and canyons where Capitol Reef National Park and the Grand Staircase or Escalante National Monument make their dramatic break towards the Colorado River.

A deluxe base camp will serve as your home for daily forays deeper into the wilderness. Exploring a new trail each day, you'll visit ancient petroglyphs, slot-canyons, rock arches, buttes and spires. This is an inspiring adventure which will acquaint you with both your horse and a mysterious new environment.

A deluxe basecamp will serve as your home for daily forays deeper into the wilderness. Exploring a new trail each day, you'll visit ancient petroglyphs, slot-canyons, rock arches, buttes and spires. Experience Circle Cliffs, Indian Gulch, The Stairs, Lamanite Natural Bridge, The Lampstand, The Moodys, Deer Point Overlook, The Purple Hills, Silver Falls Canyon, Little Death Hollow, Wolverine Petrified Forest, and more.

Camps
All trail rides utilize a base camp arrangement with daily forays to different points of interest. This allows us to spend less time packing and unpacking, and more time riding and seeing the country. Campsites are located in primitive, backcountry areas which we seldom use more than once or twice each season. Low- impact camping techniques are practiced. Tents provide our home away from home. Cook tent, dining tent and shower tent round out the facilities. Chairs are provided.

All trips feature deluxe provisions and complete outfitting. We strive to provide the highest level of comfort while practicing low impact, not primitive camping. Don't misunderstand us - we are not a white glove, tuck you into bed outfit. We do provide camp chairs, primitive shower, sleeping cot or 6' pad, tent, fresh food, iced drinks, etc., to make the trip more pleasant and restful. The rides explore many of the physiographic sections or landforms located in the Colorado Plateau west of the Colorado River and the Green River.
Trail conditions range from good to rugged, over rough and rocky terrain. Distance covered between camps usually range from 6 to 12 miles (3 to 6 hours in the saddle) although longer or shorter days do occur. We sometimes divide the group and approach camp from different trails, with one group going the rugged or longer route and the other taking the gentler way. Side rides from camp are customary on short days. Stops at scenic features and Indian rock art panels are common. Geology and history are emphasized. You may use your personal horse.

*All taxes and land-use fees--nearly 10%.
*All ground transportation from Torrey, UT & return.
*First night motel lodging in Torrey.
*Four nights at a deluxe base camp deep in the backcountry.
*All meals from lunch on day two through lunch on day six, including fresh produce, hot and iced drinks.
*Canvas tents for cooking, dining, showering and sleeping (single, double or family occupancy).
*Sleeping bag, cot and foam pad.
*Camp chairs, coolers and other camp amenities.
*Waterproof gear bags, water bottles, saddle bags and tack.
*Seasoned mountain horses.
*Guides/wranglers, cook, camp-jack and interpretative specialist.

Suitability:

While no previous riding experience is required, participants should be in good health and physical condition. And although the minimum age of eight years is required, the important point you should understand is that we do not want to put any participant in a situation which they are physically or emotionally unable to handle. An appreciation of the outdoors is the only prerequisite for joining a trip.
You'll ride at a pace that is comfortable for the group, sometimes splitting into two groups, one faster for the hearty rider, and one well-paced but leisurely for those who wish to take time relishing the beauty and wonder of the sights. All riders will then regroup and make a lunch stop together. Following the afternoon ride you will return to camp with plenty of time to clean up and relax before dinner.

Guests/Hikers
It should be noted that although these trips are designed to accommodate hikers as well as riders, if you plan to combine both activities, let us know so we may plan for appropriate personnel and horses before the last moment.
If you want to accompany someone on a trail ride but you are not a rider, or you simply want to spend time camping and relaxing in a wilderness setting, or you want to hike this spectacular landscape, then you're welcome to join a trail ride. Although the trips are designed for riders, it is not uncommon for participants to not ride one or more days. Daily guided hikes will venture forth as arranged. Non-riders may travel with the cook and campjack to and from the base camp, however we should know in advance.

Horses: Our remuda consists of ranch raised Quarter Horses with a few Thoroughbreds, Arabians and Mustangs. Most of the horses we've bred and raised ourselves.

Saddle Time: Usually about 6 hours; more or less time if desired or circumstances require. On camping trailrides you'll ride to and from basecamp on first and last day of riding, otherwise, ride or rest as you please. Trail conditions range from good to rugged, over rough and rocky terrain. Distances covered between camps usually range from 6 to 12 miles. We sometimes divide the group and approach camp from different trails. Stops at scenic features and Indian rock art panels are common.

About Your Guides:
Patricia Kearney or Gary George, lead each and every trip. Pat and Gary have been guiding backcountry travelers for over three decades. They are joined by a small group of seasoned guides who share a similar interest and enthusiasm for the canyonlands.

Day 1 Arrive scenic Torrey, Utah and check into your specified motel. Torrey is a town of a little over 200 population which is located at the junction of Highways 12 and 24 near the west entrance of Capitol Reef National Park. At 8:00pm meet in the common area of the lodge/inn/hotel for an orientation and final packing session with your trip leader and the trip's interpretative specialist.

Day 2 After breakfast, you'll travel a short distance down the road to our headquarters. Transfers will be provided as needed. We are located on Highway 24 in the middle of downtown Torrey. At the office and gift shop, we'll pack your gear in the camp 4X4, meet the remainder of the crew and your horse, then depart at 9:00am for our base camp.

Day 4 From the Gulch camp you'll explore the upper reaches of Indian Gulch where it emerges from Edmund's Hole under the Windmill or Impossible Peak. Or you will ride to Deer Point, the Capitol Reef Divide and the Waterpocket Fold Overlook before returning to relax around the evening fire.

Day 5 Departure day. After packing personal gear and breaking camp, riders return through the multi-hued Navajo sandstone domes littered with volcanic boulders to exchange your saddle for the 4x4 drive back to headquarters. You arrive Torrey in the late afternoon.

**Subject to changes

April 21-25 & April 28-May 2
San Rafael Swell & Hondoo Country
-- Wild Horses at Muddy River Gorge & Red Canyon

May 4-9
San Rafael Swell & Sid's Mountain Wilderness
-- Explore Slickrock Canyons populated with Bighorn Sheep

May 12-16
Capitol Reef National Park
-- Springtime in the slickrock country.

May 20-24
Escalante Canyons National Monument
-- Spring Wildflowers in Slickrock Canyons

May 29-June 2 & June 6-10
Capitol Reef National Park
-- Pleasant Creek Rockart or Cathedral Valley

June 14-18 & June 22-26
Escalante Canyons National Monument
-- Headwaters of Escalante River with Monument & Arizona views

July 2-6
Capitol Reef National Park
-- Along America's "Great Western Trail"

July 11-15 & July 21-25 & Aug. 1-5
High Plateaus of Boulder, Henry or 1000Lakes Mtns.
-- Alpine Lakes, Wildlife & Views of the Canyonlands, Northern Arizona & 4 Corners

Aug. 10-14
High Plateaus - Escalante National Monument
-- Headwaters of Escalante High altitude Arizona views

Aug. 19-23
High Plateaus - Capitol Reef
-- Explore the breaks of Waterpocket Fold at altitude

Aug 27-Aug 31 & Sept. 3-7
San Rafael Swell Wilderness
-- Rockart & Bighorn Sheep in the Slickrock

Sept. 11-15
Capitol Reef National Park
Experience the breaks above Capitol Reef

Sept. 19-23
Escalante Canyons National Monument
-- Fall Foliage & Redrock Canyons in the Escalante drainage

Sept. 26-Sept. 30 & Oct. 3-7
High Plateaus of 1000 Lakes or Boulder Mtns.
-- Fall Foliage and Vistas over 100 miles

Oct. 12-16 & Oct. 21-25
San Rafael Swell Wilderness
-- Wild Horses & FALL FOLIAGE in Redrock Country

May 29-June 2
Capitol Reef National Park
-- Petroglyphs and Pictographs on Pleasant Creek Gorge

Aug 27-Aug 31
San Rafael Swell Wilderness
-- Petroglyphs and Pictographs in Bighorn Sheep country

April 21-25 & April 28-May 2 & May 4-8
San Rafael Swell Wilderness
-- Wild Horses or Bighorn Sheep at Muddy River Gorge or Sid's Mountain Wilderness

June 22-26
High Plateaus of Wasatch or Boulder
-- Wildflowers with Elk & Birds-of-prey

July 21-25
High Plateaus/Henry Mountains
-- Buffalo with Views of Canyonlands & 4-Corners area

Sept. 3-7
San Rafael Swell Wilderness
-- Bighorn Sheep in Slickrock & Slot Canyons

Oct. 12-16 & Oct. 21-25
San Rafael Swell Wilderness
-- Wild Horses & FALL FOLIAGE in a Maze of Redrock Canyons

Other Info
Meeting: Torrey at 8 PM in the common area of your lodge.
Airport: Moab, Utah or Las Vegas
Transfer: Moab, Utah - Flight

Utah's portion of the Colorado Plateau region is a semi-arid tableland or steppe ranging in elevation between 3,800 ft. and 11,500 ft. with vegetation classified as upper-Sonoran to Alpine. This landscape is famous for it's dynamic elevation changes with hundreds, even thousands, of feet change literally in one step.
The key word in this description, as far as weather is concerned, is semi-arid. It is generally dry with most precipitation falling as snow in the winter and occasional thunder storms during the summer. Higher elevations are cooler and receive more moisture than lower environs. Hondoo's trips explore the lower, slickrock and pinyon-juniper forested areas on spring and fall trailrides. In the heat of the summer, ponderosa-pine or aspen-spruce forests form the backdrop for experiencing the canyonlands. Trip temperatures rarely exceed 90 degrees daytime or 40 degrees at night. With warm days and cool nights, it is best to layer your clothing to maintain comfort and you should always pack rain gear just in case.

GENERAL CLIMATIC FEATURES:
Essentially, Utah's climate is determined by its distance from the equator; its elevation above sea level; the location of the State with respect to the average storm paths over the Intermountain Region; and its distance from the principal moisture sources of the area, namely, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Also, the mountain ranges over the western United States, particularly the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges and the Rocky Mountains, have a marked influence on the climate of the State. Pacific storms, before reaching Utah, must first cross the Sierras or Cascades. As the moist air is forced to rise over these high mountains, a large portion of the original moisture falls as precipitation. Thus, the prevailing westerly air currents reaching Utah are comparatively dry, resulting in light precipitation over most of the State.

TEMPERATURE:
There are definite variations in temperature with altitude and with latitude. Naturally, the mountains and the elevated valleys have the cooler climates, with the lower areas of the State having the higher temperatures. There is about a 3° F decrease in mean annual temperature for each 1,000-foot increase in altitude, and approximately 1.5 to 2° F decrease in average yearly temperature for each one degree increase in latitude. Thus, weather stations in the southern counties generally have average annual temperatures 6 to 8 degrees higher than those at similar altitudes over the northern counties.

PRECIPITATION:
Precipitation varies greatly, from an average of less than five inches annually over the Great Salt Lake Desert (west of Great Salt Lake), to more than 40 inches in some parts of the Wasatch Mountains. The average annual precipitation in the leading agricultural areas is between 10 to 15 inches, necessitating irrigation for the economic production of most crops. However, the mountains, where winter snows form the chief reservoirs of moisture, are conveniently adjacent to practically all farming areas, and there is usually sufficient water for most land under irrigation. The areas of the State below an elevation of 4,000 feet, all in the southern part, generally receive less than 10 inches of moisture annually.

Escalante Canyons Ride

Rates include:

Packages and Options

Transfer and Other Options:

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