Day 1. Hiking in Arches National Park
Our group assembles at the Moab Valley Inn in Moab, Utah at 8:30 a.m.  Following introductions, we set off for Arches National Park, a fantasyland of balanced rocks, natural arches, and surrealistic sculptures carved through the ages by wind and water.  The park contains the world's largest concentration of sandstone arches, numbering more than 2,000.    We begin our day with an audio/video orientation at the Visitor’s Center followed by a hike across open slickrock to Delicate Arch, considered by many to be the most picturesque arch in the park and the one depicted on the Utah license plate.    After a relaxing lunch among the sandstone fins and buttes of Devil’s Garden, we explore mysterious Fiery Furnace, a labyrinth of sandstone fins and spires, named for its brilliant deep red reflective rock.  The path winds through slickrock grottoes and narrow crevices hundreds of feet deep as needle-like pinnacles frame an incredibly blue sky.  Endless in its color palette, form and texture, the Fiery Furnace is a photographer's dream.    Our home away from home for the first three evenings of the trip will be the Gonzo Inn. Offering Moab’s most luxurious lodging a couple of blocks from the heart of downtown, enjoy deluxe rooms and an outdoor swimming  pool and spa.  Tonight we dine at one of Moab’s many fine restaurants.
• Delicate Arch hike [3 miles, 500' of elevation gain / loss] 
• Fiery Furnace hike [2 miles, 250' of elevation gain/loss]

Day 2. Hiking in Chesler Park, Canyonlands National Park
After a light breakfast we head to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park.  We stop to stretch our legs en route at Newspaper Rock State Park to view a renowned panel of rock art that spans several different ancient cultures, with some writings dating back more than a thousand years.  Lacing up our hiking boots, we stride through the beautiful and colorful sandstone features of Elephant Canyon.  The canyon opens onto the grassy meadow of Chesler Park, a pastoral amphitheater enclosed by walls of colorfully banded sandstone "needles" and spires.   With time permitting, the more adventurous can give it a go on the Joint Trail, a hiking experience that can be found in few other places in the country.  The trail follows a long stretch of connecting "joints" and deep, narrow crevices in a massive rock expanse.  Some of the passages are no more than two to three feet wide.
• Chesler Park hike [9 miles round trip; numerous ups and downs totaling about 1500’]  
• Moderately strenuous option [up to 11.3 miles round trip, same as above plus the addition of the  Joint Trail]  

Day 3. Hiking in Cohab Canyon to Cassidy Arch in Capitol Reef National Park
We shuttle this morning through the beautiful desert landscape of the San Rafael Swell and the Fremont River valley on our way to Capitol Reef National Park. Preserving a jumble of colorful cliffs, massive domes, soaring spires, stark monoliths, twisting canyons and graceful arches, the park is spectacular.  The cliffs of the Waterpocket Fold--a giant, sinuous wrinkle in the Earth’s crust--stretch for over 100 miles and slice through the park’s epicenter. While lunch is being prepared, explore Fruita, the historic Mormon settlement dating from the 19th century.  You can visit the restored one-room schoolhouse, examine the petroglyphs of the Fremont Indians or stroll through the orchards of apple, peach, cherry, pear and apricot trees.    After lunch, we’ll climb into Cohab Canyon and traverse the Frying Pan Trail.  Our destination is the incredible Cassidy Arch where Butch Cassidy and his gang are said to have hidden.  We’ll conclude our hike at the head of Grand Wash, one of the few pathways through the Waterpocket Fold.    Our home away from home for the next two evenings is the Lodge at Red River Ranch, located in the Fremont River valley beneath towering red sandstone cliffs.
• Cohab Canyon to Frying Pan Trail, with a side trip to Cassidy Arch, and down to Grand Wash [6 miles, 1200 feet of elevation gain, 1200 feet of elevation loss with some moderate to strenuous sections] 

Day 4.  Hiking in Sulphur Creek or Spring Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park
We venture back into Capitol Reef National Park to explore at the guide’s option either Sulphur Creek or Spring Canyon, the longest and deepest canyon in the park.    Sulphur Creek is an entertaining river hike through a marvelous slot canyon.  Everyone will enjoy splashing down the river and admiring the breathtaking landscape.  Sulphur Creek drains the high slopes of Thousand Lake Mountain, which provides for the perennial stream and the three enchanting waterfalls we encounter.  You may want to wear sandals as your feet will get wet on this delightful romp in a narrow canyon.  We hike in ankle deep water with the occasional knee deep plunge pool.  We have ample time this afternoon to relax and enjoy the spectacular setting of our ranch accommodations.  Or, if we choose the much longer Spring Canyon, after some steep but short switchbacks, we’ll walk through a dry wash beneath 700 foot-high walls of red Navajo sandstone painted with desert varnish.  We’re likely to see more turkey vultures and ravens than human beings on this unmarked, unmaintained trail of exploration.  We’ll experience some wonderful narrows, a short slot canyon leading to a dry waterfall, scattered pieces of petrified wood and many majestic and twisted cottonwood trees.  The hike concludes at the Fremont River, where we’ll either wade through the knee-deep waters or cross on a fallen cottonwood.    We’ll have time late this afternoon to relax and enjoy the spectacular setting of our ranch accomodations.
• Sulphur Creek hike [5.5 miles, 500 feet of very gradual elevation loss, walking at times in the river and climbing down the side of three waterfalls as we wind through a narrow slot canyon]
• Spring Canyon from Chimney Rock to the Fremont River [9 miles, with a steep climb up switchbacks for the first ¾ mile, then all gently downhill to the river] 

Day 5.  Hiking in Phipps Wash in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
We shuttle this morning over the Boulder Mountains and crest above 9,000 feet among the aspen forests.  Today’s destination, Grand Staircase-Escalante, America’s newest and second largest national monument, is an area of plateaus, sandstone canyons, unique rock formations and precipitous cliffs.  Exploring the geologic marvels of Grand-Staircase Escalante will put you in touch with some of the purest wilderness solitude still to be found in the lower 48 states. Today, we hike down into Phipps Wash with an option to explore massive Phipps Arch, located high atop the canyon wall.  We conclude our hike with a stroll up the Escalante River that will involve a few shallow river crossings.  So roll up your pant legs and prepare to enjoy the cool waters of the Escalante. 
• Phipps Wash [approximately 6 miles], with an option up to Phipps Arch [additional ½ mile, with some exposed rock to navigate]

Day 6.  Hiking to Lower Calf Creek Falls in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Scenic Flight to Moab
For our final day in this canyon country paradise, we re-enter the awesome and mysterious Escalante Canyons, as we hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls.  We follow the clear waters of Calf Creek into a box canyon where one of the highest waterfalls in Utah cascades down the canyon wall.  The myriad of colors—from the white water of the falls to the intensity of the blue sky to the rust-colored mineral stains in the canyon wall—will take your breath away.  We’ll also see pictographs painted centuries ago as we hike to and from the falls.  We conclude our hike with lunch beneath a grove of scrub oak trees alongside Calf Creek.  Our canyon country adventure concludes at approximately 4.30 p.m. following a scenic flight back to Moab.  We’ll experience a unique perspective as we fly at 9,000 feet over much of the landscape that we have seen during the course of the week by foot and by shuttle.
• Lower Calf Creek Falls hike [5.5 miles roundtrip distance with minimal elevation change]