Grand Canyon-Bryce-Zion Hiker
Arizona
USA
Hike the Southwest's Premier National Parks
Showcasing the mystical and stunning landscape of Bryce, Zion and the Grand Canyon. Delve into a world of awesome natural amphitheaters, soaring rock sculptures, and tinted canyons full of juniper, aspen and pine. Discover the beautiful work of centuries of wind, water, and ice. We're sure this magnificently diverse display of natural grandeur will create an impression to last a lifetime.

Explore three of America's most incredible national parks: Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion. Well versed in the region's rich natural history and lore, your guides will lead you on a journey through this intricately carved and sculpted wilderness of color and grandeur. Following quiet footpaths we will enter the vast depths of the Grand Canyon, the richly tinted amphitheater of Bryce, and Zion's vertical world of sandstone cliffs and temples. Each day we’ll uncover a unique aspect of America's canyon country, and at night relax in the comforts of a fine inn.
This trip is one of our best getaways for accommodating varying ability levels. It is ideal for the beginning hiker, but also offers options for those who want longer or more challenging adventures.
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Meeting:
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St George - America’s Best Value Inn
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Airport:
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Las Vegas, St George
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Transfer:
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St George
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Riders:
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Min
4 riders
Max
16 riders
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Trip Rating
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Rates and Dates for 2010
Rates include:
All meals (lunch Day 1-lunch Day 6), all accommodations (double occupancy), T-shirt, water bottle, support vehicle, national park fees, and professional guides.
| A | 2010 | 6 day trip | 6d / 5n | $2298 |
Transfer Option:
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2010
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Transfers are included from hotel in St George, UT
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Gateway City Transfer: The St. George Shuttle Service www.stgshuttle.com offers public transportation between Las Vegas airport and St. George. The cost for this service is $30/person each way or $55 round trip plus $5 each way for a specific drop off point. The shuttle drops off at the America’s Best Value Inn (formerly Shuttle Lodge Inn), our meeting point in St. George.
Meeting Time & Place: 8:00 a.m. at the America’s Best Value Inn (formerly Shuttle Lodge Inn). Please plan to arrive at the inn at the designated meeting time, and not earlier, for the convenience of the innkeeper. We recommend you have breakfast prior to our meeting, and that you arrive in comfortable hiking apparel, as we will hike following the orientation.
Trip Conclusion: 5:00 p.m., America’s Best Value Inn (formerly Shuttle Lodge Inn), St. George.
Rates do not include:
Airfare, personal insurance, hotel miscellaneous expenses (phone, fax, laundry, etc.), additional optional tours, services not specified in the tour itinerary, and guide gratuities (An appropriate gratuity to each trip leader is $75-$100 per guest).
Trip Notes: Exploring this region can involve shuttles of up to several hours. While we always request the best rooms at each hotel in the parks, no single group is guaranteed its exact request due to each park’s popularity.
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Day 1. Hiking Red Canyon
Be sure to eat a hearty breakfast before we meet in St. George at 8:00 a.m. After introductions and a brief orientation, we shuttle to Red Canyon, a little-known gem of southern Utah. Our guides lead us on the Castle Bridge Trail through wind-sculpted bluffs and red rock formations. After our hike, a short van shuttle takes us to Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce's stunning amphitheater and colorful spires and buttes beckon immediately upon arrival. For those wanting some more and equally spectacular hiking before dinner, the Navajo Loop trail descends to Two Bridges and Thor’s Hammer, passing through Wall Street where Douglas firs tower between the glowing red walls.
• Castle Bridge Hike [3.7 miles round trip with several hundred feet of elevation gain / loss]
• Navajo Loop Hike [1.4 miles; 521 feet of elevation loss/gain]
Day 2. Hiking Fairyland Trail, Bryce Canyon
In the morning light, Bryce's amphitheater of radiant spires and pinnacles set the course for a delightful hike. Winding below the rim on the Fairyland Trail, explore an intricate maze of contorted and colorful hoodoos and rock formations. The scenery along this trail rivals any in the park, with the Sinking Ship, Aquarius Plateau and distant Navajo Mountain forming the backdrop. Marvel at the geologic layering featuring many shades of red, purple, white, and yellow. After lunch, we depart for our exploration of the Grand Canyon, one of the world's seven natural wonders. Carved over eons, the Grand Canyon is a remarkable testimony to the forces of nature. Only one in ten guests to the Grand Canyon visit the tranquil sanctuary of the North Rim, making it an ideal spot to explore one of Mother Nature's finest masterpieces free from the crowds. Before dinner, enjoy a walk to Bright Angel Point for your first glimpse of this awesome canyon and an incredible Arizona sunset!
• Fairyland Loop Hike [4.9 miles; 900 feet of elevation loss/gain]
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Day 3. Hiking North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon
Rise and shine for a day of exploration! To experience the canyon from below the rim, we descend on the North Kaibab Trail. From the trailhead on the Kaibab Plateau, switchbacks through breaks in the sheer cliffs of Coconino sandstone lead us into the void of Roaring Springs Canyon. Blasted in the 1930s, the Supai Tunnel then takes us down through the Esplanade to the top of the Redwall limestone formation, where a bridge spans the rocky gorge. The Redwall traverse is spectacular, descending to a rocky notch just below the spire of the “Needle”. We end our descent at a green oasis below Roaring Springs, water source for both rims of the Canyon, and the pumphouse which lifts the water nearly 3,600 feet to the North Rim. Quite a sight to behold, the springs literally “roar” as the massive discharge spews from the base of the Redwall. Then the “fun” begins as we reverse direction and climb back out of the canyon.
• North Kaibab Trail to Supai Tunnel [3.6 miles round trip; 1200' elevation loss/gain]; or further to Redwall Bridge [5.4 miles round trip; 2200' elevation loss/gain]; or further yet to Roaring Springs [10 miles round trip; 3200’ elevation loss/gain]
Day 4. Hiking Widforss Trail
Today we’ll get in a morning hike on the Widforss Trail, arguably the finest plateau-top trail in the Park. This classic trail is named in honor of Gunnar M. Widforss, the “Painter of the National Parks” who created vivid watercolors of his favorite national park in the 1920s and 1930s. Hugging the edge of the Transept, a 4,000-foot- deep tributary of Bright Angel Canyon, the trail winds through meadows of lupines and forest of blue and Engelmann spruce, white fir, quaking aspen, Ponderosa pine and Gambel oak. After lunch we shuttle to Zion National Park Lodge, located beneath towering walls of sandstone and a stone’s throw from the cool waters of the Virgin River.
• Widforss Point Trail [up to 10 miles round trip; mostly level with a total of 200 feet of elevation loss, then gain on the return]
Day 5. Hiking Angels Landing and Emerald Pools
A great start to your day is the fabulous hiking trail to Angels Landing—a true construction wonder. Cut into solid rock in 1926, the trail passes through Refrigerator Canyon (you’ll love the cool breeze), ascends the 21 short switchbacks of “Walter’s Wiggles” and culminates with spectacular views over sheer drops into Zion Canyon. From Scout Lookout to Angels Landing, the route travels along a narrow ridge with support chains anchored into the rock. The 360 degree view at the end is worth every heart-pounding and breathtaking step! This trail is truly a classic. This afternoon the Emerald Pools trail beckons. Formed by a small year-round creek coming out of Heaps Canyon, two small waterfalls with pools below are the main attraction. Views include Lady Mountain, the Great White Throne, Red Arch Mountain and majestic cliffs in all directions. Or, if you’d rather just relax, you can soak up the sun, take off your shoes and dip your toes into the soothing waters of the Virgin River.
• Angels Landing Hike [5.0 miles round trip; 1,488’ elevation gain/loss]
• Emerald Pools Hike [2.3 miles round trip; 300’ elevation gain/loss]
Day 6. Hiking the Narrows of the Virgin River, St. George
Our tour concludes with what for many is the highlight—a water tramping experience in the Narrows of the Virgin River—where the trail is simply the river itself. Here the river has carved a chasm 2,000 feet deep into the Markagunt Plateau. On a hot day, there are few things more enjoyable than this river hike in the Narrows. The river meanders through a sculptured gorge of grottoes with lush riparian vegetation beneath the soaring fluted walls. Following a late lunch we say a fond farewell to Zion—knowing you’ll be back again—and shuttle back to St. George.
• Narrows of the Virgin River Hike [round trip distance variable, up to each individual; no detectable change in elevation]
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Meeting:
St George - America’s Best Value Inn
Airport:
Las Vegas, St George
Transfer:
St George
Gateway City Transfer: The St. George Shuttle Service www.stgshuttle.com offers public transportation between Las Vegas airport and St. George. The cost for this service is $30/person each way or $55 round trip plus $5 each way for a specific drop off point. The shuttle drops off at the America’s Best Value Inn (formerly Shuttle Lodge Inn), our meeting point in St. George.
Meeting Time & Place: 8:00 a.m. at the America’s Best Value Inn (formerly Shuttle Lodge Inn). Please plan to arrive at the inn at the designated meeting time, and not earlier, for the convenience of the innkeeper. We recommend you have breakfast prior to our meeting, and that you arrive in comfortable hiking apparel, as we will hike following the orientation.
Trip Conclusion: 5:00 p.m., America’s Best Value Inn (formerly Shuttle Lodge Inn), St. George.
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Tack:
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Horses:
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Pace:
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Moderately Easy with Moderate options
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Level:
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(2
to
3
out of 5)
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Riders:
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Min
4 riders
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Max
16 riders
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Passport and Visa Requirements:
Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart ; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the. more
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Lodgings are arranged at these quality lodges:
Day 1: Bryce Canyon Lodge
Day 2 and 3: Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge cabins
Day 4 and 5 : Zion Lodge cabins (June 25, July 9, Aug 20, Sept 3
or Flanigans Bed and Breakfast (May 21, June 11, Sept 17, Oct 8)
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Tack:
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Horses:
|
|
|
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Pace:
|
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Moderately Easy with Moderate options
|
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Level:
|
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(2
to
3
out of 5)
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Riders:
|
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Min
4 riders
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Max
16 riders
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Passports
Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart ; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the USA. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport; check with the embassy (see Contact Addresses).
Passport Note
(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program (see below), passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry.
(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.
(c) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).
The US has announced new measures that require all travellers to provide details online 72 hours prior to travel.
ESTA: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) came into force on 12 January 2009. It is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications must be submitted at least 72 hours before travel to the USA. Some websites may charge you for the service but you can apply online for free at www.dhs.gov. The granting of an ESTA does not guarantee entry to the USA.
New Requirements for Travellers: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced on 1 June 2009.
For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: (website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html).
Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:
1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic, who do require a visa.
Visa Note
(a) Landed Immigrants of Canada and British residents of Bermuda who are citizens of, and have valid passports from, Commonwealth countries or Ireland are not eligible to enter the USA without a visa. (b) All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. (d) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days. (e) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. Note: Airlines are also required to collect passenger details, including the address of their first night's accommodation in the USA, before they board the aircraft. (f) 2. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa free travel. (g) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder’s passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality. (h) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist, Business, Transit and Student: US$131.
Validity
Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry but is generally six months; there is, however, no set time.
Applications to:
Embassy or consulate (see Contact Addresses).
Working Days Required
Usually five after interview. Some cases may take up to 12 weeks – check with embassy/consulate.
| Passport Required? |
| British |
Yes |
| Australian |
Yes |
| Canadian |
Yes |
| USA |
N/A |
| Other EU |
Yes |
| Visa Required? |
| British |
No/2 |
| Australian |
No |
| Canadian |
No |
| USA |
N/A |
| Other EU |
1 |
| Return Ticket Required? |
| British |
Yes |
| Australian |
Yes |
| Canadian |
No |
| USA |
N/A |
| Other EU |
Yes |
This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not
take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult
the embassy or consulate for updated info.
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