Canyonlands Lodge Ride -
 Colorado Plateau in Utah

Capitol Reef and Escalante Canyons is a landscape where thousands of feet of layered, multi-colored sediments have been thrust skyward by faulting of the earth's crust (the Circle Cliff anticline). Once you see this kaleidoscopic, jagged geologic spectacle, you'll understand why the Ute Indians called it the "Land of the Sleeping Rainbow". It was the last explored and named region of the continental United States. It is a countryside of slickrock mountains punctured by deep, narrow canyons so rugged and remote that the tiny village of Boulder, Utah, which lies within it's midst, could not be reached by automobile until 1938.
The topography of the rides is dynamic and elevation may change from below 4,000ft. to 11,000ft., with higher elevations visited in the heat of the summer and lower environs visited earlier or later in the season.
You'll cover new trails each day which were established by Native Americans, pioneer herdsmen and outlaws. An elegant lodge will serve as your home for the daily forays deep into the wilderness. You'll experience ancient petroglyphs, slickrock mountains, slot-canyons, rock arches, buttes and spires.

Note:  The rides are leisurely and are often divided into two groups, one group going a longer distance and one a shorter distance. Daily travel time to or from our trailhead averages about twenty minutes.

Meals:
Breakfast is taken in the refined setting of the lodges, lunch will be eaten on the trail and dinners sample the local cuisine.
Lodging:
Subject to Inn availability, the trip is designed to spend the first three nights at the Muley Twist Inn and the last three nights at the Boulder Mountain Lodge. 

From these intimate inns, daily ride destinations will vary according to the season of the year.  Areas featured are Capitol Reef National Park, Escalante Canyons National Monument and the Utah’s High Plateaus.

Sample Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive scenic Torrey, Utah and check into the lodge. 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 8:00 pm meet with your trip leader and the trip's interpretative specialist for an orientation and to outline details, destinations, and scheduling particulars.

Day 2
Your guide will meet you for breakfast and you'll depart for a short vehicle ride to the trailhead where you'll meet the remainder of the crew and your horse. After becoming familiar with your mount, you'll hit the Sand Creek Trail for the Mummy Cliffs, and Fremont River Overlook, Velvet Ridge and  Hell's Hole,  or, The Slickrock Trail, Devil's Slide, Golden Throne Overlook, The Dunes, Happy Valley and Wildcat Gorge.

Day 3
From the lodge you'll visit Courthouse Butte, Sulfur Creek Gorge and The Goosenecks; or you'll ride the Keller Trail to Capitol Reef Overlook on Chokecherry Point, The Terrace, Pleasant Creek Waterfall and Upper Bowns Lake.

Day 4
Today your accommodations will shift to the Boulder Mountain Lodge. For those guest traveling by automobile, you'll transfer car and luggage thirty-five miles south on highway 12 to The Boulder Mountain Lodge in Boulder, Utah. For those guests who have booked the Transfer Package, you and your luggage will travel to Boulder in a van. You'll go to today's trailhead, then ride The Slickrock Trail to Devil's Slide, Golden Throne Overlook, The Dunes, Happy Valley and Wildcat Gorge; or, you'll ride The Great Western Trail.  Arrive at your new accommodations at The Boulder Mountain Lodge with plenty of time to unpack, relax and enjoy a distinctive dining experience before bedding down.

Day 5
You'll continue on The Slickrock Trail to Con's Hole and Con's Knoll Overlook, The Windmill, Turkey Track, and Steep Creek Lakes where you'll take The Indian Trail; or you'll ride The Elderberry Trail to Long Lake, Scout Lake, Sunflower Flat, Bown's Point Overlook and Deer Creek Lakes.

Day 6
You'll depart The Boulder Mountain Lodge for the final day of riding -a red rock journey that may include Lamanite Natural Bridge, Water Canyon and Egg Canyon ending the ride along the Burr Trail; or venture from The Boulder Mountain Lodge to explore Edmund's Hole, Steep Creek Lakes, Frisky Canyon, The Long Neck, The Short Neck and Deer Creek. In the evening, we'll enjoy a dinner before your final night's stay at this splendid, picturesque lodge.

Day 7
Depart Boulder, Utah at your convenience, or complete your transfer as arranged.

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Boulder Lodging Info:
The rides end in Boulder, Utah. Boulder is a tiny town with big scenery. It is famous as the last town in the continental United States which could be reached by automobile--1938. It is located on Highway 12--named by AAA Auto Club as one of the three most scenic roads in America--forty miles south of Torrey. We'll stay at either the Boulder Mountain Lodge or Pole's Place for our last three nights.
The Boulder Mountain Lodge is located where the famous Burr Trail joins Highway 12.
Pole's Place is located in an intimate setting north of town on Highway 12 across from the Museum of the Anasazi (the prehistoric Combs Site).

Rates include:
All taxes and land-use fees--over 14%.
All ground transportation from Torrey or Moab, and return.
All meals--with gratuities--in the area’s finest restaurants from breakfast on day two thru dinner on the last day.
Three nights lodging at the best available resort in Torrey, UT.

Three nights lodging at the best available inn in Boulder, UT.
Evening activities may include vehicle tours, sunset wine party, museum visit, local events and entertainment.
Seasoned mountain horses.
Waterproof gear bags, water bottles, saddle bags and tack.
Guides/wranglers and interpretative specialist.