Moab Parklands: Arches & Canyonlands
Tour Description
The intrigue of the past, beauty of the present, and pleasures of the outdoors blend perfectly on this journey of discovery to the fascinating Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Enjoy guided hikes into a landscape of spires, fins, arches, and canyons, where you learn both the grand and subtle influences that shape life here. Accompany your expert guide for a glimpse into how ancestral puebloans adapted to the land; then view petroglyphs from the comfort of your raft on a full-day float down the Colorado River. The pace and variety of this journey make it full of unexpected learning opportunities and memorable moments.
ParkScapes Highlights
Active Adventure
Enjoy a variety of easy hikes that take you past stately spires, under graceful arches, and through multi-hued canyons. Spend an entire day on the Colorado River in an oar-powered raft.
Wildlife watching
Keep your eyes open for peregrine falcons, golden eagles, and other desert wildlife.
Ancestral Puebloan Culture
Experience human history in solitude at Canyons of the Ancients, home to more than 6,000 recorded archaeological sites, and throughout other park locations on this tour.
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Tour Map
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Daily Itinerary
May 17: Arrival in Grand Junction & Arches National Park
This small jewel of the National Park System contains the world's largest concentration of natural sandstone arches, as well as other unusual rock formations. Your hike to Delicate Arch leads up sloping slickrock to this famous arch perched precariously on the edge of a small canyon. Red Cliffs Lodge (D)
May 18: Colorado River Float
Spend all day on the Colorado River, with spectacular scenery and a lot of fun, easy water. Fisher Towers, the section of river we'll be on, is named for the series of freestanding rock towers that can be seen from the river. Red Cliffs Lodge (B,L,D)
May 19: Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands preserves a fantastic, surreal landscape of canyons, mesas, buttes, and miscellaneous odd stacks of rock. There are four main districts in Canyonlands, one of which is called the Needles, where we'll focus our attention. Before heading into the Needles district, we'll see the rock art of Newspaper Rock. Desert Rose Inn (B,L,D)
May 20: Monument Valley
You'll recognize the freestanding rock formations of Monument Valley from old Westerns and Road Runner cartoons. Today enjoy an all-day jeep tour and hike, visiting such iconic features as the Mittens, Elephant Rock, John Ford's Point, Yeibeichei, and North Window. Desert Rose Inn (B,L,D)
May 21: Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
After a stop at the fantastic Anasazi Heritage Center, you'll walk the Sand Canyon Trail to some ancestral puebloan ruins, surrounded by incredible scenery but no crowds. The natural resources and spectacular landforms of the monument help explain why past and present cultures chose to live in the area. If time allows, there will be a stop at the Two River Winery. Gateway Canyon Resort (B,L,D)
May 22: Transfer to Grand Junction, Colorado
After breakfast, you bid goodbye to this unforgettable landscape and your fellow NPCA participants. Head to the Grand Junction Airport to catch your flight home. (B)
Note: This Active Adventure requires participants to be in moderately good physical condition. Activities will include hiking in a range of conditions; all tour participants should be able to hike 2-5 miles over uneven terrain with some elevation gain. Expect to spend 4-6 hours outdoors most days in a variety of weather conditions. Suggested activity preparation will be included in pre-tour materials.
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Tour Details
NPCA Member Price
$2,595 per person double occupancy; $440 single supplement
Price Includes
All accommodations, meals as noted (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner), ground transportation, entrance fees, and professional guide services.
Price Does Not Include
Roundtrip airfare, gratuities for naturalist guides, alcoholic beverages, or personal expenses.
Payments/Cancellations
Space is confirmed by calling the NPCA at 800.628.7275. A $500 per person deposit is due at registration. Final payment will be invoiced separately and is due 90 days prior to departure. Cancellation notice must be submitted in writing and is effective upon date of receipt. Cancellations up to 90 days prior receive a refund, less the $250 per person handling fee. Cancellations 90-61 days prior to departure, 25% of the tour cost is forfeited; 60-31 days prior to departure, 50% of the tour cost is forfeited; 30 days or fewer prior to departure result in the loss of 100% of your total cost.
Travel Insurance
To protect yourself from the loss of deposit and cancellation fees, you are encouraged to purchase travel insurance.
Arrive/Depart
Grand Junction, Colorado
Length of tour
6 days/5 nights
Pace
Moderately active, offering a choice of activities each day to suit different activity levels and interests. Be prepared for a variety of hikes and walks on uneven trails.
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